What is Anxiety?

Anxiety is when these anxious feelings don't subside. Anxiety is when they are ongoing and exist without any particular reason or cause. It’s a serious condition that makes it hard for a person to cope with daily life. We all feel anxious from time to time, but for a person experiencing anxiety, these feelings cannot be easily controlled.

What causes anxiety?

There is no single cause of anxiety disorders, but researchers have identified a number of risk factors that seem to predispose some of us towards anxiety:

• Family history.
• Personal characteristics.
• Biochemistry.
• Physical illness.
• Substance use.
• Stressful events.​​

​Types of anxiety

Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD)                Social phobia                   Specific phobias           Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)            Panic disorder

​Signs and symptoms

Symptoms of anxiety attacks include:

• Surge of overwhelming panic.
• Feeling of losing control or going crazy.
• Heart palpitations or chest pain.
• Feeling like you're going to pass out.
• Trouble breathing or choking sensation.
• Hyperventilation.
• Hot flashes or chills.
• Trembling or shaking.