Anxiety
People with anxiety problems get extremely worried - often for no reason. Phobias are a kind of anxiety problem that make people very scared of particular things like spiders, snakes or heights.
Anxiety can make you feel worried, frightened, irritable and fidgety. It can also make you feel sick, give you a stomach-ache and make you want to go to the loo a lot.
The types of help you may be offered
Self help - there may be things that you can do to help yourself. The doctor or person working with you might talk through some ideas with you about how to do this.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) - this is a talking therapy. It will help you think about how you react to things. You will work with a therapist to find ways to change the way you think and behave.
Medication - you may be offered a type of antidepressant medication called Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI). This may make you think and feel better and behave differently. It can help some people, but it can cause side effects in others. You should not be given medicines known as antipsychotics or sedative antihistamines, or benzodiazepines.
For more information go to Netdoctor
Don’t be afraid to ask questions.
- What will help me?
- Why will that help me?
- How long will I have to take it?
- How many times will I have to see a therapist?
- What will it do to me – what are the side effects?
- What do I do if it makes me feel ill?
- What will happen if I don’t like what you are offering me?
There is NICE guidance for people aged 18 and over on panic disorders and anxiety disorders.
Further information
What is Nice?
NICE stands for the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. It is an organisation which gives people advice about health and treatment.
