Anxiety is one of our most common modern feelings. Fear evolved to help us survive so that we could respond quickly if in danger. The fight or flight response was intended to prepare an individual in a dangerous situation to fight or run away. Modern life has unprecedented dangers, but they’re usually not the sort you can hit on the nose or run away from. So our anxiety accumulates and our bodies are powerless to resist its pernicious effects.

Anxiety is a diffuse condition that ranges from mild sensations of uneasiness and tension to full-blown, disabling panic attacks. When the latter occur for the first time, it can be a terrifying experience because of the intensity of the symptoms involved.

Temporary anxiety is often the response to a stressful or demanding event, such as sitting an examination or speaking in public. Common symptoms of this form of anxiety may involve an uneasy situation of ‘butterflies’ in the stomach accompanied by muscular weakness.

However, this is generally a much less intense experience of anxiety than the symptoms experienced by those with long-term chronic anxiety. Long-term anxiety leads to persistent problems such as tension headaches, irritable bowel syndrome, insomnia, general fatigue and burn out.

Positive life style changes may help, especially in short-term anxiety, as well as obtaining additional help from a counsellor or psychotherapist. Breathing deeply also helps as this makes the body release endorphins, which are hormones having a calming effect on the body. Other therapies and treatments that can help reduce anxiety include aromatherapy, massage and herbs, in particular Kava Kava and Valerian.