'I came back to the city and instantly felt my heart tense up': readers discuss urban stress

From noise and pollution to street harassment and anonymous crowds, readers share their experiences and thoughts on what makes cities stressful - and which places are the biggest offenders. Is it time to relocate?

Are some cities more stressful than others? Places such as Cairo and Mumbai are often cited as exceptionally noisy, busy, overwhelming metropolises. But many city dwellers across the world will make a case for why their own urban environment causes so much stress - from transport nightmares and lack of greenery to high costs and social anonymity.

You shared your thoughts, stories and experiences of what makes cities stressful, which places are most stressful and which succeed in being anxiety-free. Here's a selection of what you said.