× Anxiety Disorders ×What is anxiety?Anxiety is the bodies’ physical response to fear.

Symptoms may include:

Racing heart Rapid breathing Sweaty palms Butterflies in stomach Bursts of energy

A certain level of anxiety is normal, and can be helpful in some situations -It is our body’s way of keeping us safe.

Feeling too much anxiety gets in the way and can be unhealthy.

What is an anxiety disorder?Anxiety disorders usually occur when anxiety begins to impact on a person’s life.

Instead of feeling anxious in response to actual danger, they will experience the same symptoms to things they believe are dangerous.

Types of anxiety disorders:Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD):

Excessive worry about anything and everything, including worrying about worrying.

Symptoms are similar to Panic Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and other types of anxiety.

Symptoms:

Pain areas: In the lower back.

Whole body: Fatigue, light headedness, restlessness or sweating.

Psychological: Severe Anxiety, fear, or repeatedly going over thoughts.

Behavioural: Hyper vigilance, or irritability

Cognitive: Lack of concentration, or unwanted thoughts.

Also Common: Emotional distress, excessive worry, difficulty falling asleep, headache, nausea, palpitations, or trembling.

Treatments:

Include counselling and medication.

Medications:

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI): Eases symptoms of depressed moods or anxiety.

Anti-depressant: Prevents or relieves depression, elevates mood.

Anxiolytic: Relieves anxiety and tension, may promote sleep.

Self-care: Physical exercise:

e.g.: Aerobic activity for 20-30minutes improves cardiovascular health.

Stress management:Doing an enjoyable activity or verbalising frustration to reduce stress.

Relaxation techniques:Deep breathing, yoga and meditation.

Other Information on GAD: 14% of the population (1 in 7) experience an anxiety condition

and 3% experience GAD, 6% experiences GAD in their lifetime. GAD tends to affect more women than men.Beyondblue.org

Social anxiety disorder: (SAD)Anxiety in social situations often rooted in the fear of doing something wrong and being judged by others.Everyday social situations cause irrational anxiety, fear, self-consciousness and embarrassment.Symptoms:Psychological: Depression or fear.Also common: Anxiety, palpitations, social isolation or sweating.Treatment:Talk therapy and anti-depressants can help increase confidence and ability to interact with others.Other information on SAD: 11% of the population experience SAD in their lifetime, 5% experiencing in any 12 month period, more woman then men develop this disorder.Beyondblue.org

Agoraphobia:Anxiety about having a panic attack in certain situations and not being able to get help or the fear of places and situations that may cause panic.

Symptoms:

Psychological: fear, depression or severe anxiety.

Mood: Apprehension, or panic attack

Treatments:

Cognitive behavioural therapy: A talk therapy focused on reducing negative thoughts, behaviours and emotional responses.

Exposure and response prevention: A talk therapy based on exposing feared or traumatic experiences within a safe setting in order to help reduce any associated psychological distress.

Psychotherapy: Treatment of mental or behavioural disorders through talk therapy.

Self-care: Relaxation techniques: yoga, deep breathing or meditation.

Medication:

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI): Eases symptoms of depressed moods or anxiety.

Anxiolytic: Relieves anxiety and tension, may promote sleep.

Sedative: causes drowsiness, calmness and dulled senses.

Specific phobias:

Intense fear of objects or situations.

Specific phobias are divided into the following categories:

Animal types: Fear that relates to animals (e.g dogs or spiders)

Natural environments: fear associated with the natural environment (e.g. thunderstorms and heights)

Blood/injections/injury type: fear associated with invasive medical procedures (e.g. injections) or with seeing blood or injury.

Situational type: fear of specific situations ( e.g. elevators, bridges or driving)

Post-Traumatic stress disorder:Anxiety and flashbacks caused by a traumatic experience.

Symptoms:

Behavioural: agitation, irritability, hostility, hyper vigilance, self-destructive behaviour or social isolation.

Mood: Loss of interest or pleasure in activities, loneliness or guilt.

Psychological: flashbacks, fear, severe anxiety, mistrust.

Sleep: Insomnia or nightmares.

Also common: emotional detachment or unwanted thoughts.

Medication/ treatments:

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI): Eases symptoms of depressed moods or anxiety.

Therapies:

Cognitive Behavioural Exposure and responsive

12% of the population in Australia will experience PTSD; serious accidents are the main causes.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder:Excessive thoughts (obsessions) that lead to repetitive behaviours (compulsive).

Symptoms

Behavioural: Compulsive behaviour, agitation, compulsive hoarding, hyper vigilance, impulsivity, meaningless repetition of words, social isolation

Mood: anxiety, apprehension, guilt or panic attack.

Psychological: Depression, fear, or repeatedly going over thoughts.

Also common: Food aversion or nightmares.

Medications:

Anti-depressant: Prevents or relieves depression, elevates mood.

Anxiolytic: Relieves anxiety and tension, may promote sleep.

Causes of Anxiety:Anxiety isn’t caused or developed by a single factor, but a combination of things.

It can be caused by:

Family history of mental health conditions. Personality factors- personality traits.

For example, Children who are perfectionists, easily flustered, timid, inhibited and lack self-esteem.

Ongoing stressful events.

Common triggers include:

Work stress, job change Change in living arrangements Pregnancy and giving birth Family and relationship problems Major emotional shock or traumatic event. Verbal, physical or emotional abuse or trauma Death or loss of a loved one Physical health problems e.g. diabetes, asthma, hypertension, heart disease. Other mental health conditions (depression)