Abstract

Anxiety is a natural emotional response to stressful events. Usually it resolves within days or weeks. Sometimes it lasts much longer, even years, and interferes with normal everyday activities. Benzodiazepines have been widely used to help reduce the symptoms of anxiety, but should not be used for more than about 4 weeks because of the risk of dependence.¹ In this article we discuss whether anxiety can be managed with psychological techniques, concentrating mainly on those approaches that can be provided in general practice.