Anxiety Symptoms & Treatment

Anxiety Symptoms & Treatment

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Get to know anxiety

Anxiety is the most common mental health condition in Australia. On average, one in four people – one in three women and one in five men – will experience anxiety at some stage in their life.1 In a 12-month period, over two million Australians experience anxiety.2 Anxiety is common, but the sooner people with anxiety get help, the more likely they are to recover.

By understanding our anxiety, we can cope with it a lot better.  Read the fact sheet below:
http://resources.beyondblue.org.au/prism/file?token=BL/0384
source: beyondblue.org

What does it feel like to have anxiety?

Watch this video, and it will help you understand more!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCgm1xQa06c

Megans personal story on anxiety:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnAnhlD9WyQ


Anxiety signs

I am the hot and cold flushes that confuse you.

I am the tightening of your chest.

I am the snowballing worries that become an avalanche.

So, do you think you know me?

Signs and symptoms
The symptoms of anxiety conditions are sometimes not all that obvious as they often develop slowly over time and, given we all experience some anxiety at various points in our lives, it can be hard to know how much is too much.

Normal anxiety tends to be limited in duration and connected with some stressful situation or event, such as a job interview. The type of anxiety experienced by people with an anxiety condition is more frequent or persistent, not always connected to an obvious challenge, and impacts on their quality of life and day-to-day functioning. While each anxiety condition has its own unique features, there are some common symptoms including:

Physical: panic attacks, hot and cold flushes, racing heart, tightening of the chest, quick breathing, restlessness, or feeling tense, wound up and edgy
Psychological: excessive fear, worry, catastrophizing, or obsessive thinking
Behavioural: avoidance of situations that make you feel anxious which can impact on study, work or social life

These are just some of a number of symptoms that you might experience. If you've experienced any of these, check the more extensive list of symptoms common to the different types of anxiety conditions below. They're not designed to provide a diagnosis – for that you'll need to see a doctor – but they can be used as a guide. [source: BeyondBlue.org.au]

Anxiety is also commonly diagnosed in people with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).

SO WHAT CAUSES ANXIETY?

There is no single cause for anxiety conditions but rather a number of risk factors that may contribute to developing an anxiety condition.

Family history of mental health conditions
Some people who experience anxiety conditions may have a genetic predisposition towards anxiety and these conditions can sometimes run in a family. However, having a parent or close relative experience anxiety or other mental health condition doesn't mean you'll automatically develop anxiety. A number of other factors play a role, including personality factors, adverse life experiences and current life circumstances.

Personality factors
Research suggests that people with certain personality traits are more likely to have anxiety. For example, children who are perfectionists, easily flustered, timid, inhibited, lack self-esteem or want to control everything, sometimes develop anxiety during childhood, adolescence or as adults.

Ongoing stressful events
Anxiety conditions may develop because of one or more stressful life events. Common triggers include:

- work stress or job change
- change in living arrangements
- pregnancy and giving birth
- family and relationship problems
- major emotional shock following a stressful or traumatic event
- verbal, sexual, physical or emotional abuse or trauma
- death or loss of a loved one.
- Physical health problems

Chronic physical illness can also contribute to anxiety conditions or impact on the treatment of either the anxiety or the physical illness itself. Common chronic conditions associated with anxiety conditions include:

- diabetes
- asthma
- hypertension and heart disease

Some physical conditions can mimic anxiety conditions, like an overactive thyroid. It can be useful to see a doctor and be assessed to determine whether there may be a medical cause for your feelings of anxiety.

Other mental health conditions
While some people may experience an anxiety condition on its own, others may experience multiple anxiety conditions, or other mental health conditions. Depression and anxiety conditions often occur together. It's important to check for and get assistance for all these conditions at the same time.

Substance use
Some people who experience anxiety may use alcohol or other drugs to help them manage their condition. In some cases, this may lead to people developing a substance use problem along with their anxiety condition. Alcohol and substance use can aggravate anxiety conditions particularly as the effects of the substance wear off. It's important to check for and get assistance for any substance use conditions at the same time.

HOW CAN WE TREAT ANXIETY?

A range of health professionals and services offer information, treatment and support for anxiety conditions, as well as a number of things you can do to help yourself.

Effective treatment helps you learn how to control your anxiety so it doesn’t control you. The type of treatment will depend on the type of anxiety you're experiencing.

For mild symptoms your health professional might suggest lifestyle changes, such as regular physical exercise and reducing your stress levels. You might also like to try online e-therapies, many of which are free, anonymous and easily accessible for anyone with internet access. Where symptoms of anxiety are moderate to severe, psychological and/or medical treatments are likely to be required.

The important thing is finding the right treatment and the right health professional for your needs.

MEDICATION:

Antidepressant medication
Some types of antidepressant medication can help people to manage anxiety, even if they are not experiencing symptoms of depression.

Research indicates that when people have an anxiety condition, specific changes occur in their brain's chemicals – serotonin, noradrenaline and dopamine. Antidepressant medication is designed to correct the imbalance of chemical messages between nerve cells (neurones) in the brain. Learn about the different classes of antidepressant medication.
[source:beyondblue.org.au]

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HAVE YOUR SAY BELOW ON ANXIETY!