Anxiety

Anxiety is a feeling of unease, worry or fear about something that might go wrong. It often shows in the body, as a fast heartbeat, sweating or a churning stomach. Some anxiety is a normal response to pressure. It becomes an anxiety disorder when it’s excessive for the situation, hard to control, lasts for months and disrupts daily life.

Also called: worry, nervousness, unease. “Anxiety attack” is an everyday phrase, not a diagnosis; the clinical term for a sudden surge of intense fear is a panic attack.

This is a short definition. Our full guide, Anxiety: Meaning, Symptoms and Treatment in Nigeria, covers the symptoms, the types of anxiety disorder, tests, treatment and where to get help.

Signs and symptoms

• In the body: a fast heartbeat, breathlessness, sweating, shaking, dizziness, stomach upset and poor sleep.
• In the mind: feeling on edge, fearing the worst, poor concentration and irritability.
• In what you do: avoiding places, checking things and seeking reassurance.

Causes

There’s rarely one cause. Stressful or traumatic experiences, ongoing pressure, temperament, health and genes all play a part. Caffeine, alcohol and drugs can make it worse. Avoiding what you fear brings quick relief but tends to make anxiety stronger over time.

Treatment

WHO and NICE guidance put talking therapy first. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) has the strongest evidence: you learn how thoughts, body sensations and avoidance feed each other, and you face fears in small steps. A doctor may prescribe an antidepressant such as an SSRI. Sedatives aren’t recommended, except very briefly in a crisis.

In Nigeria

Anxiety is often described through the body first: palpitations, dizziness, or heat in the head or body. WHO’s diagnostic manual notes complaints like these, and explanations such as spiritual attack or envy, in many cultures. Nigeria’s national survey found low rates, which researchers think are underestimates. Real worries about money or safety aren’t a disorder in themselves.

Anxiety vs stress and fear

Fear is about a danger in front of you now; anxiety looks ahead to what might happen. Stress is your response to outside pressure, such as a demanding job, and anxiety can carry on after the pressure has gone. Our stress guide covers that side.

When to get help

Get help if anxiety is there most days, is hard to control, or stops you working, studying or seeing people. You can book a licensed therapist on Mytherapist.ng who works with anxiety and panic. Chest pain, breathlessness that doesn’t settle, or fainting needs urgent medical help: call 112, or 767 in Lagos.

Read next

• Anxiety: the full guide
• What Is Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD)?
• Anxiety Attack Symptoms (and How Panic Differs)
• Panic attack

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This entry is awaiting clinical review. It’s based on published research and health guidelines, and we’ll update it once a clinician has reviewed it.