What is Anxiety?
An experienced anxiety psychologist at our Melbourne psychology practice can assist to manage symptoms of anxiety. To begin with, we want to walk you through what anxiety is, and how it can show up in our life. It is important to understand that anxiety is a normal and healthy human emotion that is experienced by all of us at some stage in life. Prolonged and excessive anxiety can result in a mental health disorder characterised by feelings of worry, anxiety or fear that are strong enough to interfere with daily activities.
The symptoms of anxiety usually show up due to ones’ perceived threat. This perceived threat is often a false alarm but we cannot switch it off as easily as we’d hope we could. This is because our body is wired to respond in the fight-flight response to protect us from harm. We are all wired to scan our environment for perceived threats as a survival mechanism. Sometimes we experience a false alarm and respond to certain situations, events, thoughts as a perceived threat and experience panic or increased anxiety. Such as starting a new gym class, going to a party, relationships, starting a new job, breaking up with a loved one.
Let’s take an example where you are walking down a dark ally and someone dangerous popped out from behind a corner. Our bodies are wired to respond in a way to protect us – fight or run! This can result in a range of emotional, behavioural, cognitive, and physiological symptoms – we’ll walk you through these symptoms.
Prolonged symptoms of anxiety can be classified as:
> Generalised anxiety
> Social anxiety
> Phobias and fears
> Stress and burnout
> Health anxiety
> Panic attacks
> Obsessions and compulsions
> Post-Traumatic stress
> Separation anxiety (in children)
It is important to highlight that everyone experiences anxiety time to time – this certainly does not mean there is something wrong with you!
Physical Symptoms of Anxiety:
> Difficulty breathing
> Shorter-shallow breaths
> Rapid heart rate
> Heart palpitations
> Hot flushes
> Tightness in the chest
> Muscle tension
> Headaches
> Sweaty palms
> Dry mouth
> Difficulty swallowing
> Feeling of nausea
> Trembling hands
Cognitive Symptoms of Anxiety:
> Lack of concentration
> Intrusive thoughts
> Irrational thinking
> Jumping to conclusions
> Mindreading thoughts
> Catastrophising thoughts
> Assuming the worst
> Excessive worry
> Unhelpful thoughts
> Ruminating thoughts
> Unwanted thoughts
> Racing thoughts
Behavioural Symptoms of Anxiety:
> Hypervigilance
> Irritability
> Restlessness
> Difficulty sleeping or insomnia
> Irritability
Emotional Symptoms of Anxiety:
> Feeling anxious
> Feeling on-edge and keyed up
> Irritability
> Feeling of uncertainty
> Excessive worry
> Uncontrollable worry
> Feeling of constant fear
> Feeling of impending doom
Anxiety Treatment:
Our Melbourne psychologists are skilled and trained in a range of well-researched therapies and techniques to manage anxiety, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), which is highly efficacious in alleviating depression symptoms. It is important to reach out for professional support as left untreated, anxiety can last a lifetime and cause significant disruption in daily life.
Evidence-based Anxiety Treatments:
> Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT),
> Exposure Therapy (Behaviour Therapy)
> Interpersonal Therapy (IPT)
> Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy
> Positive Psychology
> Narrative Therapy
Read more here at the Black Dog Institute
How can Positive Wellbeing Psychology help?
Our warm and compassionate psychologists are trained in a range evidence based treatments for anxiety including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), which is highly efficacious in alleviating symptoms of anxiety and panic.
You may benefit from talking to a psychologists to understand a little more about the lifestyle factors that maintain anxiety, as well as exploring techniques to reduce anxiety symptoms. By finding the best anxiety psychologist in Melbourne to suit your needs, you will be able to improve your mood, self-esteem and interpersonal relationships. Individuals who experience high levels of anxiety due to prolonged stress or burn out find great benefits from speaking to a psychologist.
Make An Appointment
Telehealth and In-Person appointments available with one of our Melbourne Psychologist during standard business hours, after-hours, and on weekends.
