Anxiety

What is anxiety?

Anxiety is a feeling that we can all experience from time to time, whether it be because of an exam, a new job interview, or generally doing something we are not comfortable doing. The experience of anxiety can cause a range of symptoms such as feelings of tension, worry and panic, reduced ability to concentrate, increased heart rate, trembling, sweating, loss of appetite and difficulty sleeping.

Although we might not usually think of this as a pleasant experience, anxiety is a natural feeling and can be useful to us in dealing with the challenges of every-day life and navigating the world around us. However, if anxiety is a regular feature in your day-to-day life this can have negative impacts on your general enjoyment of life, as well as your physical and mental health.

Anxiety is one of the most common mental health issues in the UK, and can be associated with a wide range of situations, events and objects, such as panic in social situations, phobias of specific things, the reliving of a traumatic event or experience, or generally a feeling of being overwhelmed by your environment. Some people may be more prone to experiencing anxiety because of their genes, certain differences in brain functioning, or environmental factors such as major stressful or traumatic life events, stress in every-day life or drug/alcohol misuse.
Whatever the cause, if anxiety is having negative impacts upon your well-being, it is important to take steps to manage and deal with your anxieties. There are many self-help strategies and activities which may help to reduce anxiety and improve well-being.

5 ways to well-being

Developed by the New Economics Foundation, 5 ways to well-being is a self-help guide offering 5 simple ways proven to improve well-being. These are:
1. Connect,
2. Be active,
3. Take notice,
4. Learn,
5. Give.
Click here for more information about the 5 ways to well-being

Mindfulness

It has been found that learning to be mindful can be beneficial for many different mental health issues, including anxiety

Food and Mood

Making simple changes to your lifestyle, such as your diet, can have significant effects on mood and anxiety levels. Have a look at this page Article on Food and Mood for more information.

Apps for wellbeing

There are a number of Wellbeing apps which provide self-help guidance and support for improving mental health and wellbeing.

Local Services

It is important to remember that you are not alone, and there are a number of local services which can offer advice and support if you are experiencing anxiety. For example:

UOK provides a range of services, including advice and support for those experiencing mental health issues.

BHT Mental Health and Wellbeing Service aims to support people in maintaining mental health and wellbeing, offering a range of services and housing support.

The Grow Project offers a variety of activities in the local countryside, which can have great benefits for mental health and well-being.

Speak with your GP

If you are struggling to manage your anxiety yourself, it’s important that you speak with your GP.
There are also specific treatments which have been found to be beneficial for reducing anxiety, such as talking therapy (eg. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) and medication for anxiety.

Speaking with your GP can lead to a referral to services such as the Brighton and Hove Wellbeing Service, which provides local NHS services such as guided self-help and therapy.