Anxiety
Feeling anxious is a common and natural response to stress, however anxiety disorders involve a much more severe fear sensation that is chronic, and long-lasting. This can interrupt everyday function, and prevent the person from taking a test or socialising with others. More serious cases can result in an irrational fear of daily activities such as going to school or even leaving the house. The Australian Bureau of Statistics found that 3.2 million Australians had an anxiety-related condition in 2018 and this number has only increased in the recent decade. Anxiety can affect people of all ages and will worsen with time.
If you are unsure, Beyond Blue offers a free helpline and webchat service where you can ask for personal advice.
We strongly recommend visiting your local GP. They will conduct a few questionnaires and examinations to better understand what you’re experiencing, which they will then use to offer the best plan of action, whether it’s lifestyle change or medical treatment.
Signs of Anxiety
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Fear of spiralling out of control
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Feeling nervous or on edge
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A constant sense of being threatened or panic
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Choking feeling in throat
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Hyperventilating (Rapid Breathing)
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Chest pain
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Overwhelming worries about the present
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Sleep difficulties
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Difficulty concentrating and relaxing
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Always getting irritated
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Shortness of breath and pressure on chest
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For a more detailed list and a thorough outline of everything you would need to know about Anxiety Disorders, visit:
Or to access a self-screening service if you are experiencing some of these signs, visit:
Types of Anxiety
As Anxiety Disorders is the umbrella term that collectively refers to all conditions related in some way to excessive fear, distress or worries, it includes many classifications and divisions. Some of the most common ones are:
Generalised Anxiety Disorder
Those with General Anxiety Disorder (GAD) experience a persistent worry that is not specific to a particular thing, but to various parts of everyday life that can disrupt their lifestyle and day-to-day functioning. This feeling is uncontrollable and can be distressing for the person experiencing it. If not treated, it can negatively affect relationships, work performance, concentration in school, and motivation to do certain things each day.
Panic Disorder
A division of anxiety characterised by frequent panic attacks. These can be minutes long at a time, and can result in dizziness, shaking and other physical symptoms immediately after the attack. Those with Panic Disorder may restrict their behaviour in fear of anything that might trigger an attack.
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Signs immediately after a panic attack
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Numbness
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Dizziness
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Fear of spiralling out of control
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Intense fear of death
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Shaking
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Choking sensation
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Tightness in chest
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Rule of Three
A popular method of managing panic attacks is the Rule of Three, which although may not work for everyone, could offer a possible way of soothing its effects. If you sense a panic attack coming:
First, look for and name three things you can see
Second, identify and name three things you can hear
Third, focus on and three parts of your body and move them one at a time
Try to breathe deep whilst performing this process. These steps, performed in succession, could offer a way to recenter the mind and lessen the severity of a potential panic attack.
Panic disorder | APS (2022). Available at: <https://psychology.org.au/for-the-public/psychology-topics/panicdisorder#Panic%20disorder%20refers%20to%20the,shortness%20of%20breath%2C%20and%20dizziness> (Accessed: 13 May 2022).
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
PTSD, as it is more commonly known, is a psychiatric disorder that occurs in people who have witnessed or experienced a traumatic event. It can affect anyone at any age, and is strongly linked to anxiety through the similar symptoms that are exhibited.
Memories of the trauma may resurface as nightmares or flashbacks regularly and can cause feelings of sadness, anxiety and disconnection, that results in irrational fears and strong reactions to anything that reminds them of the event. This could endure for long after the event has ended.
Signs of PTSD include:
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avoiding certain locations, objects or people to do with an event
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distorted beliefs and constantly being overwhelmed by negative emotions
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and hypersensitivity to sounds or behaviour
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, or OCD as it’s more commonly referred to as, is a mental condition characterised by a pattern of obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions refers to unwanted and distressing thoughts that present themselves in images or impulses. Compulsions are repetitive behaviours that are carried out
Impacts of Anxiety
Chronic anxiety of any variant, if left untreated, could both negatively affect and hamper day-to-day functioning. It could also pose a significant threat to physical health.This includes frequent hyperventilation (gasping for breath) that could cause weakness and nausea, increased blood pressure that could subsequently increase the likelihood of developing heart conditions, and impaired immune system function resulting in more frequent colds and infections.
Anxiety and mental conditions such as depression are interconnected, and could cause the other to materialise or worsen. It could damage relationships, and in more severe cases, result in chronic insomnia and suicidal thoughts.
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Anxiety disorders - Symptoms and causes (2022). Available at:<https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anxiety/symptoms-causes/syc-20350961> (Accessed: 22 April 2022).