Understanding Anxiety: What You Need to Know

What is Anxiety?

Anxiety is more than just feeling stressed or worried. While it’s normal to feel anxious before a big event or during a challenging situation, anxiety becomes a concern when it starts to take over your thoughts, emotions, and actions. Angelique Foran, Director and Clinical Psychologist at Supported Minds Psychology, often talks to her patients about avoidance being a key feature of anxiety. She explains that looking at what we avoid can give us clues about our worries.

For example, common things people avoid due to anxiety include:

• Going places alone
• Expressing opinions
• Public speaking
• Driving to unfamiliar places

A tell-tale sign of anxiety is the “What if” thought pattern. Many people with anxiety find themselves starting their worried thoughts with “What if,” such as “What if I fail?” or “What if something bad happens?”

Symptoms of Anxiety

Anxiety can show up in many ways, and it’s important to recognize the signs. Some common symptoms include:

• Panic attacks
• Restlessness
• Nervous energy, such as pacing
• Racing heart
• Tightening of the chest
• Feeling of overwhelming dread
• Overthinking or recurrent thoughts
• Excessive fear
• Avoidance of certain situations
• Sleep issues

If you think you may be experiencing anxiety, Beyond Blue’s anxiety and depression checklist can provide more insight into your feelings.

Treatment options and strategies

The good news is that anxiety is treatable, and there are many effective strategies and treatments available. Everyone is unique, so the right approach will depend on your individual needs. Some common treatment options include:

• Healthy lifestyle habits: Eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, and getting enough sleep can make a big difference.
• Building mental resilience: Practising mindfulness, meditation, or relaxation techniques can help you manage anxious thoughts.
• Staying mentally active: Engaging in hobbies or activities that challenge your mind can improve your overall well-being.
• Therapy: Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) and mindfulness-based therapies are highly effective for managing anxiety.
• Medication: In some cases, medication may be recommended by your doctor to help manage symptoms.

Your doctor or mental health professional can work with you to create a treatment plan tailored to your needs.

Online resources and support

There are also many online resources and tools available to help you manage anxiety:

• Beyond Blue: Offers a wide range of resources for people experiencing anxiety.
• Black Dog Institute: Provides information on different types of anxiety and an anxiety self-test.
• Headspace and Smiling Mind: These apps offer guided meditations and tools for tracking your well-being.

When to Seek Help

It’s important to seek help if anxiety is taking up a lot of your time, stopping you from doing things you enjoy, or limiting your life. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, reaching out to a health professional can be the first step toward recovery.

Remember, you don’t have to face anxiety alone. With the right support and strategies, it’s possible to manage anxiety and live a fulfilling life.

We’re Here to Help

Anxiety is the most common issue that psychologists see, and Angelique and her team at Supported Minds Psychology are experienced in working with all types of anxiety - no matter how unusual or “weird” you think it might be. You’re not alone, and they're here to provide evidence-based support in a friendly, non-judgmental environment.

Take the first step today - book an appointment with Supported Minds to start your journey toward managing anxiety and living a more fulfilling life.

To support the mental health of our members and better enable timely support, Health Partners have partnered with Supported Minds Psychology to provide priority access to exclusively reserved appointments for all Health Partners members.

The Supported Minds practice is conveniently located in Health Partners' current health hub at 101 Pirie Street Adelaide, and offers in-person and telehealth appointments.

Members save $25 on individual session rates, some exclusions apply. Call Supported Minds Psychology for a quote on 08 7081 5855.

¹https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/depression

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