Last updated:. How can we improve this page? Email Address e. Message Maximum of characters. Send feedback. Also on NHS inform. NIMH videos and podcasts featuring science news, lecture series, meetings, seminars, and special events. Information about NIMH, research results, summaries of scientific meetings, and mental health resources.
NIMH hosts an annual lecture series dedicated to innovation, invention, and scientific discovery. Contribute to Mental Health Research. Occasional anxiety is a normal part of life. You might worry about things like health, money, or family problems. But people with generalized anxiety disorder GAD feel extremely worried or feel nervous about these and other things—even when there is little or no reason to worry about them.
People with GAD find it difficult to control their anxiety and stay focused on daily tasks. The good news is that GAD is treatable. Call your doctor to talk about your symptoms so that you can feel better.
GAD develops slowly. It often starts during the teen years or young adulthood. People with GAD may:. Both children and adults with GAD may experience physical symptoms that make it hard to function and that interfere with daily life.
Symptoms may get better or worse at different times, and they are often worse during times of stress, such as with a physical illness, during exams at school, or during a family or relationship conflict. Researchers have found that several parts of the brain, as well as biological processes, play a key role in fear and anxiety. By learning more about how the brain and body function in people with anxiety disorders, researchers may be able to create better treatments. Researchers are also looking for ways in which stress and environmental factors play a role.
You may be worried that you will do something or act in a way that is embarrassing. Phobias A phobia is an overwhelming fear of an object, place, situation, feeling or animal. Common examples of phobias include the following.
Animal phobias. Such spiders, snakes or rodents. Environmental phobias. Such as heights and germs. Situational phobias. Such as going to the dentist. Body phobias. Such as blood or being sick. Sexual phobias. Such as performance anxiety. This could be the following: Leaving your home. Being in public spaces. Using public transport. Being in crowded spaces. An obsession is an unwelcome thought or image that you keep thinking about and is largely out of your control.
These can be difficult to ignore. These thoughts can be disturbing, which can make you feel distressed and anxious. A compulsion is something you think about or do repeatedly to relieve anxiety. This can be hidden or obvious. Such as saying a phrase in your head to calm yourself. Or checking that the front door is locked.
Skin-picking Skin picking is medically known as dermatillomania. Hair pulling Hair pulling is medically known as trichotillomania. Your doctor will look at the following to diagnose your condition. You repeatedly pull your hair out, causing noticeable hair loss You feel increasing tension before you pull your hair out You feel relief or pleasure when you have pulled your hair out There are no underlying illnesses, such as a skin condition, causing you to pull your hair out Pulling your hair out affects your everyday life or causes you distress.
Health anxiety You may have health anxiety if you spend a lot of time worrying about if you are ill. You may: worry that your doctor has missed something, check your body a lot for signs of illness, constantly worry about your health, spend a lot of time asking people if they think you are ill, spend a lot of time looking at health information on the internet, on the tv or in newspapers, or act as if you were ill.
You may spend a large amount of time doing the following: Staring at your face or body in the mirror. Covering yourself with lots of makeup. Thinking about plastic surgery when you do not need it. What causes anxiety disorders? Your doctor will look at different things when deciding on your treatment such as the following.
Your diagnosis and symptoms. What options you have tried already. Your goals and preferences. Any other conditions you have. IAPT should be available in your area. You can often self-refer or ask your GP to refer you. Choice and managing problems by clicking here. Talking therapies by clicking here. How are anxiety disorders treated? You can find more information about treatments for: Post-traumatic stress disorder PTSD by clicking here.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder OCD by clicking here. You will be supported by a trained professional A written or electronic information based on cognitive behavioural therapy principles. Instructions to work through the material over at least 6 weeks.
Very brief support from a therapist such as a 5-minute telephone conversation. Individual guided self-help You should: get written or electronic materials, be supported by a trained professional, who delivers the self-help programme and reviews progress and outcomes, and get support to use the materials, either face-to-face or over the telephone. Your learning should: be based on CBT, get you involved, include presentations from a trained professional, include self-help manuals, have 1 therapist to about 12 people, and usually be 6 weekly sessions, each lasting 2 hours.
A trained therapist will teach you different techniques to manage your situation. You can get more information about: Talking therapies by clicking here. Antidepressants by clicking here. Benzodiazepines by clicking here. Complementary and alternative therapies by clicking here. Unhappy with treatment What if I am not happy with my treatment?
If you are not happy with your treatment you can: talk to your doctor about your treatment options, ask for a second opinion, get an advocate to help you speak to your doctor, contact Patient Advice and Liaison Service PALS and see whether they can help, or make a complaint. There is more information about these options below.
Treatment options You should first speak to your doctor about your treatment. Second opinion A second opinion means that you would like a different doctor to give their opinion about what treatment you should have. Advocacy An advocate is independent from the mental health service.
They give information and support to patients. You can find out more about: Medication. Second opinions by clicking here. Advocacy by clicking here. Complaining about the NHS or social services by clicking here. Managing symptoms What can I do to manage my symptoms? Lifestyle Making small lifestyle changes can improve your wellbeing and can help your recovery.
Breathing exercises Breathing exercises can help to calm you when you are feeling anxious. Support groups You could join a support group.
You can find out what is available in your area if you follow this link: www. How can I get support? You can do the following. Speak to your GP about medication and talking therapies for yourself.
Join a carers service. They are free and available in most areas. Join a carers support group for emotional and practical support. Or set up your own. How can I support the person I care for? Read information about anxiety disorders. Ask the person you support to tell you what their symptoms are and if they have any self-management techniques that you could help them with. Encourage them to see a GP if you are worried about their mental health.
Ask to see a copy of their care plan, if they have one. They should have a care plan if they are supported by a care coordinator. Help them to manage their finances. You can find out more about: Supporting someone with a mental illness by clicking here. Getting help in a crisis by clicking here. Suicidal thoughts. How to support someone by clicking here. Responding to unusual thoughts and behaviours by clicking here.
Carers assessment by clicking here. Confidentiality and information sharing. For carers, friends and family by clicking here. Benefits for carers by clicking here.
Stress by clicking here. Useful contacts Anxiety UK A user led organisation that supports anyone with anxiety, phobias, panic attacks or other anxiety disorders. Accept all mandatory cookies. You have dug your yourself into an endless pattern of fear. With worry you are present. You know what you are experiencing and have the ability to recognize an event is about to occur or is occurring. Good or bad. You may be able to cope, or adjust the situation.
I do not believe physicians are taught or want to deal with worry or anxiety. They both require time with the patient and extreme empathy. Sub-clinical anxiety is an awful way to live, so all power to you in trying to reach out. Thanks for the great article. It is very helpful to remind ourselves that some anxiety is normal. Unfortunately, when a patient feels anxious, it is too common to label and diagnose it as a disorder. Thanks again. What then? Who knew? Everyone worries or gets scared sometimes.
But if you feel extremely worried or afraid much of the time, or if you repeatedly feel panicky, you may have an anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental illnesses, affecting roughly 40 million American adults each year.
This Special Health Report, Anxiety and Stress Disorders , discusses the latest and most effective treatment approaches, including cognitive behavioral therapies, psychotherapy, and medications. A special section delves into alternative treatments for anxiety, such as relaxation techniques, mindfulness meditation, and biofeedback. Thanks for visiting. Don't miss your FREE gift. Sign up to get tips for living a healthy lifestyle, with ways to fight inflammation and improve cognitive health , plus the latest advances in preventative medicine, diet and exercise , pain relief, blood pressure and cholesterol management, and more.
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