Video: managing stress and anxiety

We're all different, and there are many different feelings we can experience, at different times. Some are more well known than others, such as `Excitement' or `Anger', but some can be harder to understand, like Anxiety.

Millions of years ago we relied on Anxiety to keep us out of harm's way. At the slightest sign of danger our bodies would bring on this uneasy, urgent feeling to jolt us into action or get us to RUN AWAY!

These days our bodies still try to protect us, but life's evolved.

There are a load more things to worry about and they have a habit of piling up without us noticing.

Anxiety can feel like all kinds of things that twisted, shaky feeling in your stomach or the strange nervousness that makes you want to hide away from the world. It can make you tired, frustrated and upset.

Anxiety can start as a simple worry but grow into a panic! And convince you that you're losing it altogether. It can make you scared, restless, speed up your heart but give no explanations as to why it’s happening.

It might not feel like it, but anxiety is completely natural and can affect anybody, for all kinds of reasons like exam stress, family troubles, new places or a mixture of things.
It can even come for no apparent reason, but the good news is that you can reduce it, and the first step is to talk about it.

Talking about how you feel is a great way to feel better. You don’t have to face things alone. So if you ever want to get stuff off your chest, then you can contact Childline. They’re there to listen.