This content mentions anxiety and panic attacks, which some people may find triggering.
It’s normal to feel afraid and anxious sometimes, such as when managing work pressures, exam stress, money problems, and relationship issues.
But when fear and anxiety symptoms become long-term or take over your life it can affect your wellbeing.
This guide explains where fear and anxiety come from, how they can affect you, and ways to cope and seek support.
To help you better understand what fear and anxiety are and ways to cope, this page covers:
- What is the difference between fear and anxiety?
- Types of anxiety
- How can I manage fear and anxiety?
- Support and information
- Download or buy the booklet
What is the difference between fear and anxiety?
The words ‘anxiety’ and ‘fear’ are often used to describe similar feelings, such as dread and worry. However, as much as anxiety symptoms can feel like fear, they aren’t quite the same.
What is fear?
Fear is a powerful emotion that produces a physical response which helps us react to threats or dangerous situations. Yet fear can also happen in everyday, non life-threatening events such as exams, arguments, or even during social occasions like parties.
Even though fear is a natural response to situations that make us feel under pressure, when it’s out of proportion to the event that triggered it, it could be problematic.
Ongoing fear can also be a symptom of mental health conditions, such as anxiety.
What is anxiety?
Anxiety is a type of fear we feel around things such as health, finances, and relationships, and is a normal issue for a lot of people. Anxiety symptoms can be described as ongoing feelings of dread about something going wrong in the present or future. It can also be about something that went wrong in the past.
When anxiety lasts for a long time it can disrupt everyday life, such as the ability to sleep, concentrate, and socialise. It can also lead you to believe that you’re unable to cope with daily tasks, holding you back from enjoying life and creating a cycle where anxiety becomes worse and affects your mental health.
For more information please visit the Mental Health Foundation