Stress and anxiety are feelings that we all have to cope with on a daily basis. Sometimes it can be difficult to know just how badly we are being affected. Moreover, our anxiety levels can be affected by many factors at any given point in time. The Beck Anxiety Inventory was developed by Dr Aaron Beck to help give both patients and therapists a better understanding of a a patient's anxiety levels.

The test comprises of 21 questions which are designed to help the patient convey how they are feeling at the time of the test and also how they are feeling generally. The questions are answered by the patient so that the therapist does not inadvertently affect the patient's answers. The questions aim to get the patient to describe their emotional and physical feelings over the last week.

Each answer will be provided by the patient who will answer on a scale of 0-3.

0 indicates normal levels of anxiety

1 indicates mild anxiety

2 demonstrates moderate anxiety that the patient can deal with

3 represents unmanageable anxiety that is out of control

The questions are designed to address both the emotional aspects of an anxiety attack and the physical symptoms. Emotional considerations could be the fear of losing control and the physical symptoms could range from a pounding heart to dizziness or a rapid heartbeat.

The scores from each question are added up and the total is used as an indication of the patient's anxiety levels over the last week. If the total is 21 or less, then the patient is not considered to be anxious. There is always the possibility though that patient may have been less than 100% honest.

Moderate anxiety is represented by a score between 21 and 35. In this case, it is clear that the patient is clearly not happy about something and it is important that something is done to determine the cause of the problem before it escalates into a full blown disorder.

If a patient is suffering from extreme anxiety then they are likely to score over 35 and are likely to benefit from professional help.

In conclusion, The Beck Anxiety Inventory is a popular test which can help many people understand their anxiety and panic problem. The test can be used on all age groups and can even be administered orally for those that are illiterate or otherwise unable to complete the test.

One of the strengths of the test is its ability to help therapists distinguish between anxiety and depression, which are two closely linked conditions. Once you understand what you are experiencing, you will be much better able to come up with appropriate treatments which can give you your life back again.