Understanding anxiety introduction presentation

Understanding Anxiety Level One Course

• Welcome to understanding Anixety level one.
• This presentation will introduce you to the topic of Anxiety and the different types of anxiety that there are. The anxiety course begins by explaining what anxiety is, how prevalent it is and why individuals may experience heightened anxiety day to day. The course goes on to examine the difference between fear and anxiety, before outlining the symptoms of anxiety.
• The next module will highlight the different causes for anxiety in daily life and signpost where you can go to get support with each of these concerns.

Aims of the session

What is Anxiety?

• Anxiety is a feeling of unease, such as worry or fear, that can be mild or severe.​
• Anxiety is a fear of a situation or sensation.​
• Everyone has feelings of anxiety at some point in their life. For example, you may feel worried and anxious about sitting an exam or having a medical test or job interview. During times like these, feeling anxious can be perfectly normal.​
• However, some people find it hard to control their worries. Their feelings of anxiety are more constant and can often affect their daily life.​
• Anxiety is the main symptom of several conditions, including panic disorder, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder and social anxiety disorder (social phobia).​

Types of anxiety

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder.
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) .​
• Panic Disorder.
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
• Social Phobia (or Social Anxiety Disorder)
• Hoarding can also be caused by Anxiety.

What causes Anxiety?

• Over activity in areas of the brain involved in emotions and behaviour​
• an imbalance of the brain chemicals serotonin and noradrenaline, which are involved in the control and regulation of mood​
• Brain is constantly in a state of fight or responding to threats mode and so you may find it difficult to relax or regulate your nervous system.​
• the genes you inherit from your parents – you're estimated to be five times more likely to develop GAD if you have a close relative with the condition​
• having a history of stressful or traumatic experiences, such as domestic violence, child abuse or bullying​
• having a painful long-term health condition, such as arthritis​
• having a history of drug or alcohol misuse​