Anxiety, fear and panic
Self-help and routes to professional support.
Everyday experiences
Anxiety and low mood
Anxiety and low mood can occur alongside neurodivergence and for many other reasons. They deserve attention in their own right; this page does not treat them as separate forms of neurodivergence.
Anxiety can affect thoughts, physical feelings, sleep and daily behaviour. Low mood may involve sadness, tiredness or reduced enjoyment. Similar experiences can have different causes, so a checklist cannot establish the explanation.
The NHS advises seeking help when anxiety is hard to cope with or self-help is not helping. For low mood, speak to a GP if it lasts more than two weeks, feels difficult to manage, or is not improving.
Talking with someone you trust, setting small goals and keeping regular meals or activities may help. You do not need to change everything at once. Self-help is one option, not a requirement to manage without professional support.
A GP can discuss what is happening and possible treatment or referral. In England, adults can usually self-refer to NHS talking therapies for anxiety and depression; local age criteria apply. Children and young people use different support routes.
Explain any communication or sensory needs when arranging support. The NHS service information below is a starting point; availability and referral arrangements differ by location.
If someone is in immediate danger or cannot keep themselves safe, call 999 or go to A&E. In England, for urgent mental health help that is not an emergency, call 111 and select the mental health option. Use local NHS urgent-care information elsewhere in the UK.
Read the sources:NHS: Urgent mental health help (opens in a new tab)
Resource library
All Anxiety and low mood sources
4 resources
Low mood, sadness and depression
Recognising low mood and finding help.
Accessing mental health services
GP, talking therapy and other service routes.
Urgent mental health help
Urgent and emergency help in England.
Where next?