The fear of redundancy, the worry about future prospects, worrying about our appearance or being judged were not concerns for our evolutionary predecessors. So much of our anxiety can build up gradually and stay with us. This can lead to emotional/psychological symptoms such as:

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• Feelings of apprehension or dread

• Trouble concentrating

• Feeling tense and jumpy

• Anticipating the worst

• Irritability

• Restlessness

• Watching for signs of danger

• Feeling like your mind’s gone blank

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Physical symptoms include:

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• Pounding heart

• Sweating

• Dry mouth

• Stomach upset or dizziness

• Frequent urination or diarrhea

• Shortness of breath

• Tremors and twitches

• Muscle tension

• Headaches

• Fatigue

• Insomnia

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A very primitive part of our brain, called the limbic system, creates what we call the flight/fight response - gearing us up for immediate action. We may find we want to make everything safe - NOW! But that's not so easy.....

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Indeed, anxiety can then take on a life of its own – as we worry about our anxiety symptoms. Our limbic system will encourage us to think negatively and see things from the worst possible perspective. Great for dealing with predators! It keeps you on your toes and ready to run. But it's not so good for 21st Century living and all the complex challenges we face today.

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We get anxious about being anxious! We get caught in a vicious circle.