UK women are getting more anxious

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A new report by the Mental Health Foundation has found that people are more anxious and scared now then they were 10 years ago.

Why is anxiety in the news?

The Mental Health Foundation (MHF) has found that more then ¾ of people think the world is more frightening now then they did in 1999. And 1 in 3 now feel more scared or anxious then they used to.

They also found that women are twice as likely as men to feel anxious and that people under 35 are more likely to be anxious then OAPs.

How many people does it affect?

Over 7 million people suffer from anxiety disorders - up almost a million in the last 15 years. The MHF says that the more scared people feel, the more likely they are to be 'tipped over' into anxiety disorders.

What are people frightened of?

The economy is a big source of worry for most people - almost half of those surveyed said they were worried specifically about money.

Other causes of worry were knife crime, MRSA, bird-flu and terrorism.

What's causing the fear?

The media and politicians are one reason that people are more anxious now. They've been accused of making things sound worse then they are which scares people.

But the report also said that signs of security (such as CCTV cameras) sometimes make people feel more scared, as they think that high security must mean high risk.

What is an anxiety disorder?

Everyone feels stressed from time to time, but it becomes a disorder when anxiety interferes with day to day life. Panic attacks, phobias and OCD are all types of anxiety disorder. Symptoms can include irritability, emotional ups and downs and insomnia.

What do the experts say?

Nicky Lidbetter, chief executive of charity Anxiety UK, said: 'We have experienced an unprecedented number of inquiries since the beginning of the year from people seeking help, largely due to the economic crisis and it's knock on effects of people's mental health.'

What do I do if I think I've got an anxiety disorder?

These disorders are much better understood now then they used to be and can be treated successfully with talking treatments and medication. If you do think you're suffering from an anxiety disorder you should talk to your GP.

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