Anxiety and Social Anxiety Treatment
Adelaide is not free of anxiety. Anxiety is an automatic, unconscious and very natural response to worrying situations. It results in a number of thought, bodily and behavioural changes that ordinarily are adaptive and enable a higher level of performance. Anxiety may come on very quickly (such as in the case of panic) or slowly build (such as in anticipation of an event) but it normally passes with time.
For instance, a student may be worried when sitting an exam and therefore become anxious. Once anxious, at moderate levels, the student is better able to focus, sustain attention, avoid distraction, and think and write quickly. The student’s anxieties built up slowing leading up to the exam, peaked while walking into the exam hall, and quickly faded as the exam time progressed. In this example the worry experienced was helpful to the situation and improved the student’s functioning. However, our worries can also build up to the point where they becoming so frequent and distressing that we have trouble managing them, and they can adversely affect our home, work and social lives.
While anxiety is often caused by worrying thoughts it can also be the result of, or exacerbated by, poor sleep, physical illness, or the ingestion of certain foods, drinks and substances that stimulate the nervous system.
What are the symptoms of anxiety?
The cognitive symptoms of worry include rumination, racing thoughts, as well as impaired concentration and memory recall. The behavioural symptoms of worry include hypervigilance, pacing, restlessness, disturbed sleep, difficulties with multitasking, social awkwardness and withdrawal, engaging in safety behaviours and the avoidance of anxiety-provoking stimuli. Bodily symptoms can include hyperventilation, fatigue, trembling, chronically tight muscles, dry mouth, heart palpitations, nausea, headaches and chest pain. At severe levels anxiety can cause dizziness, frequent urination, incontinence, diarrhoea, vomiting and panic attacks.
What are the different types of Anxiety Disorders?
- Generalised Anxiety Disorder
Excessive worry over a range of health, work, relationship, money or other issues - Panic Disorder
Sudden intense moments of terror which quickly fade - Agoraphobia
Intense fear of open spaces or the fear to leave the home - Social Anxiety Disorder
Excessively worrying about the negative appraisals from others and displaying anxiety in public - Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Inability to control intrusive and unwanted thoughts that lead to anxiety which are temporarily alleviated by engaging in rituals or routine behaviours - Specific Phobias
Disproportionally excessive fear of specific objects such as spiders, lifts, needles, or dentists - Substance-Induced Anxiety Disorder
Anxiety symptoms brought on by ingestion of vary substances such as cannabis or alcohol
BlueSky Psychology is an Adelaide centre for the treatment of Anxiety Disorders
BlueSky Psychology is located in the Adelaide CBD and we have six Clinical Psychologists on our team who have completed additional training in the treatment of anxiety and have extensive treatment experience. We offer a range of scientifically proven techniques to control anxiety. Our staff can help you to develop the skills necessary to manage anxiety so that it no longer controls you. We can help you calm your mind, settle your body, get some adequate sleep and experience well-being.
To seek treatment for anxiety, make a booking online or speak with us on 08 8212 3944 today.
BlueSky Psychology, Level 10, 108 King William Street, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000. Phone 08 8212 3944