Anxiety happens because it is a form of safety mechanism. It's your brain trying to protect you so that you survive. That's a good thing! However, sometimes the brain's sensitivity (Let's call it your radar) can be set too high and sensitive due to a previous event that wasn't processed in the usual way. The original (root) event was likely to have created some form of trauma. The brain then decides that to keep you safe from further potential trauma, it must keep you in a state of 'Red Alert'. The radar then constantly watches for something it considers as a potential threat. The more sensitive the radar becomes, which often happens the longer you have it, the smaller the potential trigger and the bigger the response. It is the anticipation that something may happen to feel unsafe.

Where anxiety comes from? Anxiety stems from part of the brain called the Amygdala. This is the part that triggers that well-known phrase, 'Fight or flight', the protection device to ensure you survive.

Removing anxiety via a treatment should be about resetting your radar and altering the neuro-pathways so that the event and the emotion are separated. It's about separating the emotions from the event, so that you don't respond in distress. Below are the most commonly asked questions about anxiety.

Anxiety can take many forms. Sometimes it can be obvious, yet it can be within someone and not displayed. Anxiety can look like a person being agitated with shallow breathing that may be increased in rate. They can also become reserved as they try to hide their anxiety or emotions, avoiding any interaction. There may be a trigger that causes them to suddenly become agitated or emotional while they display the 'fight or flight' response.

Anxiety can cause a person to look overwhelmed, sweating profusely, trembling, pale complexion, light-headed and nauseous with dilated pupils and yet some try very hard to hide it.

Other symptoms can be a change in appetite, self-harming or an increase in OCD (Obsessive Compulsion Disorder). Sleep can be affected as they can over-think situations. This lack of sleep can lead to tiredness and lethargy, so an indicator may be regular yawning and lower than normal energy levels.

Use the anxiety checklist that's available to download on the Resources page to assist you recognising potential anxiety.

Anxiety is a reaction to a potential event that is perceived as traumatic. This means that you are on high alert and have stress chemicals being released by the brain in preparation of having to 'fight or flight'. The body has a Sympathetic Nervous System which instructs various parts of your body to prepare to do what may be needed to ensure safety. You can see this in the diagram which can be downloaded from the Resources page.

Your breathing may become shallow and more rapid. Pulse rate increase as the stress chemical Cortisol and Adrenaline are released. Your mouth may become dry and muscles feel tense. Your pupils will dilate and your stomach may feel either knotted or full or butterflies. This may lead to a feeling of nausea.

Digestion is inhibited, so you can lose your appetite. Naturally a reduced intake of food and poor diet can cause lower energy, so you may feel tired or lethargic and yet can't sleep. There may be an urge for sugary foods to provide a quick energy boost.

Yes and No, but it depends. Everyone is different and unique, so there are a few factors on whether and how easily the anxiety goes away. It depends on the nature of the anxiety, the severity of the anxiety/trauma and also what is required to enable you to overcome the anxiety. If it is short-term and mild anxiety, then there is the potential for the anxiety to dissipate by itself. How long this takes will vary and is dependant on various factors..

If the anxiety or trauma is deep rooted, then the likelihood of it going away is highly unlikely. Some people live with anxiety for years or even decades. If there is no intervention, then that trauma can stay throughout life and can cause other issues or be manifested as Eating disorders, change in temperament or change in personality. This is known as the refractory period (see diagram). When anxiety takes over your life, it can feel like there's no way out and that you no longer feel like you. Just because someone has anxiety and trauma, doesn't mean they have to live with it. There are solutions!

A common question is, what anxiety do I have? There are several types of anxiety disorder. Bear in mind there is a difference between anxiety, fear and trauma. They have different characteristics and so it is important to identify what you have when working with a specialist so that you have the most effective solution/treatment.

The most common are:

General Anxiety Disorder.
Separation Anxiety Disorder

Social Anxiety Disorder

Anxiety, no matter what label it is given all have a similar effect on the body. What triggers the Anxiety is personal to the individual. It may be a common trigger such as the Social Anxiety Disorder or the Separation Anxiety Disorder, however, all anxieties are triggered from a root cause or event. If you watch the video The Trauma Tree or look at the diagram, you will see that Anxiety is a branch of the Trauma Tree, hence why it is important that the root cause is addressed, not just the anxiety. Some people can have more than just the anxiety as they may have and display OCD as this is a form of control in a world that is perceived as out of control.

Every person's Trauma Tree is different and the quantity and type of branches can vary. Now you see why it is important to be labelled. Remember that your brain believes it is doing it's best to protect you. Anxiety is the brain working too hard to protect you and just needs a reset. It has become over-sensitive and your safety radar has been set to 'Maximum'.

Anxiety has the potential for to be worse in the morning for a simple reason; we don't know what is going to happen in the day ahead. Your subconscious will be asking questions like:

Will I be OK?
What will happen today?

Will anyone notice my anxiety?

What will happen if they do see my anxiety?

How bad is my anxiety going to be?

Will I embarrass myself?

Will I be safe?

Remember that anxiety is anticipatory, therefore the unknown and future can be seen as a threat and unsafe. When the radar is set to highly sensitive, these questions show there is a potential threat to safety or being embarrassed and so becomes a vicious circle. At the end of the day, you will be in the safety of being at home and away from people or triggers that you probably avoided and all the issues from the questions, so there is a form of relief.

Anxiety can cause chest pains which can vary in severity. This is a physical symptom as opposed to a mental or emotional symptom. However, it is important to be aware if the pain is being caused by another factor. Any chest pain should be checked by a Doctor/GP in case it is a symptom of something else.

Chest pain can be from anxiety progressing into a panic attack. The chest can become tight. The pain can appear and disappear quite quickly. It can feel like a sharp, stabbing pain. The pain can last for about 10 mins, although other symptoms may last longer.

Extended lengths of anxiety can lead to physical illness and cardiac issues. When in distress, the body releases Cortisol, which if released for sustained periods can compromise the immune system and potential cause physical illness.

Anxiety can cause high blood pressure and cardiac issues. This will depend on the nature and severity of the anxiety and their state of health. Anxiety can trigger other health issues indirectly rather than the anxiety itself causing it, eg a poor diet or lack of self-care.

If you feel that you may be experiencing high blood pressure, cardiac issues or any other symptoms of concern, see your Doctor/GP.

There is potential to experience anxiety tics. These can be either physical tics, verbal tics or both. Anxiety tics may occur under levels of stress, tiredness or extremes of emotion.

Tics can be genetic and may appear at some point in life and coincide with anxiety, rather than being caused by anxiety.

If the tic is happening when anxious or feeling under pressure/distress, it is possible to overcome trauma and anxiety with the right support or practitioner to enable a calmer and more relaxed life which will reduce the trigger of a tic.