Anxiety Disorder

Anxiety (also called angst or worry) is a psychological and physiological state characterized by somatic, emotional, cognitive, and behavioural components. It is the displeasing feeling of fear and concern in either the presence or absence of psychological stress. Anxiety can create feelings of fear, worry, uneasiness, and dread. It is also associated with feelings of restlessness, fatigue, concentration problems, and muscle tension. Anxiety is considered to be a normal reaction to a stressful situation where a person may feel under pressure such as when attending a job interview, meeting a work deadline or sitting for an exam or test.

However, for some people these feelings are ongoing, happen for no apparent reason or continue after the stressful event has passed. While everyone feels anxious from time to time, some people experience these feelings so often and/or so strongly that it can affect their everyday lives. When anxiety becomes overwhelming, it may fall under the classification of an anxiety disorder (National Institute of Mental Health, 2008) .

If you’re experiencing ongoing anxiety symptoms it’s important that you speak to your doctor who may refer you to a psychiatrist or psychologist for an assessment. A psychiatrist is able to prescribe medication to help alleviate the symptoms of anxiety. A psychologist or counsellor can assist with learning techniques to help you better manage your anxiety. You don’t need to suffer in silence. Help is only a phone call or click away. For further information about anxiety disorders go to the Beyond Blue website http://www.beyondblue.org.au.

Article written by Marina Dyson, Counsellor

If you’ve been feeling anxious and would like to make an appointment to discuss further please contact Counsel@CrossCulture

 phone: 9639 3875; email: counsel@crossculture.net.au

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