“Our anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strengths.” -Charles H. Spurgeon

Everyone occasionally experiences some anxiety. It is a normal response to a stressful event or perceived threat. For someone experiencing high anxiety, this often means interpreting situations negatively and having unhelpful thoughts. Symptoms can develop gradually which can make it difficult to work out when anxiety has become a serious issue and if anxiety is left untreated this can lead to depression. Anxiety can range from feeling uneasy and worried to severe panic. For many of us, worry can become a constant feature of everyday life. Anxiety is a treatable condition and learning about it is an important first step.

Anxiety can affect your ability to concentrate, sleep and carry out ordinary tasks at work, home or school. People with anxiety disorders often feel compelled to avoid stressful situations and in extreme cases avoid going out altogether.

Individuals experiencing (mild, moderate, severe) anxiety may commonly experience physical and emotional symptoms. Examples of physical symptoms include:  shortness of breath, or breathing rapidly (hyperventilation), increased heart rate, mind racing making it difficult to think, trembling, sweating, feeling dizzy, muscle tension, headaches, stomach or chest pain, dry mouth and difficulty sleeping. Example of emotional symptoms can include excessive worry about the past, present or future, difficulty concentrating and feeling apprehensive.

Anxiety can be caused by one, or a combination of contributing factors. These may include genetic factors, ongoing stress (for example: job related stress, relationship breakdown, grief issues, abuse (verbal, physical, sexual), pregnancy childbirth etc.., It can also contribute from family background, physical health issues, a traumatic event, substance abuse and last but not least, personality types (for example: being a perfectionist, having low esteem or needing to be in control).

Common Types of Anxiety 1:

No matter what type of anxiety disorder you have, treatment is available. Counselling, lifestyle changes and medication are some of the ways you can overcome it.

Treatments for anxiety:

Mild anxiety may be treated with lifestyle changes, whereas more severe cases may require medication. Improvement and recovery is possible with the right care.

Common treatments include:

There are services, health care professionals and online support tools available to assist people with anxiety disorders. To read more about anxiety you can visit: www.beyondblue.org.au Where to get help:

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