Anxiety is a basic, fundamental emotion that we all experience when our bodies anticipate threat or danger. However, for various reasons, sometimes people can miscalculate the danger of a situation and may experience anxiety issues that are out of proportion to the actual event. If your feelings of worry and stress occur often, for a long period of time, or feel as though they are consuming you, you may be suffering from an anxiety disorder.

Although not all of the following will apply to you, some of the most common symptoms of an anxiety disorder include:

• Dizziness
• Sweating
• Noticeably strong, fast, or irregular heartbeat (palpitations)
• Trembling or shaking
• Dry mouth
• Stomach ache
• Headache
• Feeling nauseous
• Shortness of breath
• Loss of appetite
• Dread
• Panic
• Worry
• Terror / fear
• Jumpiness
• Nervousness

However, specific symptoms depend on the type of anxiety disorder you suffer from, as anxiety can take the form of:

• Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD)
• Panic disorder
• Health anxiety
• Phobias
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

If you feel that any of the above applies to you, know that you are not alone, as anxiety is one of the most common issues and you can benefit greatly from therapy.