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Understanding Children and Young People’s Mental Health

What is anxiety?

Anxiety is a normal part of life for everyone to some degree. A certain level of anxiety is
normal. It helps us to avoid dangerous situations, keeps us alert and motivates us to
deal with problems. It’s only when anxiety gets out of control that the symptoms
can become debilitating and prevent people from doing everyday things.

Here is a definition of anxiety:

D Definition: Anxiety

Anxiety is what we feel when we are worried, tense or afraid
– particularly about things that are about to happen, or which
we think could happen in the future. Anxiety is a natural human
response when we perceive that we are under threat. It can be
experienced through our thoughts, feelings and physical sensations.
Source: www.mind.org.uk

A person who is anxious may feel worried, upset, sick, shaky, faint or that they may
pass out.

Anxiety becomes a mental health disorder when it occurs regularly and at any time,
and produces prolonged symptoms of stress affecting a person’s quality of life. If a
person responds with anxiety to events or threats that do not pose a realistic danger,
the condition can enter a cycle where everything becomes a potential crisis. In these
situations, the person becomes incapable of maintaining a normal daily life.

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