They frequently seek reassurance about their health but fail to feel reassured. People with health anxiety are preoccupied with having or acquiring a serious illness. The amount of worry is normally out of proportion to the actual danger. People with GAD report excessive worry about non-specific life events such as health, finances, work, or relationships. Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and worry Each is characterized by a particular type of fear. Psychologists make a distinction between different types of anxiety ‘disorder’.
The graph below shows why having some anxiety is a good thing.įigure: The relationship between anxiety and performance follows an inverted ‘u’ shape What Types Of Anxiety Are There? Although this might sound attractive it would not be a sensible plan. Some people suffering from anxiety want to get rid of their anxiety completely.
Imagine never being anxious or nervous: how would you know how to take care of yourself? How would you know not to run across a busy road? Or to mind your footing when walking along the edge of a cliff? Or to be cautious when approaching a potentially dangerous animal? Feelings of anxiety are there to guide us to take care of ourselves.
