Anxiety

Anxiety is a natural response to stresses in our lives. And you may develop feelings of anxiety if you’re living with a terminal illness. For some people, it can cause physical and emotional symptoms and can affect their quality of life.

On this page, we talk about the causes and symptoms of anxiety when you’re living with a terminal illness. We also talk about how to manage anxiety and the support that you can get.

Anxiety is a feeling of worry or fear. In the short term, it helps us be alert and ready to act if we’re feeling under threat. But if you’re feeling like this a lot of the time, then it may be affecting how you’re able to live from day to day.

Having anxiety may make it harder for you to cope with your illness or health condition.

For some people, it can mean that they lose trust in their healthcare team or they may stop taking medication. Anxiety may make some people them feel like they no longer want to live.

If you’re feeling like you want to die or you’re having suicidal thoughts, it’s important to tell someone. Speak to your doctor as soon as possible.

If you need urgent help, or are supporting someone who does, call the Samaritans free helpline on 116 123. It’s available 24 hours a day.

Different people can have different symptoms, but they can include:

There are different types of anxiety. These include Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD), phobias, social anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder.

You may have had one or more of these types of anxiety before you were diagnosed with a terminal illness. Or you may have only developed anxiety since your illness.

Some people have panic attacks (also called anxiety attacks or panic disorder) where they feel intense or overwhelming fear and discomfort.

Panic attacks can come on suddenly with no warning and can last up to 30 minutes. They may cause physical symptoms such as chest pain, dizziness, breathlessness, sweating or shaking.

If you’re living with a terminal illness, it’s natural to feel anxious if you’re feeling uncertain about your future. Or you may have anxiety about the possibility of dying. Other causes of anxiety if you’re living with a terminal illness can include:

You may feel anxious if you’re having trouble getting to see your doctor or other healthcare professionals. You might also feel anxious if you’re seeing different healthcare professionals or having to go to places for your healthcare that you have not been to before.

These worries can build up over time and it sometimes only takes something small to trigger anxiety.

Living with a terminal illness can make you more likely to experience anxiety, but it does not mean you have to cope with it on your own.

If anxiety is affecting your day-to-day life, speak to your doctor about treatment and support to manage your anxiety. Treatment can help you to cope better with anxiety and manage negative thoughts and feelings.

There are things you can do that can help you manage anxiety and that support your wellbeing. These include:

Your doctor may refer you to a specialist like a psychologist, psychiatrist, counsellor or specialist nurse for more support.

Psychological or talking therapies can help some people to manage anxiety. But it may take a few weeks before it starts to feel like it’s helping.

Psychological therapies can include:

You can ask your GP about being referred for psychological therapy or you may be able to refer yourself by contacting local services directly.

You have to pay to see a counsellor privately. But you can also talk to your GP about seeing a counsellor through the NHS for free.

Some people find self-help resources for things such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) or mindfulness help them to manage their anxiety.

There are also apps that some people find helpful for dealing with symptoms of anxiety like Calm or Headspace. Some of these need to be paid for after a free trial.

If your anxiety is severe and is affecting your wellbeing, your GP may prescribe medication.

Types of medication that can be prescribed for anxiety if you’re living with a terminal illness include:

Regular physical activity can help reduce anxiety and other problems caused by terminal illness, such as fatigue. It can also improve the results of any psychological therapy you may be having.

You may have good days and bad days, so just do what you feel you can do. It may be going for a short walk or gentle exercises in bed.

Practise mindfulness or meditation.

Try to avoid drinks with caffeine like tea or coffee, smoking, drinking and recreational drugs.

Ask your doctor or nurse about complementary therapies that may help with relaxation and managing feelings of anxiety.

Support groups are a way to meet people going through similar experiences and can help with feelings of anxiety and depression. You can find out about local support groups through organisations like Anxiety UK.

You may find it helpful to speak to others going through similar things on an online forum.

Most people feel low or sad some of the time. But when feelings like sadness and anxiety last for weeks or months and start to affect your daily life, it may be depression.

If you have depression as well as anxiety, speak to your GP. Your GP may recommend medication and a psychological therapy together.

If you’re a carer, family member or friend of someone with anxiety, you may want to understand how best to help them.

People cope with anxiety in different ways. Some people prefer to sit and talk, while others need practical help. Some people may not tell anyone that they’re feeling anxious, so you may need to ask them if they’re worried about anything and if they have any symptoms of anxiety.

If you know what’s causing someone’s anxiety, this can help you find the best way of supporting them. Find out what support is available locally by asking their healthcare team or visiting the NHS website. It can also help to ask whether the person has used these services before and if they helped.

People may need practical or emotional support to help them manage their anxiety.

Some people may behave aggressively if they’re worried and angry about their situation. If you can allow them to express themselves safely, it can help them deal with their anxiety.

People with anxiety often say it helps them when they feel listened to. Here are some tips for talking to someone about their anxiety:

Contact the person’s GP if you think they have symptoms of anxiety or another mental health problem.

If anxiety is long-lasting or is affecting someone’s daily life, they may need psychological or medical treatment. Their GP can suggest self-help resources and local support services. Or they can prescribe medicines or refer the person for psychological therapies.

Sometimes anxiety is caused by practical problems, such as money or housing. Other professionals, such as solicitors or social workers may be able to help.

Some people may seek comfort from a spiritual or faith leader.

If someone is having medical treatment for their anxiety, you can ask their healthcare team for details of what you should do and who to contact in a crisis.

Some people become agitated and restless towards the end of their life. This is sometimes called terminal agitation. Tell the GP, district nurse or specialist palliative nurse if someone is showing these signs.

Anxiety can also affect you as a family member, friend or carer. You can ask the person’s healthcare team to help you by: