Conditions
Anxiety disorders
Anxiety disorders are the most common group of mental health conditions in Australia, affecting around one in four people during their lifetime. Anxiety itself is a normal, useful human response to threat. It becomes a disorder when fear and worry are excessive, persistent, difficult to control, and begin to shrink your life: avoiding situations, dreading ordinary tasks, lying awake at night, living with a body that will not switch off alert mode.
Types of anxiety disorder
- Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD): persistent, excessive worry across many areas of life, often with restlessness, muscle tension, fatigue and sleep disturbance
- Panic disorder: recurrent panic attacks, sudden surges of intense fear with pounding heart, breathlessness, dizziness or a feeling of losing control, often with ongoing fear of the next attack
- Social anxiety disorder: intense fear of judgment or embarrassment in social or performance situations, leading to avoidance that limits work, study and relationships
- Specific phobias: marked fear of particular objects or situations, such as flying, heights, needles or animals
- Agoraphobia: fear and avoidance of situations where escape might be difficult, such as crowds, public transport or being far from home
Anxiety disorders also frequently co-occur with depression, ADHD and physical health conditions, and untangling these is part of good assessment.
The physical side of anxiety
Anxiety is as much a condition of the body as the mind. Racing heart, chest tightness, breathlessness, churning stomach, nausea, trembling, sweating and dizziness are real physical events driven by the body's alarm system. Many people see multiple doctors for these symptoms before anxiety is recognised, and part of treatment is learning how the alarm system works and how to settle it.
Treatment
Anxiety disorders are highly treatable. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), including graded exposure, is the gold-standard psychological treatment and is offered by psychologists consulting at Mind Connections. Medication can be a valuable part of treatment for moderate to severe anxiety, and psychiatrists can advise where it will help and manage it safely. Most people who engage in treatment experience substantial improvement, and many recover completely.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my anxiety needs treatment?
When worry or fear is persistent, hard to control, out of proportion to the situation, and interfering with your work, relationships, sleep or daily activities, treatment is warranted. You do not need to wait until things are unbearable.
Can anxiety cause physical symptoms even when I am not feeling worried?
Yes. Chronic anxiety keeps the body's alarm system activated, producing symptoms such as heart palpitations, chest tightness, stomach upset and muscle tension even when your mind feels relatively calm. Assessment can rule out other causes and explain what is happening.
What happens in a panic attack, and can it hurt me?
A panic attack is an intense surge of the body's fear response, peaking within minutes. The sensations are frightening but not dangerous; a panic attack cannot stop your heart or make you lose your mind. Treatment is very effective at reducing both the attacks and the fear of them.
Will I need medication?
Many people recover with psychological therapy alone, particularly CBT. For moderate to severe anxiety, medication can ease symptoms enough to engage fully with therapy. The decision is made together with your clinician based on your situation and preferences.
Does avoiding the things that make me anxious help?
Avoidance brings short-term relief but strengthens anxiety over time, teaching the brain that the feared situation really was dangerous. Effective therapy involves gradual, supported steps back towards what you have been avoiding, at a pace you control.
How long does treatment take?
Many people see meaningful improvement within 8 to 12 sessions of structured therapy. More longstanding or complex anxiety can take longer. Your clinician will review progress with you regularly.
Can children and teenagers be treated for anxiety?
Yes. Anxiety is the most common mental health condition in young people, and early treatment prevents years of unnecessary suffering. Child and adolescent clinicians consulting at Mind Connections see young people with anxiety regularly.
Getting Started
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Visit our 'What to expect' page to learn more about the booking process.
Obtain a referral
For psychiatry, ask your GP for a referral. For psychology, ask your GP for a Mental Health Care Plan and referral. This is what enables your Medicare rebates.
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Attend your appointment
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