Anxiety

Disorders and difficulties Therapies and practical advice Perspectives and controversies

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Black and white photo of soldiers walking on a ridge with their reflections in the water below.

History and philosophy of mental health

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One woman’s six-word mantra that has helped to calm millions

Ahead of her time, yet largely ignored by psychiatry, Claire Weekes taught millions of readers how to overcome anxiety

by Judith Hoare

Painting of a crowd in evening dress strolling down a street at dusk with buildings and a large tree in the background.

Anxiety

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Anxiety isn’t a pathology. It drives us to push back the unknown

‘I’m anxious, therefore I enquire.’ Anxiety isn’t a problem to be solved; it drives philosophical enquiry and makes us human

by Samir Chopra

Painting of a person sitting indoors looking out at a garden with flying birds, framed by large windows.

Worry and rumination

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How to stop overthinking

Grappling with your thoughts will leave you even more entangled in worry. Use metacognitive strategies to break free

by Pia Callesen

Black-and-white drawing of a girl walking between busy sun loungers by a tiled pool area, seen from behind.

Childhood and adolescence

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One girl’s long, scary route from changing room to swimming pool

A film by Elise Augarten

Photo of students sitting at desks in a classroom. Focus is on a woman appearing thoughtful with a water bottle nearby.

Anxiety

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Set yourself free by developing a growth mindset toward anxiety

Everyone feels anxious in moments of not knowing. It’s your beliefs about anxiety that influence what you do next

by Hans Schroder

Photo of a beachside blackboard offering a humorous deal near a weathered pier, stating “£100 receipt given for every £10 spent.”

Anxiety

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If you think you are ‘just not a math person’ then think again

Understanding how mathematics anxiety takes root points to ways to overcome it, opening up new opportunities and pastimes

by Nathan T T Lau & H Moriah Sokolowski

Photo of three red and white capsules on a light blue background.

Depression

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How to decide whether to take antidepressants

They’re controversial yet they help countless people. To see if pills are right for you, these are the questions to ask

by Stephen Lawrie

Surreal scene of a person with a clay mask and blue hair at a table with others in masks in the background, in a dimly lit room.

Communication and language

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Navigating a pub, Shaun’s anxieties are (quite literally) plastered on his face

Directed by Sam Gainsborough

A woman on a laptop in a modern café with wall art, a large cactus and pendant lights above.

Worry and rumination

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What if your worry problem is really a planning problem?

Clinicians have long recognised the link between worry and planning. New research asks what this means for managing anxiety

by Paul B Sharp

Photo of a black pug lying on a wooden stool with a relaxed expression in a cosy indoor setting.

Anxiety

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It’s not always good to let it all out: the perils of over-sighing

‘Take a deep breath,’ we’re often told when emotions surge. But what if sighing isn’t always helpful?

by Elke Vlemincx

Vintage photo of a woman with a box camera on a high scaffold overlooking a large cityscape.

Fear and phobia

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How to overcome a fear of heights

Humans are wired to avoid vertiginous places, but if this fear gets in the way of life then exposure therapy can help

by Poppy Brown

Illustration of a woman with a short black hair wearing red panties clutching her chest in a black and white bathroom with a checkered floor, green plant, bath, sink, toilet, and red towel.

Ageing

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A single grey hair springs to life in a playful exploration of ageing anxiety

Directed by Eilidh Nicoll