Anxiety is a feeling of apprehension and fear characterized by physical symptoms such as palpitations, sweating, irritability, and feelings of stress. Children and adolescents can also develop anxiety disorders.

In Ireland, anxiety rates also continue to be high, with 17 per cent citing a diagnosis of anxiety disorder, increasing to 1 in 4 (25 per cent) for those aged 25-34. A further 8 per cent believe they have an undiagnosed anxiety disorder and 17 per cent say they experience anxiety frequently. The condition is most prevalent amongst those aged 18-34 and appears to reduce with age, impacting on only 30 percent of over 55s.

In terms of impact on daily life, 27 per cent say that most days their anxiety is so bad they can’t function, up from 1 in 5 (20 per cent) in 2023. 3 in 5 (60 per cent) say their anxiety makes going to work and attending to responsibilities difficult, a significant increase from 45 per cent in 2023.

These disorders fill people’s lives with overwhelming anxiety and fear. Unlike the relatively mild, brief anxiety caused by a stressful event such as a business presentation or a first date, anxiety disorders are chronic, relentless, and can grow progressively worse if not treated. People who suffer from anxiety disorders typically struggle with difficult symptoms such as agitation, feeling “uptight,” worry, and apprehension on a daily basis. These disturbing symptoms can become so severe that they interfere with normal daily activities.