What is anxiety?

[alfreddy7]

Even though I know most of these. It’s nice to have reassurance.

[Jeff1943]

Or to put it more simply. Anxiety disorder happens when our normal capacity to cope with worries becomes overwhelmed. Our nervous system just can't take it any more. So it becomes over-sensitised. Just as any other part of your body becomes extra sensitive through over use.

Once your nerves have become sensitised they exaggerate every minor worry and anxiety so it seems ten times greater than it is. And we always think of the worst case scenario for any problem.

Muscular tension in the chest must be a pending heart attack. A new boss means you're going to lose your job or sure. An upset stomach or headache is bound to be a tumour. None of it true, of course, but that's how over-sensitised nerves make us think.

The causes of anxiety overload are diverse. Over work, loss, grief, shame, toxic relationships, family worries, money worries to name but some. But there is only one road to recovery: to return our over-sensitive nerves to their normal calm and regain our quiet mind.

You may achieve this with medication prescribed by your doctor (though once you stop taking the tablets the problem returns). Or through face-to-face therapy. Or through a good self-help book like 'Self help for your nerves' by Claire Weekes.

Whatever remedy you choose there are no fast fixes. Recovery comes only through time, patience and retraining your mind to accept your symptoms without fear.