Words Juliet McGrattan
We’ve all experienced nervousness and feeling on edge, perhaps at the start line of a race, before public speaking or a job interview. A fast, pounding heart, shaky hands and stomach butterflies. It’s an unpleasant feeling but it settles quickly once the event is over. The body is reacting appropriately to a high pressure situation. Surging adrenaline and cortisol levels in the blood ensure we’re super alert and perform well.
What if, however, that unpleasant sensation started spontaneously, without the race, talk or interview, and was intense and prolonged? What if it was accompanied by nervous thoughts, self-doubt and a feeling that something bad was about to happen? That is anxiety.