Stress and anxiety are normal human feeling and can be useful, for example when we are expected to meet deadlines a healthy level of anxiety will spur us on to complete projects on time. Stress and anxiety become a problem when the feelings are strong enough to have a detrimental effect on your life or if they go on for too long. Eventually they can become an illness affecting your mental and physical health.

Anxiety disorders have symptoms in the mind and the body. If you answer yes to around half or more of the questions over each of the categories below, it may be an indicator that you are suffering from an anxiety illness.

MIND

1. Do you feel worried almost all of the time?

2. Do you feel tired or lacking in energy all of the time?

3. Do you have episodes of panic?

4. Are you unable to concentrate on a task for more than for as long as you used to be able to.

5. Do you feel unusually irritable, with tasks or people or get angry quickly?

6. Are you finding getting to sleep difficult or are you waking earlier than usual?

BODY

7. Do you ever experience a strong or rapid heartbeat?(sometimes known as “palpitations”)

8. Do you find yourself sweating excessively when you are not exercising?

9. Do you have regular or constant pain or tension in your muscles?

10. Do you find yourself breathing quickly or more heavily at times of anxiety?

11. Are you experiencing indigestion or diarrhoea?

If you're worried you may be suffering from an anxiety illness visit your GP

For help, support or further information contact one of the following organisations:

The Royal College of Psychiatrists factsheet on Anxiety and Phobias

Anxiety UK

A national charity for those affected by anxiety disorders

Mind

Information and support from one of the UKs leading mental health charities

Samaritans

National telephone helpline and email service for those in distress, who feel suicidal or need someone to talk to.

SaneLine

A national out-of-hours telephone helpline offering emotional support and information for people affected by mental health problems. Open from 6pm to 11pm every day of the year.

Questionnaire compiled with the help of Dr Jim Bolton and Dr Martin Briscoe, consultant psychiatrists and members of the Royal College of Psychiatrists Public Education Editorial Board