When we think of anxiety, we often think of a mental health condition that induces feelings of worry, concern, fear and nervousness. But, although we are absolutely correct to assume that this is a problem that starts in the brain, it is actually just as much a physical state as it is a mental one.
"Anxiety is the feeling you have when you think that something unpleasant is going to happen in the future. Other words such as feeling 'apprehensive', 'fearful' 'uncertain', 'nervous' and 'on edge' also provide a good description of feelings linked to anxiety," explains Nicky Lidbetter, CEO of Anxiety UK, in her guide Understanding Anxiety.
It is useful to understand the broad array of physical symptoms that someone with an anxiety disorder or panic disorder can feel both during a panic attack and on a daily basis.
It also reminds patients that these physical feelings, however easy to misinterpret, are not in their heads – they are very real and have plausible, scientific explanations.
THE SCIENCE: HOW DOES ANXIETY AFFECT OUR BODIES?
Courtesy of Neville C. Bardoliwalla OBE