Anxiety

Anxiety is an uncomfortable feeling that we all experience from time to time. It is our normal human response to fear. "Fight & flight" hormones surge around the body in response to an immediate or anticipated threat to our sense of wellbeing and safety. The heart races, we breathe more rapidly. Our muscles tense and sweaty palms add to our overall discomfort. But in our every day world these symptoms quickly pass as the threat disappears. They will only return when next faced with "danger"!

Anxiety becomes a disorder when symptoms occur in the absence of any actual threat to wellbeing and safety. Anxiety disorders have the potential to profoundly affect and disrupt the many aspects of a person's life. Anxiety disorders are the most commonly diagnosed mental health issue in Australia, with recent reports indicating that approximately 11% of the community is coping with a diagnosed anxiety condition. Children and adolescents experience symptoms at about the same rate as adults.

The diagnosis of anxiety disorder may fall into one of the following groups:

• Panic disorder (with or without agoraphobia )
• Post traumatic stress disorder
• Social anxiety
• Generalised anxiety disorder
• Obsessive compulsive disorder
• Specific phobias
• Anxiety disorder in childhood & adolescence including separation anxiety

All of these conditions have the potential for treatment and recovery. One of the most popular forms of management currently is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.

Information on anxiety includes:

• Women's health information package

Go to specific health issues introductory page.