Being anxious or fearful is our natural and appropriate response to danger. It is part of our innate survival instinct. For some people and for some of the times in their life, excessive fear, worry and anxiousness affect their daily functioning. At times such fear and anxiety happens for no apparent cause and at unexpected, irregular times. It is said that some 14% of Australian adults suffer some form of anxiety disorder in each given year.
- What is Anxiety?
Anxiety disorder comes in various forms; separation anxiety, phobias of various kinds, social anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder and others. When you feel fearful or anxious to a point where it begins affect your daily functioning, some intervention or help is needed.
- What are the signs and symptoms?
Depending on the specific form of anxiety disorder variety of different symptoms and signs may be experienced. Some of the signs and symptoms are; restlessness and irritability, insomnia, sudden heart palpitations and shortness of breath, feeling of impending disaster, repeated need to resort to ritualistic behaviour to avoid panic etc..
- What can be done about it?
For medical diagnosis and pharmaceutical intervention GPs are the best place to begin. Psychologists are able to assess and diagnose and also to provide Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to counter the effects of symptoms of anxiety. At Counselling Interactive anxiety is addressed through verity of therapeutic approaches such as Person Centred Therapy, Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, Existential (Phenomenological) Psychotherapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Family Systems Therapy or Emotion Focused Couple Therapy and others.