insideKENT Magazine Issue 28 - July 2014 | Page 93

Past experiences
If something distressing happened to you in the
past, and you were unable to deal with your
emotions at the time, you may become anxious
about facing similar situations again in case they
stir up the same feelings of distress.
Feeling anxious could also be something you
learned early on in life; for example, your family
may have tended to see the world as hostile and
dangerous and you’ve learned to respond in the
same way. Some theories suggest that you may
inherit a tendency to be more anxious, and so it
is a part of your personality.

• You may feel an urgent need to visit the toilet,
and get 'butterflies' in your stomach.
Long-term effects:
• Fear combined with tension and lack of sleep
can weaken your immune system, lowering
your resistance to infection.
• You may experience digestive difficulties.
• You may also feel depressed.

Getting the right support
The right support is there for you in your 'local
Mind' – an independent charity run by local
people, for local people. Each is responsible for
its own funding and the services it provides, but
all are affiliated to Mind, The National Association
for Mental Health in the