Skip to content
Venva
en

Stress and anxiety: causes and what helps

Some stress is normal. When worry or tension starts affecting your sleep, work or relationships, it is worth acting on.

Common causes

  • 01Ongoing pressure at work or in life
  • 02Poor sleep, which is both a cause and an effect
  • 03Too much caffeine
  • 04Low physical activity
  • 05Occasionally an overactive thyroid

What a doctor may check

Speak to a doctor if it affects your daily life. Talking therapies work well.

When to see a doctor

If you feel hopeless or have thoughts of harming yourself, call your local emergency number or a crisis line now. findahelpline.com lists free, confidential helplines in most countries.

This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Venva's content is written against clinical guidelines and systematic reviews, listed below. See our medical disclaimer.

References

  1. 1.Effectiveness of physical activity interventions for improving depression, anxiety and distress. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2023.doi:10.1136/bjsports-2022-106195

Spotted an error or an outdated claim? Report it — we check every report against the research.