How to deal with anxiety - Priory Group
Try taking a deep breath in through your nose for 4 seconds, feeling your stomach and chest rise as you do so. Hold your breath for 3 seconds and then breathe ...
anxiety symptoms
However, anxiety is treatable and it’s possible for you to make a good recovery. Not only can you access evidence-based treatment for anxiety, but there are a number of things you can do yourself to try and reduce your <anchor>anxiety symptoms</anchor> and get back on track. Here, we will provide tips for coping with anxiety and explore the treatment options that are available.
Anxiety disorder symptoms and signs - Priory
Anxiety disorder symptoms and signs - Priory

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## Search by category

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## Popular searches

[Mental health](/blog/mental-health "Mental health") [Addictions](/blog/addictions "Addictions") [Young people](/blog/young-people "Young people") [Priory stories](/blog/priory-stories "Priory stories")

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### Save 10% on addiction treatment



Priory is currently offering 10% off private self-pay addiction inpatient treatment, for admissions until 30th September. T&Cs apply.



[Addiction treatment](/addiction-treatment "Addiction treatment") [Find a location](/find-a-location "Find a location")









Alcohol rehab

Alcohol rehab



- [Find an alcohol rehab near you](/alcohol "Find an alcohol rehab near you")
- [Alcohol test](/addiction-treatment/alcohol-rehab/alcohol-test "Alcohol test")
- [Alcohol rehab](/addiction-treatment/alcohol-rehab "Alcohol rehab")
- [Symptoms of alcoholism](/addiction-treatment/alcohol-rehab/symptoms-of-alcoholism "Symptoms of alcoholism")
- [Alcohol addiction withdrawal](/addiction-treatment/alcohol-rehab/alcohol-addiction-withdrawal "Alcohol addiction withdrawal")
- [Alcohol detox](/addiction-treatment/alcohol-rehab/alcohol-detox "Alcohol detox")

Drug rehab

Drug rehab

- [Drug rehab](/addiction-treatment/drug-rehab "Drug rehab")
- [Cocaine addiction](/addiction-treatment/cocaine-addiction "Cocaine addiction")
- [Heroin addiction](/addiction-treatment/heroin-addiction "Heroin addiction")
- [Prescription drug addiction treatment](/addiction-treatment/prescription-drug-addiction-treatment "Prescription drug addiction treatment")
- [Private addiction rehab](/addiction-treatment/private-addiction-rehab "Private addiction rehab")

Behavioural addictions

Behavioural addictions

- [Gambling addiction](/addiction-treatment/gambling-addiction-treatment "Gambling addiction")
- [Internet addiction](/addiction-treatment/internet-addiction-treatment "Internet addiction")
- [Sex and love addiction](/addiction-treatment/sex-and-love-addiction-treatment "Sex and love addiction")
- [Shopping addiction treatment](/addiction-treatment/shopping-addiction-treatment "Shopping addiction treatment")

Addiction types

Addiction types

- [A-Z of addictions](/a-z-of-addictions "A-Z of addictions")
For information on the full range of addictions we support.


Treatment programmes

Treatment programmes

- [Free confidential addiction assessment](/addiction-treatment/free-addiction-assessment "Free confidential addiction assessment")
- [Addiction relapse](/addiction-treatment/addiction-relapse "Addiction relapse")
- [What to expect from rehab](/addiction-treatment/what-to-expect-from-rehab "What to expect from rehab")
- [Approach to addiction treatment](/addiction-treatment/approach-to-addiction-treatment "Approach to addiction treatment")
- [Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for addiction](/addiction-treatment/cognitive-behavioural-therapy-cbt-for-addiction "Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for addiction")

Useful information

Useful information

- [Payment and funding options](/about-us/payment-and-funding-options "Payment and funding options")

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[Help with getting started](/our-services/help-with-getting-started "Help with getting started")

- Mental health



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### Mental health



Expert mental health support is available at Priory, the UK's leading mental health treatment provider.



[Private treatment](/mental-health "Private treatment") [Find a location](/find-a-location "Find a location")







### Priory Emotional Wellbeing Programme for children



A free programme developed by experts to enhance emotional resilience among young people and equip them with practical skills to manage their feelings.



[Learn more](https://www.priorygroup.com/priory-emotional-wellbeing-programme-for-children "Learn more")









Depression

Depression



- [Find depression treatment near you](/depression "Find depression treatment near you")
- [Depression test](/mental-health/depression-treatment/depression-test "Depression test")
- [Depression symptoms](/mental-health/depression-treatment/depression-symptoms "Depression symptoms")
- [Depression treatment](/mental-health/depression-treatment "Depression treatment")
- [Depression medication](/mental-health/depression-treatment/antidepressants-depression-medication "Depression medication")
- [Depression in men](/mental-health/depression-treatment/depression-in-men "Depression in men")
- [Depression in women](/mental-health/depression-treatment/depression-in-women "Depression in women")

Private CAMHS

Private CAMHS

- [Private CAMHS](/private-camhs "Private CAMHS")
- [Private assessments](/private-camhs/private-camhs-assessment "Private assessments")

Eating disorders

Eating disorders

- [Eating disorder treatment](/eating-disorders "Eating disorder treatment")

Anxiety

Anxiety

- [Find anxiety treatment near you](/anxiety "Find anxiety treatment near you")
- [Anxiety test](/anxiety-test "Anxiety test")
- [Anxiety symptoms](/mental-health/anxiety-treatment/anxiety-symptoms "Anxiety symptoms")
- [Anxiety diagnosis](/mental-health/anxiety-treatment/anxiety-diagnosis "Anxiety diagnosis")
- [Anxiety treatment](/mental-health/anxiety-treatment "Anxiety treatment")
- [Anxiety in men](/mental-health/anxiety-treatment/anxiety-in-men "Anxiety in men")
- [Anxiety in women](/mental-health/anxiety-treatment/anxiety-in-women "Anxiety in women")
- [Postpartum anxiety](/mental-health/anxiety-treatment/postpartum-anxiety "Postpartum anxiety")

Autism support

Autism support

- [Private autism assessments](/mental-health/autism/autism-assessments "Private autism assessments")
- [Online autism tests](https://www.priorygroup.com/mental-health/autism/online-autism-tests "Online autism tests")
- [Autism support at Priory](/mental-health/autism "Autism support at Priory")
- [Signs of autism](/mental-health/autism/autism-symptoms "Signs of autism")

Treatment programmes

Treatment programmes

- [Treatment programmes overview](/our-services "Treatment programmes overview")
- [Inpatient (residential) treatment](/our-services/inpatient-residential-treatment "Inpatient (residential) treatment")
- [Day care and outpatient treatment](/our-services/day-care-and-outpatient-treatment "Day care and outpatient treatment")
- [Online therapy](/our-services/online-therapy "Online therapy")
- [Mental health assessments](/mental-health-assessments "Mental health assessments")
- [What to expect from mental health treatment](/mental-health/what-to-expect-from-mental-health-treatment "What to expect from mental health treatment")
- [Payment and funding options](/about-us/payment-and-funding-options "Payment and funding options")

Mental health A-Z

Mental health A-Z

- [A-Z of mental health conditions](/a-z-of-mental-health-conditions "A-Z of mental health conditions")
For information on the full range of conditions we support.


Not sure where to start?

[Help with getting started](/our-services/help-with-getting-started "Help with getting started")

- Residential homes



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### Residential homes



Priory provides a range of adult residential services supporting those with a learning disability, autism, brain injury, Prader-Willi syndrome, behaviours that challenge or a mental health condition.



[Residential services](/residential-services "Residential services") [Find a location](/find-a-location "Find a location")









Residential services

Residential services



- [Residential services](/residential-services "Residential services")
- [Autism support](/residential-services/autism-support "Autism support")
- [Brain injury services](/residential-services/brain-injury-services "Brain injury services")
- [Learning disability support](/residential-services/learning-disability-support "Learning disability support")
- [Mental health support](/residential-services/mental-health-support "Mental health support")
- [Positive behaviour support (PBS)](/residential-services/positive-behaviour-support "Positive behaviour support (PBS)")
- [Prader-Willi syndrome support](/residential-services/prader-willi-syndrome-support "Prader-Willi syndrome support")

Older people's care

Older people's care

- [Older people's care services](/older-peoples-care-services "Older people's care services")
- [Dementia care homes](/older-peoples-care-services/dementia-care-homes "Dementia care homes")
- [Nursing care services](/residential-services/nursing-care-services "Nursing care services")
- [Palliative care services](/older-peoples-care-services/palliative-care-services "Palliative care services")
- [Residential care homes](/older-peoples-care-services/residential-care-homes "Residential care homes")
- [Respite care homes and services](/residential-services/respite-and-short-term-services "Respite care homes and services")

Useful information

Useful information

- [Payment and funding options](/about-us/payment-and-funding-options "Payment and funding options")
- [Working with the NHS and local authorities](/about-us#services "Working with the NHS and local authorities")

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### Supported living



We believe that everyone has the right to live the life they choose for themselves. Our supported living services enable people to live happy and fulfilling lives in their own homes, with their own tenancies.



[Find a location](/find-a-location "Find a location")









About our services

About our services



- [![](/media/rsge0uae/thumbnail-supported-living-services.png)\
Supported living](/supported-living "Supported living ")

Priory stories

Priory stories

- [![](/media/yqlibmn2/teenage-girl-with-big-smile-thumbnailjpg.jpg)\
Live your life](/live-your-life "Live your life")

Useful information

Useful information

- [About our funding and referrals process](/supported-living/funding-and-referrals-for-supported-living "About our funding and referrals process")
- [Working with the NHS and local authorities](/about-us#services "Working with the NHS and local authorities")

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[Help with getting started](/our-services/help-with-getting-started "Help with getting started")

- Locations



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### Locations



If you want information about a specific Priory site, including those delivering services through the NHS or a local authority, use our search tool.



[Find a location](/find-a-location "Find a location")









Private hospitals

Private hospitals



- [Priory Hospital Roehampton, London](/locations/priory-hospital-roehampton-london "Priory Hospital Roehampton, London")
- [Life Works, Surrey](/locations/life-works "Life Works, Surrey")
- [Priory Hospital Altrincham](/locations/priory-hospital-altrincham-manchester "Priory Hospital Altrincham")
- [Priory Hospital Barnt Green](/locations/priory-hospital-barnt-green "Priory Hospital Barnt Green")
- [Priory Hospital Bristol](/locations/priory-hospital-bristol "Priory Hospital Bristol")
- [Priory Hospital Chelmsford](/locations/priory-hospital-chelmsford "Priory Hospital Chelmsford")
- [Priory Hospital Glasgow](/locations/priory-hospital-glasgow "Priory Hospital Glasgow")
- [Priory Hospital Hayes Grove, Kent](/locations/priory-hospital-hayes-grove "Priory Hospital Hayes Grove, Kent")
- [Priory Hospital North London](/locations/priory-hospital-north-london "Priory Hospital North London")
- [Priory Richmond Court](/locations/priory-richmond-court "Priory Richmond Court")
- [Priory Hospital Ticehurst House, Sussex](/locations/priory-hospital-ticehurst-house "Priory Hospital Ticehurst House, Sussex")
- [Priory Hospital Woking](/locations/priory-hospital-woking "Priory Hospital Woking")
- [Priory Hospital Woodbourne, Birmingham](/locations/priory-hospital-woodbourne-birmingham "Priory Hospital Woodbourne, Birmingham")
- [The Cottage, Woking](/locations/the-cottage "The Cottage, Woking")
- [Wimbledon Park Clinic](/locations/wimbledon-park-clinic "Wimbledon Park Clinic")

Private wellbeing centres

Private wellbeing centres

- [Priory Wellbeing Centre Birmingham](/locations/priory-wellbeing-centre-birmingham "Priory Wellbeing Centre Birmingham")
- [Bristol Park Clinic](https://www.priorygroup.com/locations/bristol-park-clinic "Bristol Park Clinic")
- [Priory Wellbeing Centre Canterbury](/locations/priory-wellbeing-centre-canterbury "Priory Wellbeing Centre Canterbury")
- [Priory Wellbeing Centre Harley Street](/locations/priory-wellbeing-centre-harley-street "Priory Wellbeing Centre Harley Street")
- [Priory Wellbeing Centre Manchester](/locations/priory-wellbeing-centre-manchester "Priory Wellbeing Centre Manchester")
- [Priory Wellbeing Centre Oxford](/locations/priory-wellbeing-centre-oxford "Priory Wellbeing Centre Oxford")
- [Priory Wellbeing Centre Southampton](/locations/priory-wellbeing-centre-southampton "Priory Wellbeing Centre Southampton")
- [North East Network Region](/locations/north-east-network-region "North East Network Region")
- [Priory Clinic Aberdeen](/locations/priory-clinic-aberdeen "Priory Clinic Aberdeen")
- [Priory Clinic Edinburgh](/locations/priory-clinic-edinburgh "Priory Clinic Edinburgh")

Useful information

Useful information

- [Payment and funding options](/about-us/payment-and-funding-options "Payment and funding options")
- [Working with the NHS and local authorities](/about-us#services "Working with the NHS and local authorities")

Not sure where to start?

[Help with getting started](/our-services/help-with-getting-started "Help with getting started")

Referrers  Referrers

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- Private outpatient treatment



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### Private outpatient treatment



Our network of hospitals and wellbeing centres provides quick access to private outpatient support, including consultant assessments and therapy.



[Therapy availability](/bed-availability/therapy-availability "Therapy availability") [Find a location](/find-a-location "Find a location")









Services

Services



- [Inpatient (residential) treatment](/our-services/inpatient-residential-treatment "Inpatient (residential) treatment")
- [Day care and outpatient treatment](/our-services/day-care-and-outpatient-treatment "Day care and outpatient treatment")
- [Online therapy](/our-services/online-therapy "Online therapy")
- [Private CAMHS](/private-camhs "Private CAMHS")
- [Private autism support](/mental-health/autism "Private autism support")

More information

More information

- [![](/media/eqihd2mo/about-our-services.png)\
About our services](/our-services "About our services")

Support for GPs

Support for GPs

- [Support for GPs](/gps-and-referrers "Support for GPs")

Support for consultants

Support for consultants

- [Working with Priory](/working-with-priory "Working with Priory")

Private inpatient information

[Private 24/7 bed availability](/bed-availability/private-247 "Private 24/7 bed availability")

- Hospitals



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### Hospitals



Priory has structured its services to align with NHS provision, in order to ensure a consistent approach to treatment. Our national network means that we are able to offer a full care pathway to patients, depending on their unique needs and the intensity of the support that is required.



[Bed availability](/bed-availability "Bed availability") [Find a location](/find-a-location "Find a location")







- [Working with the NHS and local authorities](/about-us "Working with the NHS and local authorities")

Services for the NHS

Services for the NHS

- [Our partnership with the NHS](/nhs "Our partnership with the NHS")
- [Acute and psychiatric intensive care units (PICU)](/nhs/acute-picu "Acute and psychiatric intensive care units (PICU)")
- [Rehabilitation and recovery (R&R)](/nhs/rehabilitation-and-recovery "Rehabilitation and recovery (R&R)")
- [NHS CAMHS](/nhs/child-and-adolescent-mental-health-services-camhs "NHS CAMHS")
- [NHS eating disorder services](/nhs/eating-disorder-services-nhs "NHS eating disorder services")
- [Secure services](/nhs/secure-services "Secure services")
- [Brain injury services](/residential-services/brain-injury-services "Brain injury services")
- [Bespoke therapeutic placements (BTPs)](/nhs/rehabilitation-and-recovery/bespoke-therapeutic-placements-btps "Bespoke therapeutic placements (BTPs)")

Private mental health and addiction services

Private mental health and addiction services

- [Addiction treatment](/addiction-treatment "Addiction treatment")
- [Mental health](/mental-health "Mental health")
- [Eating disorders](/eating-disorders "Eating disorders")
- [Private CAMHS](/private-camhs "Private CAMHS")

More information

More information

- [About our services](/about-us "About our services")
- [Integrated care systems](/nhs/integrated-care-systems "Integrated care systems")
- [Tailored care pathways](/nhs/pathways "Tailored care pathways")

Support for GPs

Support for GPs

- [Support for GPs](/gps-and-referrers "Support for GPs")

Support for consultants

Support for consultants

- [Working with Priory](/working-with-priory "Working with Priory")

- Residential



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### Residential homes



Priory provides a range of adult residential services supporting those with a learning disability, autism, brain injury, Prader-Willi syndrome, behaviours that challenge or a mental health condition.



[Bed availability](/bed-availability/residential "Bed availability") [Find a location](/find-a-location "Find a location")







- [Working with the NHS and local authorities](/about-us "Working with the NHS and local authorities")

Services

Services

- [Autism support](/residential-services/autism-support "Autism support")
- [Brain injury services](/residential-services/brain-injury-services "Brain injury services")
- [CAMHS transitional services](/nhs/rehabilitation-and-recovery/transitional-living-services-for-young-people-and-young-adults "CAMHS transitional services")
- [Homes with nursing](/residential-services/nursing-care-services "Homes with nursing")
- [Learning disability support](/residential-services/learning-disability-support "Learning disability support")
- [Mental health support](/residential-services/mental-health-support "Mental health support")
- [Older people's care services](/older-peoples-care-services "Older people's care services")
- [Prader-Willi syndrome support](/residential-services/prader-willi-syndrome-support "Prader-Willi syndrome support")

More information

More information

- [Residential services overview](/residential-services "Residential services overview")
- [Positive behaviour support (PBS)](/residential-services/positive-behaviour-support "Positive behaviour support (PBS)")
- [Integrated care systems (ICSs)](/nhs/integrated-care-systems "Integrated care systems (ICSs)")

Care pathways

Care pathways

- [![](/media/bq2hk5pf/thumbnail-pathways.png)\
Tailored care pathways](/nhs/pathways "Tailored care pathways")

- Supported living



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### Supported living



We work closely with landlords to ensure that our residents receive the highest standards of care and support within housing accommodation. Our teams have significant expertise in supporting people with complex needs, including positive behaviour support (PBS).



[Residential bed availability](/bed-availability/residential "Residential bed availability") [Find a location](/find-a-location "Find a location")







- [Working with the NHS and local authorities](/about-us "Working with the NHS and local authorities")

Our regions

Our regions

- [East England](/locations/supported-living/priory-supported-living-east-england "East England")
- [Hull and East Riding](/locations/supported-living/priory-supported-living-hull-and-east-riding "Hull and East Riding")
- [Kent](/locations/supported-living/priory-supported-living-kent "Kent")
- [Lancashire](/locations/supported-living/priory-supported-living-lancashire "Lancashire")
- [Lincolnshire](/locations/supported-living/priory-supported-living-lincolnshire "Lincolnshire")
- [London and Home Counties](/locations/supported-living/priory-supported-living-london-and-home-counties "London and Home Counties")
- [North Yorkshire](/locations/supported-living/priory-supported-living-north-yorkshire "North Yorkshire")
- [Scotland](/locations/supported-living/priory-supported-living-scotland "Scotland")
- [South Wales](/locations/supported-living/priory-supported-living-south-wales "South Wales")
- [The Shires](/locations/supported-living/priory-supported-living-the-shires "The Shires")
- [West Midlands](/locations/supported-living/priory-supported-living-west-midlands "West Midlands")
- [Whitby and Scarborough](/locations/supported-living/priory-supported-living-whitby-and-scarborough "Whitby and Scarborough")

More information

More information

- [Supported living service overview](/supported-living "Supported living service overview")
- [Our funding and referrals process](/supported-living/funding-and-referrals-for-supported-living "Our funding and referrals process")
- [Positive behaviour support (PBS)](/residential-services/positive-behaviour-support "Positive behaviour support (PBS)")
- [Integrated care systems (ICSs)](/nhs/integrated-care-systems "Integrated care systems (ICSs)")

Care pathways

Care pathways

- [![](/media/bq2hk5pf/thumbnail-pathways.png)\
Tailored care pathways](/nhs/pathways "Tailored care pathways")

- Autism and learning disability



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### Autism and learning disability



Our aim is to develop the skills of the people we support to help them make sense of the world around them, and through person-centred care plans, encourage them to achieve their goals and aspirations.



[Bed availability](/bed-availability/residential "Bed availability") [Find a location](/find-a-location "Find a location")







- [Working with the NHS and local authorities](/about-us "Working with the NHS and local authorities")

Residential services

Residential services

- [Residential autism support](/residential-services/autism-support "Residential autism support")
- [Residential learning disability support](/residential-services/learning-disability-support "Residential learning disability support")
- [Autism assessments and transitions](/nhs/pathways/autism-assessments-and-transitions "Autism assessments and transitions")

Hospital services

Hospital services

- [Learning disability and autism support](/nhs/rehabilitation-and-recovery/learning-disability-and-autism-support "Learning disability and autism support")
- [Bespoke therapeutic placements (BTPs)](/nhs/rehabilitation-and-recovery/bespoke-therapeutic-placements-btps "Bespoke therapeutic placements (BTPs)")

Private autism services

Private autism services

- [Private autism diagnosis and support](/mental-health/autism "Private autism diagnosis and support")
- [Private autism assessments for children and adults](/mental-health/autism/autism-assessments "Private autism assessments for children and adults")
- [Signs of autism](/mental-health/autism/autism-symptoms "Signs of autism")

Care pathways

Care pathways

- [![](/media/bq2hk5pf/thumbnail-pathways.png)\
Tailored care pathways](/nhs/pathways "Tailored care pathways")

[Businesses](/businesses "Businesses")

[Careers](https://jobs.priorygroup.com/ "Careers")

Contact Us

Call us

Call Us

Tap on a number to call

Treatment enquiries

[0330 056 6041](tel:443300566041 "0330 056 6041")

General enquiries

[0800 138 8680](tel:08001388680 "0800 138 8680")

[Enquire](/make-an-enquiry "Enquire")

- [Priory](/ "Priory")
- [Mental health](/mental-health "Mental health")
- [Anxiety treatment](/mental-health/anxiety-treatment "Anxiety treatment")
- Anxiety symptoms

# Signs and symptoms of anxiety

If you're experiencing persistent anxiety, recognising the symptoms is the first step towards finding the right support.

Start your journey to recovery with Priory and learn more about our evidence-based mental health treatments, delivered by expert clinicians.

[Start Recovery](/mental-health "Start Recovery")

![](/media/3ezfqzdt/banner-anxiety-symptoms.jpg)

On this page: [Definition](#definition "Definition") [Symptoms](#symptoms "Symptoms") [Online test](#test "Online test") [Who can get symptoms?](#who-can-get-symptoms "Who can get symptoms?") [Help for anxiety](#help "Help for anxiety")

![](/media/c3rf42dh/dr-william-shanahan-360x246.jpg)

Page medically reviewed by **[Dr William Shanahan](https://www.priorygroup.com/consultants/dr-william-shanahan)**, Medical Director (Private) and Clinical Director of Addictions (BAO, BCh, DCH, D'OBS, FRCPsych, MB), **[Priory Hospital Roehampton](https://www.priorygroup.com/locations/priory-hospital-roehampton-london)**, in March 2022.

## What is anxiety?

Anxiety is an emotion that we all experience from time-to-time. Characterised as a sense of fear, trepidation or worry, anxiety is a natural human response to feeling threatened. You might have felt anxious when you had your last job interview, or spoke in front of a large audience, as things like this can make us feel ‘out of our comfort zone’.

While feelings of anxiety can be entirely normal, some people find their anxiety is so severe it damages their ability to lead a normal life. This is when anxiety becomes a mental health disorder, that needs professional treatment.

## What does anxiety feel like? Symptoms of anxiety

[Anxiety statistics](/mental-health/anxiety-treatment/anxiety-statistics "Anxiety statistics") show that this condition affects millions of people in the UK every year. Today, anxiety has many effective treatments and a full recovery is perfectly achievable.

Whether they are psychological or **[physical symptoms of anxiety](/mental-health/anxiety-treatment/anxiety-symptoms "11 physical symptoms of anxiety")**, the disorder can manifest itself differently in different people. If you think you might be suffering from anxiety, here are the key signs and symptoms to look out for:

PsychologicalPhysicalBehavioural/social

![](/media/ckcptszu/psychological-symptoms-of-anxiety.jpg?rmode=max&width=1000&height=724)

- A persistent sense of worry, apprehension, dread or hopelessness, which are often disproportionate to the situation
- Constantly worrying about something negative happening
- Feeling trapped and unable to find a ‘way out’. Wanting to 'flee'
- Anger, irritability and impatience – often for no apparent reason
- Feeling fearful, paranoid and tense
- Mood swings
- Extreme stress
- Feeling tearful and emotionally tired
- Difficulty concentrating
- Low self-esteem

![](/media/04gbrlmg/physical-symptoms-of-anxiety.jpg?rmode=max&width=1000&height=724)

- Headaches
- Nausea
- Feeling faint, dizzy or light-headed
- Needing the toilet more or less often
- Sweating and hot or cold flushes
- Shortness of breath and tightness in your chest
- Increased heartbeat or palpitations
- Muscle tension and tiredness
- Appetite changes – either increased or reduced appetite which may also result in weight fluctuations
- Sleep disturbances – reduced sleep because you're unable to ‘switch off’ from your anxiety, or finding that you're sleeping long hours and struggle to get out of bed
- Panic attacks

- Social withdrawal and isolation
- Reduced work or school performance
- Taking time off sick from work or school
- Inability to manage day-to-day tasks effectively
- Drug and alcohol abuse as a way of self-medicating

## Take our free anxiety test

If you need help assessing yourself, our free assessment tool could help.

[Take the test](https://www.priorygroup.com/anxiety-test "Take the test")

## **Who can get anxiety symptoms?**

Anxiety as a feeling can, and does, happen to anyone. However, for people who develop severe anxiety and are diagnosed with a [**type of anxiety disorder**](https://www.priorygroup.com/mental-health/anxiety-treatment/types-of-anxiety "Types of Anxiety"), the causes could be one or a combination of things. Some common causes for developing an anxiety disorder include:

### **Life events**

Going through a significant life event or experience can be a major trigger for severe anxiety. These events may bring about change and upheaval in your life that you're struggling to cope with. The stress that these events bring can result in anxiety. Examples include:

- Losing someone who's close to you
- The break-up of a marriage or relationship
- Money issues
- Working long hours or suddenly losing your job
- Worrying about issues in the world around you, such as a pandemic, war, famine, or concerns around the environment

### **Childhood or past trauma**

During your childhood years, you're still developing emotionally as a human being. If traumatic events or experiences occur during childhood, it may affect your ability to deal with stressful scenarios in adulthood – as you were unable to fully develop the right coping strategies as a child. Some of these experiences include:

- Physical, sexual or emotional abuse
- Neglect
- Divorce of your parents
- Loss of a parent – especially at an early age
- Being bullied in school, or struggling to make friends

These issues might also affect you as an adult, especially if you bottle up any feelings you have around these issues.

They may leave you with a number of negative automatic thoughts: 'I’m a failure, I’m no good at anything', or negative assumptions: 'I'll never make anything of myself; everything I touch is doomed to failure'. These feelings may have been implanted in our subconscious minds many years ago by a figure in authority. We want to get past them but we fear they might be true.

### **Other health complications**

It's common for people who are diagnosed with an anxiety disorder to also have issues with other areas of their health. For example, anxiety is common symptom of depression, and many people who live with depression might develop an anxiety disorder because of their struggles with mental health.

Physical health problems can also intertwine with mental health in a way that contributes to developing anxiety. If you have a history of health issues, you might develop [**health anxiety**](/mental-health/anxiety-treatment/health-anxiety "Health anxiety"), where you become worried that small sensations are major health problems. A serious physical health issue might also lead to developing anxiety, especially if it severely affects your quality of life. It's also worth noting that some medication may list [**anxiety as a side effect**](https://www.webmd.com/anxiety-panic/anxiety-causing-meds).

Sometimes, an unbearable anxiety can be 'converted' into a more acceptable physical symptom such as back pain, or migraine, or even a paralysis. We can search for an underlying physical problem and have numerous investigations that fail to find a source. It is then that the possibility of everything being caused by anxiety arises.

Paul's inspirational story of mental health recovery

![](/media/jsjp5efp/depression-lowest-point-case-study.png)

Paul's inspirational story of mental health recovery

## **When to get help for anxiety**

If your anxiety is getting in the way of your ability to lead a normal life, or your symptoms for anxiety have persisted over many days and weeks, it might be time to get support. Anxiety is a treatable mental health condition, and sufferers are able to make a full recovery and return to normal.

The first place to go is your GP. They can assess your symptoms, offer a [diagnosis for anxiety](/mental-health/anxiety-treatment/anxiety-diagnosis "Anxiety Diagnosis") and outline treatment options.

Alternatively, you could get in touch with Priory directly, where our world class team of mental health practitioners help people deal with their anxiety across the UK every single day. We can diagnose any mental health issues that you're struggling with and then outline a course of [anxiety treatment](/mental-health/anxiety-treatment "Anxiety treatment") that will help you get your life back on track.

In most cases, anxiety can be treated with therapy and/or medication. These can be delivered through one of our [many different treatment programmes](/our-services "Our services"), such as intensive inpatient stays, outpatient or day care therapy sessions that fit in with your life and work commitments. We also offer [online therapy](/our-services/online-therapy "Online therapy") that allows you to recover from the comfort of your own home.

Whichever course of treatment is right for you, get in touch with Priory and start your journey to recovery today.

#### Further information

![](/media/j0xkm4ch/thumbnail-anxiety-diagnosis.jpg)

[**Anxiety diagnosis**](/mental-health/anxiety-treatment/anxiety-diagnosis "Anxiety diagnosis")

![](/media/w5np2ic2/thumbnail-anxiety-in-men.jpg)

[**Anxiety in men: symptoms, causes and treatment**](/mental-health/anxiety-treatment/anxiety-in-men "Anxiety in men: symptoms, causes and treatment")

![](/media/dtzpxfzc/thumbnail-anxiety-in-women.jpg)

[**Anxiety in women**](/mental-health/anxiety-treatment/anxiety-in-women "Anxiety in women")

![](/media/g2fgq3l3/thumbnail-anxiety-medications-uk.jpg)

[**Understanding anxiety medication: options and uses**](/mental-health/anxiety-treatment/anxiety-medication-uk "Understanding anxiety medication: options and uses")

![](/media/zxtbvcah/thumbnail-health-anxiety.jpg)

[**Health anxiety**](/mental-health/anxiety-treatment/health-anxiety "Health anxiety")

![](/media/shbjefke/thumbnail-postpartum-anxiety.jpg)

[**Postpartum anxiety**](/mental-health/anxiety-treatment/postpartum-anxiety "Postpartum anxiety")

![](/media/fpele4wn/thumbnail-social-anxiety.jpg)

[**Social anxiety disorder**](/mental-health/anxiety-treatment/social-anxiety "Social anxiety disorder")

![](/media/flxh3sjy/thumbnail-anxiety-treatment.jpg)

[**Anxiety treatment**](/mental-health/anxiety-treatment "Anxiety treatment")

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