Anxiety is a serious problem for students. Common features of anxiety include tension, worry, frustration, irritability, sadness and withdrawal. Young people do not often express their anxiety in a straightforward way and can show they are affected through passive or negative behaviours.

      We all get anxious from time to time – when we have to take an exam for example, or if we have to give a talk in public. This short-term type of anxiety is useful because it makes us feel more alert and improves our performance. But, if anxiety stays at a high level for a long time, it can make it difficult to get on with life.

      Anxiety or feeling stressed out often happens before depression. It is defined by feelings of fear, unrest, agitation and insecurity. As anxiety increases so does the chance of depression. This is circular – as clinical depression increases the feelings of anxiety, which in turn shows itself more in a worrying, ruminative, obsessive state of mind.

      Anxiety is the most common emotion we experience and the most common form of disorder in childhood and in adult years. At some stage in life everyone will feel anxious, most commonly when faced with difficult or new situations. Everyone can relate to symptoms of anxiety or fear and experience symptoms such as breathing becoming shallow, sweating, heart beating faster, butterflies in their stomach and dry mouth.