Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety disorders are astonishingly common but often go unrecognised. They include Panic, Phobias (including Agoraphobia and Social Phobia), Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD). The physical and mental symptoms of anxiety are so distressing that people will do almost anything to get away from them – this often leads to behaviours such as avoiding public places, constantly checking for the feared object or, in the case of OCD, carrying out lengthy rituals in the hope of feeling better.

While these behaviours may bring temporary relief, in fact they make the problem worse, and can result in a very reduced quality of life.

Health care services usually offer a well proven treatment called Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) which aims to change both behaviours and thought processes, although there may be a lengthy wait or a cost for these. For many people self-help is a viable way forward and it is possible to set up and follow an individually tailored programme that will get you some if not all the way to recovery.

It is also worth looking at lifestyle, because very often the way you live is contributing to anxiety. For instance poor sleep, too much caffeine and skipped meals can all make anxiety worse. Most people benefit greatly from regular physical activity and from doing a daily relaxation exercise.

By making simple lifestyle changes you can get yourself fit and ready to tackle your anxiety driven behaviours. This consists of challenging your anxiety in a safe controlled way, by setting small goals that take you gradually towards letting go of avoidance and compulsions.

At the same time you can learn to recognise your anxious thinking, challenge it, and ultimately change it. It might also be necessary to delve into some of the deeper issues that may be driving your anxiety, and if this turns out to be too difficult then it might be appropriate for you to seek professional help.

Remember you are not the only person to suffer with an anxiety disorder, and there are helplines that are staffed by trained volunteers who can listen and offer feedback and literature on the subject.

By Emma Fletcher and Martha Langley authors of Fee Yourself from Anxiety. Visit
www.freeyourselffromanxiety.co.uk