"Anxiety is something that is a part of me, but it's not who I am" - Emma Stone
- untanglingthemind
- Aug 27, 2023
- 3 min read
What is Anxiety?
Anxiety is more than feeling stressed or worried, although these are common feelings as a response to pressure, these feelings typically pass once the stressful situation or stressor has passed. Anxiety is when these anxious feelings are continuous and exist without any specific reason or cause.
In small doses, anxiety can be helpful, it protects us from danger and focuses our attention on problems. However, anxiety can become debilitating when it is too severe or occurs too often. Anxiety disorders develop when this reaction becomes magnified or out-of-proportion to the trigger that causes it.
As outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (2013), anxiety disorders share features of excessive fear + anxiety, and behavioural disturbances. Fear is the emotional response to real or perceived immediate threat, while anxiety is the anticipation of future threat.
Fear is more often connected with a rush of autonomic arousal required for fight and flight, thoughts of immediate danger and escape behaviours. Anxiety is often associated with muscle tension and vigilance in preparation for future danger, with cautious and avoidant behaviours.
As outlined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (2021), anxiety is the most common group of mental health disorders in Australia, with 2 in 5 Australians aged 16-85 years having experienced a mental disorder at some point in their lifetime.
Symptoms of Anxiety:
· Uncontrollable worry
· Excessive nervousness + fear
· Having a sense of impending danger/panic
· Feeling restless and/or on edge
· Fatigue + sleep problems
· Muscle tension
· Poor concentration
· Racing heart
· Rapid breathing/shortness of breath
· Feeling lightheaded
· Upset stomach + gastrointestinal (GI) problems
· Sweating
· Trembling
· Feeling week
· Having the urge to avoid things that trigger our anxiety
What are the different types of Anxiety?
Agoraphobia: anxiety disorder where you fear and avoid places or situations that cause you to panic and/or make you feel trapped, helpless, or embarrassed.
Panic Disorder comprises of repeated episodes of sudden/unexpected feelings of intense anxiety/fear/or terror that reach a peak within minutes (panic attacks). You may experience feelings of imminent doom, shortness of breath, chest pain, rapid/fluttering/or pounding heart (heart palpitations). As a result of experiencing panic attacks, this may lead you to worry about it happening again and avoid situations or events where they’ve occurred.
Generalised (GAD) includes persistent and excessive anxiety/worry about an activity/event/situation. The worry you experience is out of proportion to the actual circumstance, which is difficult for you to control and affects how you feel physically.
Separation Anxiety is typically considered a childhood disorder; however, adults also experience it. Characterized by anxiety related to the separation from parents/others who play parental roles or separation from loved ones. The anxiety is often intense, impacting the daily functioning of the individual, with fear and worry that something bad may happen to a loved one while they are not together. Due to the fear and worry, the individual avoids being away from their loved one.
Social Anxiety (SAD), also known as social phobia, consists of high levels of anxiety, fear, and avoidance of social situations/events due to feelings of self-consciousness, embarrassment, concerns of being judged, or being negatively viewed by others.
Specific Phobias are typified by major anxiety when you’re exposed to a specific situation/event/object and wish to avoid it. Phobias incite panic attacks in many people.
Substance-induced anxiety is typified as intense anxiety/panic that is a direct result of misusing drugs, taking medications, or withdrawal from drugs.
Causes of anxiety can include:
Environmental stresses (such as relationship problems, family issues, work, school, social)
Genetics (family history)
Medical factors + physical health problems
Grief and loss
Trauma
Substance use
Who is at risk of developing anxiety?
There are different risk factors, but general influences can include:
Personality traits
Life history
Genetics
Health Conditions
Stimulations (consuming caffeine, medications, or drug use)
Prevention Tips
Reducing caffeine consumption
Maintains a balanced nutritional diet
Keeping a regular sleep pattern
Regular exercise
Avoid consumption of alcohol and drugs
Treatment
Therapy/Counselling
Self-care
Medications (such as antidepressants or anti-anxiety)
Links for further reading:
Australian Bureau of Statistics:
American Psychiatry Association:
Beyond Blue
National Institute of Mental Health:
References
American Psychiatric Association (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). National study of mental health and wellbeing. ABS. Retrieved from https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/mental-health/national-study-mental-health-and-wellbeing/2020-21
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