We’ve all become so much more open about our mental health, over recent years. We feel more comfortable speaking up about our feelings and receiving the support that we need.
Amidst all this, some terms, have become a little overused or are deployed in the wrong situations, making the original term lose its meaning and cause confusion. Remember when we all had the conversation about how liking a clean home isn't the same as suffering with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, which can be debilitating? Anxiety disorders have gone through a similar warping in recent years too, as the term ‘anxiety’ has come to mean a whole host of things. This now means some people are confused as to whether or not they could have some form of anxiety disorder, or are experiencing a reasonable human response to a particular situation. Or even whether they're just one of life's 'worriers'.
So, what actually is anxiety, when it comes to being a recognised mental health condition? And how does having an anxiety disorder differ from feeling nervous (which can be a normal human response to certain situations e.g. before a job interview or a date)?
We asked Dr Mohamed Abdelghani, consultant psychiatrist and founder of Nurify to explain the difference between normal nerves and worries that could indicate you'd benefit from speaking to a GP or mental health professional.
What actually is anxiety?
To begin with, let's take note of the fact that anxiety – or feeling anxious – can be a positive emotion in some instances, says Dr Abdelghani. In a nutshell, anxiety is what happens when your body reacts to a perceived fear and kicks into 'flight or fight' mode.
"Anxiety is a natural human response to a perceived threat and in certain circumstances it can be useful in keeping us safe from certain people or situations," he says.
Everyone's clicking on...
Continuing, Dr Abdelghani explains, "It's correct to assume that everyone has experienced anxiety one way or another, perhaps before an important exam or when dealing with a life threatening situation."
He adds, that in these situations stress and anxiety could be beneficial. "If a person is extremely relaxed while dealing with an urgent situation, their performance and productivity will be less than somebody who has a healthy level of stress (i.e. optimal stress level) that would allow them to get the job done." Essentially, your anxiety pushes you to react in the correct way, to make sure you act, with urgency, in a situation you need to.
However, symptoms of an actual anxiety disorder, are present even in situations when there’s no imminent danger. You’d feel fearful and could also experience:
- Physical responses (rapid heartbeat, sweating, dry mouth, aches and pains)
- Psychological responses (disturbed sleep, mind racing or going blank, poor memory)
- Behavioural responses (avoidance of situations or places, or behaviours such as going back to confirm you have locked the door etc)
For some, anxiety can be generalised and hard to pinpoint a cause for, whereas for others it may be focussed on a specific issue (such as an irrational worry around falling ill, something known as health anxiety or hypochondria).
Some people can have a phobia-based anxiety (e.g. a fear of not being able to seek help if needed, known as agoraphobia) or socialising, too.
Panic attacks or depression can also be an unpleasant side effect of having an anxiety disorder.
When should you seek help for anxiety?
When it comes to knowing if you have an actual anxiety disorder vs experiencing healthy, natural emotions, it can be tricky. After all, when our bodies are telling us to feel afraid a lot of the time, it can be really hard to pinpoint what to listen to, what not to, and when it’s time to admit you need medical help.
There are some key signs to look out for, says the expert as well as noting how long your symptoms last and when they occur.
Anxiety starts becoming a problem when a person’s stress levels are so high (and remain so continuously) that it starts to negatively affects their performance and ability to carry out their day to day activities, says Dr Abdelghani. "This is when you should seek professional help to understand the underlying cause(s) of your anxiety and explore different treatments that could help."
Treatments could include an array of different therapies, medication and lifestyle changes, such as reducing your alcohol intake and exercising more.
However, the doctor is keen to stress, before "jumping into formal treatments" it could be useful for all of us to integrate certain techniques and methods into our lives to reduced stressors, that if left unaddressed could lead to anxiety. "These techniques include daily exercise, meditation, healthy eating, good sleep hygiene, regular breaks and having quality, protected time with friends and loved ones."
Take into account the timescale and severity of your feelings too, says Dr Abdelghani:
"It's very important when thinking about anxiety to assess both the intensity and the frequency of the symptoms. For example, if someone has been feeling anxious every day for a fortnight they should seek professional help."
Again, the reasons behind the feeling are crucial to consider too. "If someone is feeling anxious every day with no identifiable reason, they too should seek professional help. Feeling anxious for no specific reason could be what we call Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD)." He advises booking an appointment with your GP to discuss the next steps. You can also complete a mood self-assessment on the NHS website.
If you're worried about your doctor's appointment, making notes of what you've been experiencing and how long for, to take in with you, can be helpful.
A signs of anxiety checklist
The 7 signs you might be dealing with an anxiety disorder and could benefit from support:
- Your symptoms are getting in the way of daily life, work and/or relationships
- You've been feeling anxious for a notable period of time (e.g. for more than a couple of days)
- You cannot find a reason for your worries, or you're fixated on the reasons for your distress in a way that feels unhealthy
- The anxiety is disturbing your sleep or eating habits
- The anxiety feels severe
- You have started avoided certain places, things or people
- Physical symptoms such as a racing heart, headache, aches and pains or sweaty palms have been bothering you
This article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
When life is difficult, Samaritans are here – day or night, 365 days a year. You can call them for free on 116 123, email them at jo@samaritans.org, or visit samaritans.org to find your nearest branch.
Jennifer Savin is Cosmopolitan UK's multiple award-winning Features Editor, who was crowned Digital Journalist of the Year for her work tackling the issues most important to young women. She regularly covers breaking news, cultural trends, health, the royals and more, using her esteemed connections to access the best experts along the way. She's grilled everyone from high-profile politicians to A-list celebrities, and has sensitively interviewed hundreds of people about their real life stories. In addition to this, Jennifer is widely known for her own undercover investigations and campaign work, which includes successfully petitioning the government for change around topics like abortion rights and image-based sexual abuse. Jennifer is also a published author, documentary consultant (helping to create BBC’s Deepfake Porn: Could You Be Next?) and a patron for Y.E.S. (a youth services charity). Alongside Cosmopolitan, Jennifer has written for The Times, Women’s Health, ELLE and numerous other publications, appeared on podcasts, and spoken on (and hosted) panels for the Women of the World Festival, the University of Manchester and more. In her spare time, Jennifer is a big fan of lipstick, leopard print and over-ordering at dinner. Follow Jennifer on Instagram, X or LinkedIn.
