What should you know about feeling extremely anxious?

Anxiety may bring racing thoughts, a sense of danger, irritability, trembling, a fast heartbeat, tight muscles, sweating, nausea or breathlessness. It can follow a stressful event, poor sleep, illness, stimulant use or an ongoing worry. Some people experience sudden surges that resemble panic; others feel on edge for much of the day. Persistent anxiety can interfere with work, relationships, concentration or rest. Generalised Anxiety Disorder describes a pattern of difficult-to-control worry across several areas of life, while Panic Disorder involves recurrent unexpected panic attacks. Feeling anxious alone does not establish either diagnosis.

Move to a quieter place and slow your breathing by making the exhale gentle and longer than the inhale. Unclench your jaw, place both feet on the floor and name a few things you can see or hear. Sip water, eat regularly if you can, and reduce caffeine, nicotine and other stimulants. Write down the situation, sensations and thoughts so a clinician can see patterns. If anxiety keeps returning or affects sleep and daily life, arrange a Mental Health Assessment. Talking therapy, practical coping skills and medicines may each have a role depending on the assessment.

Seek urgent help if anxiety comes with chest pain, severe breathing difficulty, fainting, confusion, new weakness or thoughts of harming yourself. Contact a clinician soon when symptoms are persistent, escalating, causing repeated panic, or stopping you from sleeping, eating, working or leaving home. A clinician may also consider physical contributors such as Hyperthyroidism, medication effects or exhaustion. If low mood, loss of interest or hopelessness accompanies the anxiety, mention it because Depression can require its own assessment.

Ask what might be triggering the episodes, whether a physical check or medication review is appropriate, which treatment options fit your situation, and what to do if symptoms suddenly intensify. Tell them when the anxiety began, how long episodes last, what you notice in your body, how sleep is affected and whether alcohol or recreational drugs are involved.