Anxiety is a natural human response to stress, uncertainty, or perceived threat. It is part of the body’s built-in “fight, flight, or freeze” system, designed to help us stay alert and respond to danger. While anxiety is a normal and sometimes helpful experience, it can become unhelpful when it is experienced too frequently, too intensely, or in situations where there is no immediate threat.

Anxiety can develop in different ways. For some people, it is linked to a specific incident or situation, such as a stressful life event, trauma, social experience, health concern, or a particular trigger. For others, anxiety can feel more generalised, where worry and tension are present across many areas of life without one clear cause.

When anxiety becomes overwhelming, it can affect thoughts, emotions, and behaviour. People may experience ongoing worry, overthinking, difficulty concentrating, or a sense of being constantly “on edge.” Physical symptoms are also common and may include a racing heart, tight chest, muscle tension, restlessness, fatigue, or sleep difficulties.

Anxiety can also lead to changes in behaviour, such as avoiding certain situations, seeking frequent reassurance, difficulty making decisions, or withdrawing from activities that once felt manageable. Over time, these patterns can impact daily functioning, relationships, work, and overall wellbeing.