So you've been feeling on edge, worried, nervous, fearful, scared? What are these feelings and what can you do about it? Read on...

Many people describe the feelings of anxiety in different ways. Feeling scared, fearful or nervous are common descriptions. Anxiety is that feeling of fear or nervousness. Sometimes it seems as though it occurs for apparently no reason. Some people don't actually know that what they are experiencing is in fact anxiety and hence may feel like something terrible is wrong with them. Some people may feel like they are going crazy or that they are not 'normal'. And that can be a terrifying experience.

Anxiety is in fact a very normal experience for a human being to have. We all experience anxiety from time to time, just some people more than others. If you are experiencing anxiety you are not alone; anxiety is the most common mental health condition and about 1 in 4 people will experience it. So how do you know if your are experiencing anxiety? Here are some common symptoms:

difficulty concentrating
tight muscles
feeling hot or sweaty
feeling dizzy or faint
feeling worried and finding it hard to stop

feeling irritable
feeling restless or on edge
rapid heart rate
difficulty breathing
upset stomach or nausea

You don't need to have all of these symptoms to be struggling with anxiety.

So if anxiety is normal, how much anxiety is too much? It's probably safe to say that your anxiety is problematic if:

your anxiety has been going on for a long time
it is quite intense (consider mild and manageable vs severe and debilitating)
it is interfering with things that you may want to do

The good news its that anxiety is often manageable. With some help, support and focused strategies many people learn to manage their anxiety to the point where it is no longer interfering with their lives.

If you're struggling with anxiety Feel Better Psychology can help you. Give us a call or email to discuss your concerns.