Stage 5 · Lesson 6 of 7
When anxiety takes over
Anxiety becomes a problem that needs professional help when it is constant or very strong, when it stops you doing things you need to do, or when you start avoiding places, people or tasks because of it. Some people have panic attacks: sudden waves of intense fear with a racing heart, breathlessness, shaking or feeling faint, which can feel like a heart attack and usually pass within minutes.
If you have chest pain or trouble breathing for the first time, get medical help to rule out a physical cause. Anxiety disorders are common and very treatable, often with CBT. The breathing and grounding from stage 2 help in the moment, but they are not a replacement for treatment when anxiety is shaping your life.
Common trapavoidance: it brings relief now and makes anxiety stronger later.
A question to check yourself come when you add the roadmap to your account. Add it
Resources for this stage
Start with· follow one of these
- GuideFreeMind: mental health information and support
Mind
Clear, trustworthy pages on depression, anxiety and panic, and the treatments that help
- GuideFreeSelf-Compassion (Dr Kristin Neff)
Kristin Neff
Kristin Neff's free exercises for treating yourself with kindness when things go wrong
Practise
- moodgymPaid
A free, structured online CBT programme you can work through at your own pace
Online CBT courses for low mood and anxiety, built by clinicians
Keep handy
Also worth your time
Struggling right now? If you are in danger or thinking about harming yourself, contact local emergency services or a crisis line: Find a helpline (any country), Umang (Pakistan), Tele-MANAS, 14416 (India).