2. Learning about anxiety
Read the following fact file to learn about anxiety.
Once you’re done, it’s time to test yourself! Cover up the table, leaving the headings popping out & see if you can repeat aloud some of the main bolded points you have just learnt.
| What is anxiety? | What are the symptoms of anxiety? | How can we manage unhelpful anxiety? |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Anxiety is a natural reaction. We all get anxious from time to time – like if we have to talk in public or take an exam. This short-term type of anxiety is useful. It makes us feel more alert and improves our performance. | 1. Most people can relate to physical symptoms of anxiety such as ‘butterflies’ in the stomach, breathing becoming shallow, sweating, heart beating faster, dry mouth and shaky legs. | 1. Anxiety responds really well to psychological treatment especially one called Cognitive Behavioural Treatment (CBT). This treatment focuses on helping change anxious thoughts and behaviours to bring about change. It’s rare to take medication to help with anxiety. |
| 2. Anxiety lies on a spectrum. On one end are those normal anxieties we all experience. On the other end, when anxiety stays at a high level for a long time, it can make it difficult to get on with life. These unhelpful anxiety symptoms can develop into an anxiety disorder. | 2. Thought based symptoms include constantly predicting the worst and overthinking, racing thoughts that are usually scary, having difficulty concentrating. Anxiety can also make us feel frightened, panicky and tearful. | 2. CBT includes learning to manage the symptoms of anxiety – physically through breathing and relaxing in special ways and mentally through identifying the thoughts that make you anxious and facing doing things either too much or too little. A GP can help in accessing CBT and there is also online help and apps. |
| 3. Unhelpful anxiety occurs when symptoms become too extreme, last too long or are triggered for no reason. If this affects a person’s ability to get on with their daily life, it may be that they have an anxiety disorder that needs treatment. | 3. Anxiety can result in certain behaviours. Having anxious thoughts and feelings often lead to anxious behaviours like avoiding things that create anxiety, getting agitated easily, and getting into arguments or fights more often. Anxiety can also result in increased checking behaviours. | 3. You can also try the Clear Fear app, which uses CBT principles. Clear Fear can help you identify anxious thoughts and make change. You can set yourself some goals to face your fear, one step at a time to help change anxious behaviours or learn to relax and calm through breathing, mindfulness exercises or by enjoying the gifs, jokes or inspirational quotes and people. |
Did you find this page helpful?
