Anxiety has almost certainly been part of our human existence for ever. The Greeks and Romans began to identify phobia and anxiety and these "afflictions" as they were called, are documented by Hippocrates and Cicero.

Everyone feels anxious at certain times in their life such as during exams, in an interview or in difficult work situations. Anxiety at these times is normal and the shot of adrenaline that you feel can actually boost your performance. This type of anxiety is short-lived and passes once the event is resolved.

However, some people can feel anxious most days and often for no identifiable reason. If these feelings go on for months, then you could have Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD). The symptoms of GAD are:

restlessness
a sense of dread
feeling constantly "on edge"
difficulty concentrating
irritability
dizziness
tiredness
trembling
feeling sick
palpitations
dry mouth
muscle aches
pins and needles
shortness of breath

If you have these symptoms you should consult a GP who will talk to you and find out if you have GAD. They may then offer counselling and possibly antidepressants.

GAD can be very difficult to live with and also hard to explain to others, who often give advice to "stop worrying because everything will be alright" which consciously you might know but subconsciously can seem like such a huge hurdle to overcome. Each day can be filled with "what if...?" and chronic uncontrolled worrying which interferes with everyday life.

Hypnotherapy can be effective in GAD by helping you to relax mentally and emotionally and helping your brain process information about the world around you in a different way. This leads to greater feelings of calmness, well-being and positivity.