Anxiety

The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) defines anxiety as "a feeling of unease, such as worry or fear, and can be mild or severe. It can have many causes, such as pressure of work or family problems. Everyone feels anxious sometimes but having an anxiety disorder means that someone feels anxious at inappropriate times and finds it difficult to control their worries. Many people have anxiety disorders. In Britain, about 1 in 20 adults have generalised anxiety disorder and 1 in 100 have panic disorder. People with anxiety disorders may feel apprehensive and tense. These feelings may be experienced not as emotions but as physical symptoms such as butterflies or cramps in the stomach, trembling, a fast heartbeat and/or sweating. Often the cause of these feelings, both physical and emotional, is unclear and people may think they are going mad, losing control or fainting. Other people fear that they may suffocate or have a heart attack or stroke, or that they have some other serious illness. Although understandable, such fears are groundless. There are a number of anxiety disorders that can be difficult to distinguish from one another." (NICE, clinical guideline 22 (amended), p7-8).

How can we help you

Below are detailed web links to information on anxiety:

There are also books available from local libraries and bookshops such as

  • "Overcoming Anxiety" by Helen Kennerley.

Relevant links:



Copyright © 2009 Borough of Poole - all other trademarks are acknowledged as belonging to their respective owners. All rights reserved.