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Anxiety is a common condition that many experience at some point in their life

Anxiety

Last reviewed 11/07/2025

Anxiety is a biological response to a threat, but when it becomes chronic, it can detrimentally affect health.

Understanding anxiety

Anxiety

Anxiety is characterised by feelings of worry or fear around something which has not yet, and may never happen. Feelings of anxiety are a natural part of the body’s fight or flight response and are felt when people are under threat. Anxiety can provide motivation in some instances, however in excess, these feelings can interfere with daily life and cause distress (1).  Anxiety differs from fear which is directed at something real and directly perceivable (2). This makes anxiety much harder to deal with. 

Anxiety is considered by many to be a relatively new term, however there is evidence that the ancient Greeks explored techniques for dealing with it. The terminology around anxiety has undergone transitions throughout history. Between classic antiquity to the late 19th century, scholars used the terms melancholy and neurasthenia instead of anxiety.

Men coming home from war suffered shell-shock in WW1 which was changed to ‘battle fatigue’ in WW2 and is now termed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which shows how medical names for the same problem can change throughout  history (2). In recent years, mental health has had a huge improvement in attitudes and acceptance, so there is no longer such a taboo around labelling oneself as anxious or struggling with anxiety. Google trends in search terms show  the term ‘anxiety’ has increased fourfold since 2010.

It is hard to say if there is an increase in people struggling with anxiety than previous generations; however, there is certainly more awareness and receptiveness around the condition. Mentalhealth.org found in 2024 that 40% of the UK population experience medium or high levels of anxiety, with the 16–29 age group being the worst affected. It also found that anxiety levels improve steadily with age, reaching a low of 5% by the age of 70 (3). This indicates the likelihood that everyone will, at some point, experience feelings of anxiety. A recognition of the symptoms and treatment options, therefore, can help to support people when it occurs. 

Many herbs are suitable for self-care. However if a health condition does not resolve with home remedies we recommend using the information in Herbal Reality along with your health advisors, especially herbal practitioners from the professional associations listed in our Resources page (‘If you want to find a herbalist”). When buying any herbal products, you should choose responsible manufacturers with independently assured quality standards and sustainability practices. Check the label carefully for the appropriate safety and sustainability information.

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