Archive

We all know the feeling of anxiety - a fear that something is about to go wrong or something unpleasant or painful is going to happen. Anxiety is completely normal. If it is caused by a continuing problem, say with money, we call it "worry". If it is a sudden response to an immediate threat, say being attacked, we call it "fear". Sudden unexpected urges of anxiety are called "panic". For some people, anxiety is so extreme it is disabling. Anxiety disorders, which psychiatrists call "neuroses", are mental illnesses in which severe anxiety can take over your life. And because it is usually accompanied by depression, some psychiatrists think they are two sides of the same illness. These disorders have a self-perpetuating quality because the physical symptoms of anxiety (such as dizziness or palpitations) can themselves be so alarming that they make you even more anxious. Anxiety disorders differ from psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia in that you rarely lose touch with reality. Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) is an intense and long-lasting severe form of anxiety with no obvious cause. People with GAD may have a slightly abnormal brain chemistry, which suggests the disorder is biochemical (biochemistry is the study of chemical processes in living things), but this is far from certain. Physical factors may also have an influence - for example, over-activity of the thyroid gland (in the neck), which controls many bodily functions. GAD, if treated early, lasts only a month or so. However, it can be very persistent and continue for several years.

For more information try www.sane.org.uk or Royal College of Psychiatrists at www.rcpsych.ac.uk/info/help/anxiety