What is Anxiety Disorder?

In this course of our anxiety series you will find out what an anxiety disorder is, how it affects us and why.

The problem is, the amygdala – the part of the brain that triggers the fight or flight response, is constantly scanning for threat or worry. It misinterprets everyday challenges and irritations. When threatened it fires up the survival response, pouring adrenaline into the bloodstream, making sure we stay on high alert to the danger. When you get that butterfly feeling in your stomach, or washing machine belly, this is a result of your brain redirecting blood flow away from your digestive system and to your limbs so that you are better equipped to run away or fight. It is all too easy to stay stuck in this fight or flight response, worrying excessively about the next worse case scenario or believing the worst will happen. This is GAD - General anxiety disorder.Bite size video learning - 2 Mins