Have you ever been faced with a task and had ‘butterflies’ in your stomach or sweaty palms? Perhaps you’ve noticed your heart beat a bit faster? These can be normal experiences when, for example, we feel under pressure to perform a demanding task, or if we are faced with a real danger. However for some people, these fear related feelings are experienced when there is nothing specific to be fearful of. Sometimes the feelings of dread and worry don’t match the reality of the situation. In addition to the physical responses, a person experiencing anxiety often has persistent negative and distressing thoughts (e.g., “what if something bad happens?”) and, in some cases, behaviours (e.g., repeatedly and excessively checking doors are locked). Sometimes it can feel like a merry-go-round when an anxious person starts feel anxious about feeling anxious!
Anxiety
Are you looking for personalised help with anxiety?
Like depression, anxiety symptoms, and the severity of the symptoms, can vary from person to person.
Typical signs include a dry mouth, shakiness and trembling, difficulty swallowing, tightness in the chest, and difficulty breathing without any physical exertion. There are also different types, such as social anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder and panic disorder. Many people experiencing anxiety can benefit from talking with a psychologist or counsellor, including people taking anxiety medication (also known as ‘anxiolytics’).
Sometimes anxiety can be associated with experiences such as trauma in the past (e.g., sexual abuse/assault, family violence, natural disasters, and traffic and other accidents).
Beyondblue Anxiety and Depression Checklist
If you would like to take a simple ‘anxiety test’ to see if you might be experiencing symptoms, please visit Beyondblue Anxiety and Depression Checklist. Please note that the results of a quiz should not replace a proper assessment made by a health professional.
Compassionate, professional help is available
If you would like to talk with a mental health professional, please contact Tess Collie for more information or to make an appointment. More information about anxiety, and anxiety treatment, is available through our Resources page.