Anxiety is a natural human response that everyone can experience throughout life. One may react by tensing up, feeling restless and worried, or expecting something dangerous to happen.

Anxiety can arise suddenly and be very unpleasant, but it is not dangerous.

If anxiety becomes a part of daily life, it may have developed into a disorder. Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental disorders.

Therefore, we differentiate between anxiety disorders and anxiety:

1. Anxiety disorders - mental disorders where a psychologist or doctor makes a diagnosis. Such a diagnosis could be: social anxiety, panic disorder, specific phobic anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and generalised anxiety disorder (GAD).

2. Anxiety in itself - where the body prepares for potential dangers and challenges by providing an anxiety response. Alone, this is not pathological but a normal physical and mental reaction.

Common symptoms of anxiety:

Bodily reactions to anxiety come from the part of the nervous system that we cannot consciously control:

• Hyperventilation and feeling of not being able to breathe.

• Increased heart rate, palpitations.

• Sweaty hands, generally more sweat than usual.

• Chest pressure.

• Stomach ache, diarrhoea.

• Nausea.

• Sudden need to urinate.

• Dizziness.

• Tingling or numbness in the skin.

Fear or anxiety?

The distinction between fear and anxiety is also important to keep track of:

1. Fear - a brief and immediate reaction to an identified danger or threat. There is a reasonable relationship between threat and reaction.

2. Anxiety - an unclear, long-lasting, and persistent response to a diffuse or potential threat. The reaction is often stronger than the situation would warrant.

Read more about anxiety:

• NHI - Norwegian Health Information

• Store Norske Leksikon (Great Norwegian Encyclopedia)

Pustepause is an app that helps you deal with stress, anxiety, and racing thoughts.

Learn more and download Pustepause app here.

The psychologists and therapists at SSN Health have come up with simple and good advice on how to deal with nervousness in social situations.

👉 Read the advice here.

NHI (Norwegian Health Informatics) has good, free courses developed by psychologist Magnus Nordmo.

👉 Take the Social Anxiety course at nhi.no

NHI (Norwegian Health Informatics) has good, free courses developed by psychologist Magnus Nordmo.

👉 Take the panic attack course at nhi.no

NHI (Norwegian Health Informatics) has good, free courses developed by psychologist Magnus Nordmo.

👉 Take the presentation anxiety course at nhi.no

On Studenter Spør you can get answers to most questions from qualified professionals. Ask your own question or read what others are wondering about anxiety.

👉 Go to Studenter Spør.

Angstringen Norge has specific services that may be suitable for those who struggle with anxiety or have questions about anxiety:

• Angsttelefonen - a low-threshold service where you can ask questions about anxiety and talk to staff and trained volunteers who have personal experience of anxiety (all have a duty of confidentiality).
  👉 Read more about Angsttelefonen and find phone numbers and opening hours here.

• There are also both physical (local) and digital self-help groups via the Anxiety Ring.
  👉 Read more about the groups here.