Mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety are overwhelmingly common. Fortunately, there are a number of things you can do to help yourself feel better

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Anxiety is a normal reaction that many people experience. It is very common to feel nervous or uptight before an exam or to have butterflies in the stomach before going on a first date. An anxiety disorder, however, is diagnosed when various symptoms of anxiety people experience create significant distress and some degree of functional impairment in their daily living. A person with an anxiety disorder may find it difficult to function in areas of life such as social interactions, family relationships, work or school. Often, different anxiety disorders occur together or with other conditions such as depression or substance abuse.

There are six main Anxiety Disorders in adults and seven in children/youth. These include: Social Anxiety Disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Panic Disorder with or without Agoraphobia, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Specific Phobia, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and Separation Anxiety (in children and youth).

If you feel that you suffer from and anxiety disorder, you are not alone. They affect about 12% of all Canadians in any given year. They are also very treatable!

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Here is great video by Dr. Mike Evans that may help you understand why you feel stress, and tips to cope with stress: