Anxiety guide for patients and supporters
Anxiety guide for patients and supporters. Practical steps for people with anxiety and those supporting them.
For: People with anxiety and those supporting them
General guidance across countries. Sources checked 2026-09-26.
Treatment and small steps
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) teaches ways to respond to anxious thoughts and gradually change unhelpful avoidance. Some people also benefit from prescribed medicine. Treatment should fit symptoms, preferences, other health conditions and pregnancy status.
Regular sleep, gentle activity, less caffeine and support from someone trusted can help alongside treatment. Set small realistic goals. Do not use alcohol or borrowed sedatives to cope; sedatives can cause dependence. New chest pain, fainting or severe breathlessness should not be dismissed as 'just anxiety'.
Sources
- Generalized anxiety disorder: what you need to know · National Institute of Mental Health · Public domain text; images excluded