Anxiety Disorders

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Anxiety is a word we use to describe the unpleasant feeling we get when we are in a stressful, threatening, or demanding situation, or when we are facing a problem. It is not in itself a mental health condition and most of us will experience anxiety at some point in our lives for many reasons. It can be a normal, healthy response, and usually goes away over time, when the situation changes, or when you leave the situation that is causing you anxiety. 

Anxiety can become a problem when:

• Your anxiety is extraordinarily strong. 
• You feel anxious all or most of the time. 
• There is no obvious reason for why you feel anxious. 
• It negatively affects your daily life including your work, your personal and social life.

Anxiety can be caused by number of things, including: 

• Everyday events like receiving a stressful email at work, interacting with a difficult customer, meeting someone new or a job interview.
• Major life events like going through a divorce, having a physical illness, or experiencing a loss or bereavement. 

Some common symptoms of anxiety include: 

• Your thoughts may often be racing, or you may find yourself ruminating on one thing like a loop. The nature of your thoughts may often be worry based, with a lot of “what ifs” or quite catastrophic in nature – always predicting the worst will happen.  
• Physically you may notice feeling exhausted with poor sleep, find it difficult to concentrate, your muscles may feel tense and achy. You may also experience frequent headaches, stomach cramps or nausea. More acutely, you may notice irritability, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, sudden changes in body temperature, shakiness, dizziness, or numbness.  
• You may experience overwhelming emotions, with a feeling of dread or unease.  
• You may also notice that you are avoiding doing certain things or going to certain places, or you may notice you are asking others for reassurance a lot or checking things multiple times. 

Anxiety disorders are a group of mental health conditions characterized by excessive worry, fear, or anxiety that significantly interferes with daily life. There are several types of anxiety disorders, each with its own specific symptoms and diagnostic criteria.

The main types of anxiety disorders recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) are:  

•  Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): GAD is characterized by excessive worry and anxiety about various aspects of life, such as work, relationships, health, or everyday situations. Individuals with GAD often experience persistent anxiety that is difficult to control, along with physical symptoms such as restlessness, muscle tension, fatigue, irritability, and difficulty concentrating. 
• Panic Disorder: Panic disorder is characterized by recurrent panic attacks, which are sudden episodes of intense fear or discomfort that reach a peak within minutes. Panic attacks may be accompanied by symptoms such as palpitations, sweating, trembling, shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness, or feelings of impending doom. Individuals with panic disorder may also develop anxiety about experiencing future panic attacks, leading to avoidance behaviors.  
• Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia): Social anxiety disorder involves an intense fear or anxiety about social situations in which the individual may be scrutinized, judged, or embarrassed by others. Common fears include public speaking, meeting new people, participating in social gatherings, or being observed while performing tasks. Individuals with social anxiety disorder may experience physical symptoms such as blushing, sweating, trembling, or nausea in social situations. 
• Specific Phobia: Specific phobia is characterized by an intense and irrational fear of a specific object, situation, or activity. Common phobias include fear of heights, spiders, needles, flying, or enclosed spaces. Individuals with specific phobias may go to great lengths to avoid the feared stimulus, leading to significant distress or impairment in daily life. 
• Agoraphobia: Agoraphobia involves an intense fear or anxiety about being in situations or places from which escape may be difficult or embarrassing, or where help may not be available in the event of a panic attack or other distressing symptoms. Individuals with agoraphobia may avoid crowded places, public transportation, open spaces, or being alone outside of the home. 
• Separation Anxiety Disorder: Separation anxiety disorder is characterized by excessive fear or anxiety about separation from attachment figures, such as parents or caregivers. This anxiety may manifest as reluctance or refusal to leave home, attend school, or be separated from loved ones. Separation anxiety disorder is most commonly diagnosed in children, but it can also occur in adults. 

Who can benefit from our service?

Your or your family member may benefit from our Anxiety Services if: 

• If you or your loved one is worrying about something, or lots of things, to a level that does not seem rational.  
• If you or your loved one is avoiding situations or environments that they did not avoid in the past, e.g., going to parties, out for dinner or crowded places.  
• If you or your loved one is complaining of physical symptoms like headaches, stomach aches or tiredness.  
• If you or your loved one seem upset, angry, or frustrated for no obvious reason.  
• If you or your loved one constantly want to cancel plans, or do not do things they say they will.  
• If you or your loved one seem distracted or unable to listen when you are talking to them.  
• If you or your loved one feel overwhelmed with life and living with a constant feeling of unease or stress.  
• You or a loved one has been diagnosed or is on treatment for an anxiety disorder and would like a second opinion or a multidisciplinary team review.  
• If you are on medication for anxiety disorders and would like to review other options.  
• You have a family member with an anxiety disorder and would like advice on how to best support this individual and relationships with siblings, parents etc.