Stress and anxiety

Anxiety is a set of feelings which normally occur when we feel fearful of something, such as anything new or unknown to us. It is perfectly normal to feel anxious... it is your sub conscious way of keeping you safe, but when the anxiety is present on a daily basis and is over things which you perceive as normal then it could be becoming a problem for you. For example if you feel anxious over an upcoming test or speech that you have to do then that is normal but if you wake up feeling anxious about what the day will bring then you could be developing an anxiety disorder, especially if you feel anxious several times throughout the day. Stress can lead to anxiety and anxiety causes stress so the two are inextricably linked. Some of the symptoms of anxiety are:

• restlessness
• a sense of dread
• feeling constantly "on edge"
• difficulty concentrating
• irritability
• impatience
• being easily distracted
• dizziness
• drowsiness and tiredness
• pins and needles
• irregular heartbeat (palpitations)
• muscle aches and tension
• dry mouth
• excessive sweating
• shortness of breath
• stomach ache
• nausea
• diarrhoea
• headache
• excessive thirst
• frequent urinating
• painful or missed periods
• difficulty falling or staying asleep (insomnia)

Prolonged anxiety or generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) can lead to: 

• panic disorder
• phobias
• post-traumatic stress disorder