Anxiety

Anxiety is a psychological and physiological state that is typically associated with uneasiness, fear or worry. Anxiety is also a normal part of human experience. However when anxiety is more intense, frequent and interfering with your ability to function socially, academically, personally or at work, then something can be done to improve your personal responses.

Symptoms of anxiety may include:

  • Panic attacks. These are common but do not necessarily mean a person is suffering an anxiety disorder. Symptoms may include shortness of breath; dizziness; rapid heartbeat; choking and nausea
  • Onset of intense feelings of fear, terror or impending doom
  • Racing heart
  • Sweating
  • Shaking/trembling.
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Tight  muscles
  • Irritability and impatience
  • Nausea
  • Tingling in your hands, feet, legs or arms
  • Feeling like you need to check routine things, like locking the door or turning off the oven. Impatience
  • Excessive worry about dying or financial ruin
  • Fear of losing control
  • Chills or hot flashes
  • Avoiding places where you have felt anxious before.
  • Recurring feelings of exhaustion
  • Unexpected panic

Anxiety becomes a disorder when it is irrational, excessive persistent, attached to situations that do not warrant it and/or when it interferes with the person’s daily life. Anxiety disorders include generalised anxiety; social anxiety; panic attacks, post-traumatic stress reactions, and obsessions and compulsions. They also include specific phobias – for example, a fear of open spaces (agoraphobia) or enclosed spaces (claustrophobia)

Fortunately the majority of anxiety disorders are treatable. Effective treatments and therapy for anxiety and anxiety disorders break the cycle by helping you understand what really drives your anxiety.  Learning constructive techniques, for managing your anxiety in the short term, thus developing lasting change.

Call to discuss different treatment options