Anxiety
What is anxiety?
Anxiety is an uncomfortable feeling of fear or imminent disaster and is a normal emotional response to danger. What makes one person anxious may not create the same response in someone else. Things like breaking up, concern about exams, or a fight with a friend may cause you to feel anxious, worried or scared.
Everyone feels some anxiety at different times during their life. It becomes a problem if you feel so anxious that it interferes with your normal day-to-day activities. If this occurs it is important that you seek help. A local doctor or a clinical psychologist are a good place to start if you are looking for help.
What are the symptoms of anxiety?
Anxiety can affect both your physical health and your mental health (behaviour and feelings). They can depend on a number of factors. They may pass quickly or may stay for a long period of time. If you, or a friend has some or many of these symptoms it may be worth talking to your doctor, a clinical psychologist or a counsellor about ways to reduce anxiety.
Some common ways that anxiety might affect your mental health (behaviour and feelings) include:
- irritability or constantly being in a bad mood
- worried or a constant feeling that something bad is about to happen
- often ask many unnecessary questions and require constant reassurance
- being very well-behaved, e.g. never get into trouble at school or with friends (though not neccessarily at home)
- get upset when a mistake is made or if there is a change of routine, for example: game day for sports, a substitute teacher, unexpected visitors, or a trip to an unfamiliar place
- being a loner, or hanging out with a small group of group of people (who are often younger or older)
- being a perfectionist, taking a long time to complete homework because you try to have it absolutely correct
- being argumentative (but not usually aggressive), especially when trying to avoid a feared situation
- being pessimistic and easily able to identify what may go wrong in any given situation
- not answering questions and rarely volunteering comments or information at school or uni.
Some common ways that anxiety might affect your physical health include:
- dry mouth and/or difficulty swallowing
- nightmares
- difficulty getting to and staying asleep
- difficulty concentrating
- muscle tension and headaches
- rapid heart rate and breathing
- sweating
- trembling
- diarrhoea
- flare-up of another health problem or illness (e.g. dermatitis, asthma)
- sexual problems, such as not having any sexual feelings or being intersted in sex.
What can you do if you are feeling anxious?
Changing your lifestyle
There are many things that you can do to decrease anxiety in your life. Look at the things that are causing you stress and, if possible, change your lifestyle to avoid or confront those things.
Eating + exercise
When people feel anxious they often neglect themselves. Ensuring that you are eating healthy foods and regular meals as well as getting regular exercise will improve your overall health and wellbeing
Relaxation
There are many ways to help you relax. Check out the fact sheet on Relaxation or some of the many self-help books on the topic. Some ideas may be going for a walk, doing a class like yoga or Tai Chi, learning to meditate or playing footy with a friend.
Talking
Bottling things up is likely to keep your anxiety levels high. If possible, talk to a friend about the things that are making you feel anxious and see if they can be resolved.
What is an anxiety disorder?
If you are feeling so anxious that it is impacting on your day-to-day life, you may have an anxiety disorder. Check out the Anxiety disorders fact sheet for more information on the different anxiety disorders and how they can be treated.
Research has shown that cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is very effective in helping people overcome anxiety disorders. People like your local doctor or a clinical psychologist can help you or refer you to someone specialising in anxiety disorders. Medication may also be helpful in managing symptoms and is something that a doctor or psychiatrist may advise as part of treatment.
Check out the Who can help you section of the site to find more about what these people do and how they can help.
Links
- The BRAVE program is a treatment program for adolescents between 13 and 17 years of age who are experience anxiety. Check out this link for more info.
- Anxiety Online is a comprehensive online mental health service offering information, assessment, online diagnosis and treatment programs ("eTherapy") for a range of anxiety disorders.
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25 Comments
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Libby
about 1 year ago
Reply ReportSometimes facing the fears we have can make us realise that there really isnt much to fear. Being afraid to speak in class is a common problem but if you think about it, the more you talk the easier it will become. What are some other ways we can overcome our anxieties in addition to the techniques suggested above?
Charlotte-RO Crew
about 1 year ago
Reply ReportI think a great thing to keep in mind is the importance and benefits of prevention.
A fantastic thing to help with anxiety is to work on getting to know yourself and what makes you anxious and when you are likely to get anxious.
Try making a list or keeping a journal and see if you can identify triggers and times when your anxiety increases.
If you feel comfortable; showing this to a counsellor can be really benficial as they can help you put preventative strategies in place for future anxiety causing situations using your journal/notes.
Getting to know yourself and then acting to prevent or reduce your anxiety is a great tool.
beautifulbbygirl
12 months ago
Reply ReportI have had my teacher think i have anxiety problems and i thought nothing of it but i decided to look it up. Turns out i had 9/10 symptoms. I went to see my school councellor and turns out she was worried about me. She asked me a few questions and i answered sometimes(1point) or usually(2points) then she showed me the average scores then added up my scores and showed me how bad my anxiety really was. She rang my mother and told her about how she was worried and that she recommends that i go and see and outside school councellor.
Edited by moderator 12 months ago
Antria - Community Builder
11 months ago
Reply ReportHey
beautifulbbygirl - it seems like there are lots of people in your life worrying about you at the moment! Its good that you found out this was going on for you though! Going to see a counsellor outside of school might be a good idea. I have seen a counsellor before because of anxiety and they were able to give me some really helpful information about how to cope and manage my anxiety :-). Hope all goes well for you!
Beehappy
10 months ago
Reply ReportI think anxiety can sometimes be a way of telling us to look towards some kind of fear and not run or avoid. There's a great book about this kind of mindful acceptance of our feelings called Full Catastrophe Living.
It made a lot of sense and has been pretty useful. Can be easier said than done but i find when i face my fears as Libby said it's a bit like a monster in the closet that once you look enough, stops frightening you.
Edited by moderator 10 months ago
Porcelain
10 months ago
Reply ReportNormally, when I get anxious or I start to have panic attacks, I do loads of stuff.
Edited by moderator 10 months ago
Hamid Reza
6 months ago
Reply ReportAnxiety is natural reaction to fear of something, we fear things because we don't know them, get to know things that you fear, get to know what are your fears and find solution to accomodate them in your mind, learn to take time to relax and meditate.
Edited by moderator 6 months ago
bubbly physco
6 months ago
Reply ReportAnxiety isnt something that happens here and there throughtout the week or the day it is like a disease or an infection and when we have a disease or an infection we get medical help. when i noticed myself acting different and wanting to start fights with other girls or boys i knew something was up and i knew that anxiety and depression ran in my family. after a few months i realised that this isnt going to go away, im not just having a bad run, i actually have a disease. I saw a doctor and told him what was going on and he prescribed me to the right medication i needed for my symptoms and after a little while i was being myself again and wasnt causing conflict with other people. this might not work for you but go and see a doctor even if you dont think you have anxiety or depression, you could have schitzophrenia or anything and being on medication doesnt mean your a bad or stupid person your actually a very brave smart person for wanting to help yourself and fix your life. Hope this helps someone who is feeling anxious and like there is no answer to this problem, because there is and its a very happy answer :)
Roisin - RO Crew
6 months ago
Reply ReportHi bubbly physco,
I'm sorry to hear about all that you have been through and wanted to thank you for sharing your awesome story about how you overcame your anxiety.
I'm sure your words of encouragement will help others :)
Porcelain
6 months ago
Reply ReportOne thing I do when I get in either a panic attack or anxiety attack - I forget about myself and just focus on other people's need. I'll probably focus a bit on myself, but Im more of a 'hi forget me, please let me focus on what you need help'
Alphabet
5 months ago
Reply ReportThere are so many helpful suggestions in here. Very practical so thank you :)
csw
4 months ago
Reply Reporti am starting to get like that
Porcelain
3 months ago
Reply ReportHey CSW,
nervous charlie
about 1 month ago
Reply ReportOh my gosh!!!
reading all this made me cry. all i have been doing lately is crying and being a nervous wreck. at the moment its over all aspects of my relationship with my boyfriend of 3 years. we love eachother so much but i sometimes think maybe i don't. it started small with worrying just a little over it. now im worrying all the time and feeling sick. there are times where its all gone and i try and hold on to those moments and enjoy my wonderful man but as soon as i let my mind wonder im crying and feeling sick with nerves. sometimes i think i have brain tumors, breast cancer and other things. il be at a concert and worry that maybe my sister is on her phone getting a tumor!! i cant escape these thoughts!! im doing it now as i type. last night i went out for dinner and worried so much bout my relationship that i burst into tears and just wanted my friends to repeatedly tell me evrything is ok. i beleive it when its said but as soon as i start to think bout it i get anxious again!! i want a normal life and i don want the doctors to tell me that me and my boyfriend are not meant to be and thats why im like this. may seem ridiculous but its my biggest fear in the world.
i cant beleive how much is coming out right now.
feels better telling whoever is reading this.
i feel so lost in this problem. i cant go an hour without this intense nervous thing taking over my thoughts and body.
Am i going insane??
Bella - Community Builder
about 1 month ago
Reply ReportHello Nervous charlie!
Dark Pulse - the Pokemon strategist with anxiety disorder!
about 1 month ago
Reply Reporti can't believe how relevant this is
I've been reading through this, looking at the symptoms, thinking, "yep, that's me, yep, that's me, yep, that's me..." but i didn't write anything
I've now (about a week ago) been diagnosed with anxiety disorder (something like extreme 1%) and I decided to write something - to all those out there - find something that helps you relax, to get away from it all. me personally, listening to music has always helped me. but not stuff with too meaningful lyrics (like simple plan's "welcome to my life") either, as that can only make things worse. but whatever you have a passion for, whether it be music, dance, footy, maths homework (lol) ANYTHING! so long as you love it - whatever you do, don't lose intrest in it, even if you don't feel like it, push yourself to. I play Clarinet, and whenever i'm at my worst, i don't want to go to band, but my mum pushes me to and I feel 1000% better when i'm there. find something you like, and stick to it at all costs, when you're at your worst, it sometimes is the only thing you have to hope for.
I hope this helps anyone who reads this, and that you don't lose intrest in the things you love
----------------------------------------------
I also seem to find myself feeling better by writing this way, rather than talking about my problems. i just care too much, that's all (my mum raised me well)
Brandon
27 days ago
Reply Reporthello, my names brandon. im 15 and have been diagnosed with "severe anxiety disorder". i dont know what to do. i had an anxiety attack and got really mad, and took it out on the first friends i ever had, 2 months ago... now everyone in my class hates me. it makes me cry to think that i can't do anything other people can because of this. whenever i talk to anyone i go red and get really nervous, now i cant even control my emotions, i can't sleep. i cant go outside without thinking something horrible is going to happen. i went to see a specialist and he just said "you are an really unluck person". it made me feel horrible. now i cant even go to school because i get extremely nervous about it. please, i need some help, my medication (100 grams of Setraline) hasnt made anything better, now i am always depressed. please, i cant take it.
-Brandon
Brandon
27 days ago
Reply Reporti forgot to add, it was called Chronic social anxiety
Bella - Community Builder
26 days ago
Reply ReportBrandon,
Dark Pulse - the Pokemon strategist with anxiety disorder!
11 days ago
Reply ReportBrandon ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Like I said before, stick to the things you love, and I know it's Cliche, but don't listen to what people say, or do what I do and take it out of context (ie, "you're fat" means "you're Funny And Terrific") make up things that will distract you if that helps, like trying to read what used to be on the whiteboard (my school has 1 or 2 whiteboards around the place, and i've learned some physics in my Geography class by [i don't like Geography] reading what got rubbed out) but whatever it is, count you're blessings, whether it's you're family or friends, and if you're not in the popular circle, you're friends are "true friends" and will stick by you... find the things you like (with me it's music and competetive pokemon [pokemon is not for kids] battles, and reading...) ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ this was a message brought to you by Dark Pulse, the most awesome pokemon strategist. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ NONE SHALL DEFY LORD WHISCASH!!!
little lady
4 days ago
Reply Reportnervous charlie,
Reading your comment made me smile.. It is the first time I have not felt alone with my thoughts and feelings. I pretty much go through the same thought process every day with my boyfriend. Its like I know I love him, but for some reason my emotions just wont relax and let me feel the love. I just feel like Im worrying about something all the time. Its so hard to not let these feelings effect my relationship!!! I feel bad for feeling like this too, becuase I know he must think I dont really love him any more. Im sick of being worried all the time!
Porcelain
1 day ago
Reply ReportDark Pulse - the Pokemon strategist with anxiety disorder -
Porcelain
1 day ago
Reply ReportHey Little Lady -
little lady
1 day ago
Reply ReportI really hate doctors, but I guess you are right, Porcelain. But I don't even really know what my fears directly are. I just know I have a constant feeling like something bad is about to happen, or like I'm always about to get in trouble. Sounds funny, but I really do feel like I'm a little kid who is always about to get in trouble! I hate it! I wish I did know what my fears are because then, as you said, I would be able over come my fears and theoretically be rid of the terrible feeling I always have.
Porcelain
about 18 hours ago
Reply ReportHey Little Lady_