How to manage anxiety and fear

This guide from the Mental Health Foundation will help you understand and manage feelings of anxiety and fear.

Fear is one of the most powerful emotions. It has a very strong effect on your mind and body.

It’s a human response that is vital for our survival. It helps us respond to emergencies or dangerous situations; for example, if there is a fire or we’re being attacked. It can also occur in more every day, non-life-threatening events like exams, public speaking, a job interview, a date, or even a party. It’s a natural reaction to events that put you under pressure.

Anxiety is a word we use for fears about the threat of something going wrong in the future, rather than right now.

Anxiety can last for a short time and then pass when whatever was causing you worry is over, but it can also last much longer and disrupt your life. Ongoing anxiety can affect your ability to eat, sleep, or concentrate. It can prevent you from enjoying life, travelling, or even leaving the house to go to work or school.

When anxiety holds you back from doing the things you want or need to do, it can also affect your health. Some people become overwhelmed by fear and want to avoid situations that might make them frightened or anxious. It can be hard to break this cycle, but there are lots of ways to do it. You can learn to feel less fearful and to cope with anxiety so that it doesn’t stop you from living.

This guide includes information about the things that can make us feel anxious or afraid, why we experience these feelings and some things that we can do to help.

Download the ‘How to Manage Fear and Anxiety’ Guide