Self Help Services

Anxiety

Anxiety is a normal, if unpleasant, part of life, and it can affect us all in different ways and at different times. Whereas stress is something that will come and go as the external factor causing it (be it a work, relationship or money problems, etc) comes and goes, anxiety is something that can persist whether or not the cause is clear to the sufferer.

When a person is feeling anxious, they will often experience a number of symptoms, including (but not limited to) an increased heart rate, hyperventilation, feeling sick, thinking you might lose control/go mad and avoidance.

There are many types of anxiety that can affect a person including:

Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD): GAD can be defined as a disorder in which the sufferer feels in a constant state of high anxiety and is often known as ‘chronic worrying’ or a ‘free floating’ anxiety condition.

Health Anxiety: Those affected by health anxiety have an obsessional preoccupation with the idea or the thought that they are currently (or will be) experiencing a physical illness. The most common health anxieties tend to centre on conditions such as cancer, HIV, AIDs, etc. However, the person experiencing health anxiety or illness phobia may fixate on any type of illness. This condition is known as health anxiety, illness phobia/illness anxiety or hypochondriasis.

Body Dismorphic Disorder (BDD): This disorder has also been nicknamed ‘Imagined Ugliness Syndrome’ as sufferers of the condition have an irrational preoccupation with a perceived body defect, either present in themselves or in others; the latter being dysmorphophobia by proxy.

Below you will find out how Self Help Services can help you if you are experiencing anxiety.