What is Anxiety?

When we’re very anxious, we have intense feelings of worry or distress that are not easy to control. Anxiety can interfere with how we go about our everyday lives, and make it hard to cope with ‘normal’ challenges.

Anxiety is the most common mental health condition in Australia. Up to one-third of women and one-fifth of men will experience anxiety at some point in their lives.

Severe anxiety is a feature of a group of mental health disorders including:

  • Generalised Anxiety Disorder
  • Social phobia
  • Specific phobia
  • Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
  • Panic disorder
  • Separation anxiety disorder
  • Agoraphobia
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder

It’s important to seek help to manage severe anxiety. There are many effective treatments for anxiety, and you can feel better.

Signs or Symptoms of Anxiety

While there are many types of anxiety disorder, there are some common signs and symptoms.

You might be feeling:

  • Very worried or afraid most of the time
  • Tense and on edge
  • Nervous or scared
  • Panicky
  • Irritable, agitated
  • Worried you’re going crazy
  • Detached from your body
  • Feeling you want to vomit.

You may be thinking:

  • ‘Everything’s going to go wrong’
  • ‘I might die’
  • ‘I can’t handle the way I feel’
  • ‘I can’t focus on anything apart from my worries’
  • ‘I don’t want to go out today’
  • ‘I can’t calm myself down’

You may also be experiencing:

  • Pounding heart
  • Sleeplessness
  • Sweating
  • Pins and needles
  • Lightheadedness
  • Tummy aches
  • Problems concentrating
  • Always thirsty

Treating Anxiety

There are three broad categories of treatment for anxiety, these include:

  • Physical treatment provided by a health professionals (GP and dietician)
  • Psychological treatment (art therapy, CBT counselling)
  • Alternative Therapies including breathing meditation and prayer.

Here at HPTW we recommend you see your local GP, book in for a dietician session,  and explore our range of therapeutic, counselling and prayer pathways.

We have seen great outcomes with guests experiencing a significant reduction in symptoms of anxiety related disorders.

There is hope for you also.