Protocol for Anxiety

Everyone can feel anxious sometimes, but people with anxiety disorders often experience fear and worry that is both intense and excessive. These feelings are typically accompanied by physical tension and other behavioural and cognitive symptoms. They are difficult to control, cause significant distress and can last a long time if untreated. Anxiety disorders interfere with daily activities and can impair a person’s family, social and school or working life.

An estimated 4.4% of the global population currently experience an anxiety disorder (1). In 2021, 359 million people in the world had an anxiety disorder, making anxiety disorders the most common of all mental disorders.

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Symptoms and patterns

People with an anxiety disorder may experience excessive fear or worry about a specific situation (for example, a panic attack or social situation) or, in the case of generalized anxiety disorder, about a broad range of everyday situations. They typically experience these symptoms over an extended period – at least several months. Usually they avoid the situations that make them anxious.

Other symptoms of anxiety disorders may include:

• trouble concentrating or making decisions

• feeling irritable, tense or restless

• experiencing nausea or abdominal distress

• having heart palpitations

• sweating, trembling or shaking

• trouble sleeping

• having a sense of impending danger, panic or doom.