Anxiety is the term given to the mental, behavioral and physical changes that occur to assist the body to combat threat or danger. When the body becomes aware of danger the involuntary nervous system sends messages to areas all over the body so it can react in the "Fight or Flight Response. This type of Anxiety is normal when confronted with a stressful or threatening situation.

** When Does Anxiety Become an Anxiety Disorder? **

The "Fight of Flight" reaction is useful when faced with the stressful or dangerous situation. However, when this reaction persists long after that stress or threat has passed, or if your body's reaction is out of proportion to the event that triggered it then the Anxiety becomes a problem. Anxiety Disorders are fairly common within the general population and it is believed that up to 4% of people experience some form of Anxiety Disorder. While Anxiety is a distinct disorder it is also a common symptom of most other mental Illnesses.

** Who Gets Anxious? **

Anxiety disorders are quite common amongst the general population. Studies have shown that between 2 and 4% of people experience some form of anxiety disorder, and that anxiety disorders account for about 15% of the workload of Australian psychiatrists.

** Types Of Anxiety Disorders **

Generalized Anxiety: is when the "Flight or Fight Response" exceeds its purpose and the person is anxious in response to any situation or anticipated event. Generalized Anxiety is typically characterized by constant and excessive worry, tension and an inability to relax.

Some symptoms of Generalized Anxiety are:
*Feelings of fear and dread.
*Tension in muscles
*Increase in heart rate and perspiration.
*Constant alertness

Agoraphobia: Agoraphobia is the fear of being in any place or situation where the person feels unsafe.

Some symptoms of Agoraphobia and Panic Attacks are:
*Panic when faced with the possibility of having to deal with a stressful situation, like going       shopping.
*Frustration with their symptoms and resultant lack of control in their lives.
*Further anxiety caused by being anxious over the fact they suffer anxiety and panic. Other     phobias like fear of height's. Lack of self esteem

Panic Attacks: are characterized by severe Anxiety, which can strike suddenly and cause panic attacks, and the resultant fear of having further attacks.

People with Panic Disorder often also suffer from Agoraphobia.

Psychological Symptoms of Panic Attacks

Fear of going crazy - Fear of losing control - Fear of dying - Fear of heart attack. There are different kinds of anxiety disorders. They differ in the behavior, fear and circumstances surrounding the anxiety or panic attacks. Below is a brief description of some of the anxiety disorders.

** What Is A Panic Attack? **

More than one in every four people will experience a panic attack at some time in their lives. Fortunately only a small proportion of people develop panic disorder or panic disorder with agoraphobia following their first panic attack. Panic attacks are usually experienced following a sudden stressful experience such as childbirth, an operation, drug or alcohol use, a traumatic experience or following a long period of stress in a person's life. For some people the cause is unknown and the panic attack appears to occur as part of another anxiety disorder such as Generalized anxiety disorder , post traumatic stress disorder, social phobia or obsessive compulsive disorder.

What happens during a Panic Attack?

A panic attack is a short period of intense fear or discomfort, which is accompanied by a sudden rush of physical sensations and distressing thoughts about the meaning of the physical sensations. For example, the person may think that they are going to die, faint or lose control. Panic can strike anywhere, any time, and can be so crippling that those in its grip often think they're going to die. One point three million Australians suffer from some kind of anxiety disorder, and panic is the most common kind, with twice as many women as men suffering attacks. Close to 50 percent of adults will have a panic attack at some point in their lives. Problems occur when attacks happen frequently, a strong fear of them develops and they start to get in the way of your life.

Some symptoms of Panic Attacks are:

Palpitation's

Tingling or numbness

Chest pains

Shaking or trembling

Shortness of breath

Terror

Flushes and chills

Fear of dying

Sweating

Feeling out of control

Nausea

Dizziness or lightheadedness

Feeling as if things around you are unreal and/or feeling detached from yourself

Social Anxiety / Social Phobia: is constant anxiety and fear of being criticized, evaluated or negatively judged by others:

Some Symptoms of Social Anxiety are:
*Being teased or criticized.
*Talking in public
*Being watched or observed while doing something
*Meeting new people.
*Meeting or talking with people in positions of authority

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: is a condition that some people develop after they experience a very traumatic, sometimes life-threatening, event.

Some symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder are:
*Experiencing anxiety when exposed to events or situations reminiscent of the trauma
*Spontaneously crying, feeling a sense of despair and hopelessness
*Inability to face certain aspects of the trauma
*Hypervigilance, constantly feeling on-guard and overreacting to noises or other   environmental cues

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD): is characterized by recurrent, irrational thoughts (obsessions) or rituals (compulsions), which they feel they cannot control. Performing these rituals, however, provides only temporary relief, and not performing them markedly increases anxiety. OCD is often a chronic, relapsing illness.

Some symptoms of OCD are:
*Obsessions of contamination, guilt, violence and doubt.
*Compulsions cleaning and checking.

Treatment Information

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