Skip to content

Mental Health Week

Published on 16 May 2023 09:51 AM

What is anxiety

It is Mental Health Awareness Week and this year the theme is anxiety. Throughout this week we will be sharing information and tips over the next five days to combat anxiety. You will find these on our Facebook page @Ageukcountydurham to help keep your mind and body healthy and break the stigma around mental health.

What is anxiety? 
Anxiety is a natural human response to a perceived danger.  We need anxiety to keep us safe.  Much like animals, when we are in danger, we release hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. 
These allow us to react to the threat, and typically humans respond in five different ways, sometimes called The Five F’s.
  • Fight: Physically fight the danger e.g., hitting or pushing
  • Flight: Create space and distance between the danger e.g., running away or hiding
  • Freeze: Staying still and silent, tensing muscles. This is an instinctive survival response
  • Flop: Muscles relax, the body becomes loose. Again, this is an instinctive survival response, similar to freeze
  • Friend: We attempt to befriend the perceived danger or may call or shout for help

It might be useful to reflect on times you have felt anxious and see if you can identify how you might have responded using the Five F’s.

Everyone experiences anxiety at some point in their lives. It might be right before an interview, a trip to the dentist, or in social situations. Anxiety is defined as a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease about something with an uncertain outcome.  It is experienced through thoughts, feelings and physical sensations in our bodies. You might notice your thoughts racing or your breathing change and a feeling of fear.

However, we can sometimes continue to feel anxious in the absence of a perceived stressor.  This is when anxiety can start to impact our day to day living in negative ways. 

If you believe that anxiety is getting in the way of you living your life, please contact your local GP or write to us by email at wellbeing@ageukcountydurham.org.uk or call our main number 0191 386 3856 and ask to speak to our Wellbeing Team.