Anxiety is a feeling of unease, such as worry or fear, that can be mild or severe. Everyone has feelings of it at some point in their life. For example, you may feel worried and anxious about sitting an exam, or having a medical test or job interview.

It is a mental health condition that can be best described as the gnawing feeling that something bad is about to happen, that someone is out there to get us, that we’re going to fail.

Often it is an irrational yet overpowering emotion that leaves us incapacitated, unable to carry out even the minuscule tasks like ordering food or answering a phone call. Anxiety disorders strip us of our ability to work, maintain relationships, and live a functional life.

Types of Anxiety Disorders

• Generalised anxiety disorder (You feel excessive, unrealistic worry and tension with little or no reason),
• panic disorder,
• social anxiety disorder,
• specific phobias,
• agoraphobia,
• separation anxiety,
• selective mutism
• & medication-induced anxiety disorder.

Feeling restless, wound-up, or on-edge, being easily fatigued, having difficulty concentrating, being irritable, having headaches, muscle aches, stomachaches, or unexplained pains, difficulty controlling feelings of worry, having sleep problems, such as difficulty falling or staying asleep.

The best coping strategies are: take a time-out, eat well-balanced meals, limit alcohol and caffeine (which can aggravate anxiety and trigger panic attacks), get enough sleep, exercise daily( to help you feel good and maintain your health), take deep breaths, count to 10 slowly, just do your best.

Some ways to manage it: learning about it, mindfulness, relaxation techniques, correct breathing techniques, dietary adjustments, exercise, learning to be assertive, building self-esteem, cognitive therapy, exposure therapy, structured problem solving, medication and support groups.

Read also: Stress!