We all feel anxious at different points in our lives. Maybe while preparing for a job interview, or ahead of having a difficult conversation. But, like 37 per cent of women and 30 per cent of men in the UK, anxiety is a part of my day-to-day life, rather than an irregular occurrence. Simply opening an email can make me feel the same way as I do going to the dentist for a filling.
Like most people with a generalised anxiety disorder, mine started when I was an adolescent. In my early twenties, I began taking SRRIs, which I continued with for over five years – aligning me with over a quarter of people on antidepressants in the UK. I also tried several different types of therapy, including CBT and talking therapy. While both made a huge difference to my overall mental health, I still struggle with anxiety in my day-to-day life, although to a lesser extent.
