Anxiety

WHAT IS IT?

With the lives we lead these days everyday stress and anxiety is unavoidable. However these feelings will usually fade once the situation has passed or the cause of the stress is removed. An anxiety disorder is when these feelings remain even if the factor causing the stress is removed, and hence it can persist without any particular cause and therefore impact on a person’s ability to carry out their daily activities. There are many types of anxiety disorders and the symptoms differ between the types.

WHAT ARE THE STATISTICS LIKE?

Statistics have shown that 1 in 7 men aged between 16 and 24 will experience anxiety each year. Together with depression, anxiety is one of the most common mental health problems experienced by young men. On too many occasions the signs go unrecognised and untreated as they are commonly blown off as ‘just part of growing up’.  

WHAT ARE THE COMMON SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS?

The common symptoms include:

• Hot and cold flushes
• Tightening of the chest
• A racing heart, sweating, trembling, difficulty breathing
• Avoidance behaviour – when a person goes to extreme lengths to avoid a situation
• Obsessive thinking and compulsive behaviour
• Overbearing worries
• Panic or anxiety attacks

THE DIFFERENT TYPES AND THEIR RELATED SYMPTOMS


Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD)


The experience of excessive worry and anxiety about common issues such as family, friends, work, money or forgetting appointments. The distinguishing symptoms for this type of anxiety are when the person feels they cannot control their anxiety and they have experienced the anxiety for most days over the length of 6 months.

Social Phobia

When there is a fear of being negatively judged or criticised by others or being in situations which could lead to the person’s embarrassment. Such situations include public speaking, eating and drinking in public, or attending social encounters in public. This can lead them to avoid those situations which in turn can lead to severe isolation.

Specific Phobia

When there is an irrational or persistent fear to a specific object or situation and the anxiety becomes excessive and interfering when placed in the situation or near the object. The fear or anxiety can cause physical symptoms or even panic attacks and generally the person is aware of how unreasonable the phobia is.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

This develops after a person is exposed to a very traumatic event that may have occurred either recently or in the past. The person may experience severe, prolonged intrusive thoughts or images of the situation which are distressing and these can come in the form of nightmares.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

When a person experiences intrusive unwanted repetitive thoughts and must perform certain behavioural or mental rituals in order to experience relief from the anxiety that develops otherwise. This could include excessive hand washing or showering or checking. Generally the person is aware of how irrational their behaviour is.

Panic Disorder

When a person experiences panic attacks and these may not even be related to the situation in which they occur. For diagnosis, the person needs to have experienced 4 panic attacks each month over a series of months.

COMMON CAUSES AND RISK FACTORS?

Anxiety is similar to depression in that there is no one identifiable cause and it can be a culmination of small events or one significant event that triggers it's onset. There are however risk factors which increase the opportunity for the development of anxiety and as you see these are the same for depression:

• Physical health problems (diabetes, asthma, or heart disease
• Family and Relationship problems
• Emotional problems
• Social isolation (lack of male acquaintances to chat too or family support)
• A significant change in living arrangements (such as that brought on by a divorce or separation
• Pregnancy and the birth of a new baby
• Drug and alcohol use (in particular cannabis, amphetamines or sedatives) particularly as the effect wears off
• Personality factors (perfectionism, low self-esteem, a need to be in control)
• A stressful work environment, or change of job
• Death or loss of a loved one

Whatever the cause, the most important thing is to recognise the warning signs sooner rather than later so as to seek help and relief.

TREATMENT

Recovery is definitely possible given the right treatment is sought as soon as possible. Effective treatments include the use of Cognitive Behavioural therapy (CBT) which can include desensitisation therapy whereby there is gradual exposure of the person to situations that trigger the anxiety. There is also anxiety management and relaxation therapy such as meditation and breathing exercises. Anti-anxiolytic’s and antidepressants are also alternative options if previous treatment is unsuccessful.

WHERE TO GET HELP IN AUSTRALIA?

There are many health professionals who can give help to those in need:

• Your local GP
• Clinical Psychologists
• Psychiatrists
• Social workers in mental health
• Hospitals
• Counsellors

Helplines

Beyondblue helpline: 1300 22 4636


Nurse on Call: 1300 60 60 24


NEED MORE INFORMATION?

Anxiety disorders. Found at: http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Anxiety_disorders_overview?open

The Facts - Anxiety. Found at: http://www.beyondblue.org.au/the-facts/anxiety