Anxiety, and why you should always seek treatment.

There may be many reasons why you may be feeling anxious, or suffering from anxiety. You should never feel guilty or like a failure for feeling the way you do.

Research into anxiety disorders has shown that 1 in 4 adults will suffer from anxiety in their lifetime, you are not alone.

The good news is that anxiety is very treatable and once getting help, it is likely that you will start feeling better soon.

Symptoms of anxiety can differ from person to person, below are some of the more common symptoms:

Physical: feelings of panic, hot and cold flushes, racing heart, tightening of the chest, quick breathing, restlessness, feeling tense, changes in eating habits, difficulty sleeping, feeling wound up and edgy.

Psychological: excessive fear, worry or obsessive thinking.

Behavioural: avoidance of situations that make you feel anxious which can impact on study, work, personal or social life.

What causes Anxiety or feelings of being anxious?

Family history & Life Events

Anxiety can sometimes run in a family, which means you may have a genetic disposition to suffer from anxiety, this of course does not mean you will 100% experience anxiety. Your personality, life experiences, life events and current life circumstances all have an impact on your emotional and mental state.

Personality

Research suggests that people with certain personality traits are more likely to have anxiety. For example, children who are perfectionists, easily flustered, timid, and inhibited, lack self-esteem or want to control everything, sometimes develop anxiety during childhood, adolescence or as adults. Children who are diagnosed as ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) or are on the spectrum (Asperger’s, Autism etc.) are also more prone to experience anxiety sometime in their lives.

Stressful and/or traumatic events

Anxiety conditions may develop because of one or more stressful, traumatic or life changing events, such as:

• 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 issues

Chronic physical illness can also contribute to anxiety conditions or impact on the treatment of either the anxiety or the physical illness itself.

• cancer

• diabetes

• hypertension

• Other mental health conditions

• Irritable Bowel Disorder

• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

And many more..

While some people may experience just anxiety, others may experience multiple mental health conditions, including but not limited to depression.

Substance abuse

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.

Contributing Source: beyond blue

It is important is you seek help if you are struggling, either by seeing a psychologist, or your doctor. Professionals trained in the field are able to offer brilliant solutions to help you overcome anxiety.

The Counselling and Wellbeing Centre

2 Deshon Street, Woolloongabba.

Phone 3891 2273