Anxiety is a feeling of worry, unease or even fear of a real or imagined situation. Everyone feels anxious at one time or another, but it can be a mental health issue if our feelings are particularly strong, they last a long time or they are hindering our everyday lives. Over one in 20 people have an anxiety disorder. Anxiety can affect behaviour negatively; avoidance behaviours are common symptoms. It can make people withdraw from family and friends, make us feel we cannot go to work or certain places. Avoiding situations may give short-term relief but it will very often return the next time we go back to the situation that triggers the anxiety, and can even return by simply thinking about the triggering situation. Psychotherapy is an effective treatment for anxiety disorders.