I am feeling anxious: what should I know?

Anxiety may cause racing thoughts, muscle tension, restlessness, fast breathing, sweating, stomach upset, or difficulty concentrating. Ongoing worry can disrupt sleep, work, relationships, and appetite. Generalised anxiety disorder, panic disorder, burnout, depression, insomnia, and an overactive thyroid can all be associated with anxious feelings, but the symptom alone cannot identify a diagnosis.

Notice the situations, thoughts, body sensations, and behaviours that accompany it. This information can help a clinician understand whether anxiety is brief and situational or has become a continuing pattern.

Slow your breathing by making the exhale comfortable and unhurried. Ground yourself by naming things you can see, hear, and feel. Keep regular meals, movement, sleep times, and contact with supportive people. Reduce caffeine if it worsens racing thoughts or palpitations. A mental health assessment can help match support to your symptoms; talking therapies and other treatments may be considered.

Arrange an appointment if anxiety lasts, keeps returning, causes panic, or makes daily life difficult. Seek urgent help if you may harm yourself, cannot stay safe, feel detached from reality, or have severe chest pain or breathing difficulty that could have another medical cause. If symptoms began suddenly with a new medicine or physical illness, contact a clinician promptly.

Ask what might be contributing, whether thyroid or other physical checks are appropriate, and which therapy, self-management approach, or medicine could help. Share your sleep, caffeine use, triggers, panic symptoms, mood, and any thoughts of self-harm.