Everyone feels stressed out, tense, or anxious from time to time. However, when our anxious feelings stay with us for a long time and start getting in the way of living our lives, we may be experiencing a clinical diagnosable form of anxiety. There are a number of ways to address anxiety and the best treatment option will typically be based on the exact type of anxiety someone is dealing with.
What is Anxiety?
Anxiety is a pattern of negative thoughts and sensations that stays with us for an extended period of time, it can occur without us even when in a situation with something to be scared or worried about. It’s different from simply being stressed out or under pressure, and will typically affect one in four people at some stage in their lives. When anxiety becomes intense or persistent enough and negatively affects our everyday behaviours, it may begin to be classified as a disorder.
What are the symptoms of anxiety?
The exact symptoms will vary from person to person and can be different depending on the type of anxiety someone is dealing with. However, there are some common symptoms that are generally encountered when suffering from anxiety.
Emotional symptoms
Anxiety is primarily known for the emotional effect it has on people. Common emotional symptoms of anxiety disorders include feeling nervous or worried, always feeling restless or on edge, finding it hard to unwind or relax, and feeling more irritable than usual.
Physical symptoms
Anxiety also manifests as physical issues that affect someone in their everyday tasks. Physical symptoms can include being easily tired out, having trouble staying or falling asleep, and muscle tension.
Behavioural symptoms
Anxiety can also influence what people do. Behavioural symptoms include avoiding situations that trigger anxiety, procrastination or difficulty making decisions, and difficulty speaking up or participating in social situations.
What causes anxiety in adults?
Genetic, biological, and environmental factors are all capable of leading to the development of anxiety in adults. Often, the trigger for developing anxiety will be related to chronic stress, traumatic life events, or underlying health issues. Being in circumstances like high-pressure work settings, periods of financial struggles, tumultuous relationships, and significant life changes increases the likelihood of developing some form of anxiety.
What are the different types of anxiety?
There are several different diagnosable forms of anxiety that involve different experiences and symptoms. A person would only be diagnosed with a form of anxiety when their symptoms and experiences are significantly interfering with them functioning in an area of their lives e.g. not being able to go to work. It may also be possible for someone to experience multiple forms of anxiety throughout the course of their life.
Generalised anxiety disorder
Generalised anxiety disorder is a feeling of worry and anxiety most of the time about a variety of different things. Rather than following a specific pattern or theme, the worries seem to extend to everything all of the time.
Social anxiety disorder
Social anxiety disorder is related to fears about social situations and worries related to other people criticising, disliking, or judging us. It is more than simply experiencing stage fright or nerves about giving talks to rooms full of people. Social anxiety disorder can stop people engaging in normal daily social interactions like meeting new people or eating in public.
Panic disorder
Panic disorder is characterised by experiencing unexpected, repeated panic attacks, with worries about experiencing additional attacks. During a panic attack, people experience intense fear accompanied by physical symptoms like shortness of breath, a pounding heart, sweatiness, or a sense that they might pass out.
Specific phobias
A phobia is an intense fear or a specific thing or situation. Some common examples of phobias include fear of spiders, snakes, flying, or needles. Encountering the subject of their phobia causes someone to experience a disproportionate amount of fear or anxiety. This will cause them to avoid their phobias at all costs, to the point of affecting their lifestyle and routine.
How to treat anxiety in adults
The first step to dealing with anxiety is to learn what you can about your specific anxiety symptoms by filling in a helpful online questionnaire. You can find questionnaires at websites like Beyond Blue or the Black Dog Institute. It’s also important to speak with your GP, who can offer you some guidance and advice based on what you’re experiencing.
If you’re suffering from anxiety, please know that you do not have to go through it alone. Anxiety is very treatable and there are many resources and services that can support you in feeling better. One great self-help resource to check out is the Anxiety Information Guide from the Centre for Clinical Interventions (CCI). And when you see your GP, they can assist you in connecting with services that can walk with you in your recovery journey. They offer you options for professional support and treatments like access to medications, and therapy in a group or individual setting.
How to book an appointment to get help with your anxiety
For further information about our anxiety support services, get in touch below:
- Submit an enquiry – we will get back to you as soon as we can!
- Call us at (08) 6317 6000
- Email us at enquiries@bowyerpsychology.com.au
