September 12, 2007 13:17

Acute anxiety: What is Meg White suffering from?

The reasons behind The White Stripes cancelled their US tour?

Photo Gallery: The White Stripes

As [url=http://www.nme.com/news/the-white-stripes/31061
]previously reported on NME.COM, The White Stripes have cancelled their US tour[/url] explaining that drummer Meg White is suffering from “acute anxiety” and cannot travel.

But what exactly is acute anxiety? According to a definition on the University Of Dundee's counselling service website, the condition is described as a more severe form of the normal anxiety people experience during the stresses of day-to-day life.

The service definition lists possible symptoms of acute anxiety, which include feeling or being sick, the heart beating faster than normal, spontaneous panic attacks and an inability to sleep.

The definition continues: “Severe or chronic anxiety can stop you doing many things in your day-to-day life. You may be unable to walk down the street, go to the supermarket, into a lecture theatre or a pub without feeling anxious, uncomfortable and upset.”

It also explains that acute anxiety can make it very hard to maintain a job, which explains why Meg White needs to take time out at the moment.