Feeling anxious is one way our bodies keep us safe from danger.
But sometimes we can become overly worried and if it affects daily life, it may be an anxiety disorder.
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.
When you have an anxiety disorder, it has an impact on your life that’s so marked that it makes it hard to go about your daily activities and responsibilities.
Sometimes severe anxiety can develop over time and we may not notice how it’s affecting us. Someone else may notice first.
Signs and symptoms
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 like you may vomit.
When these constant repetitive thoughts and feelings take over, we can feel overwhelmed, lose sleep, feel exhausted, and start to avoid social situations. Some of these symptoms can also be signs and symptoms of other medical conditions, so it’s always best to come see us at Elm Rd. and we can check them properly.