About anxiety disorders

By headspace | Updated: 28th April, 2017 | 5 min read

Fear is an emotion we have in response to a real or perceived threat, whereas anxiety is the anticipation of a future threat. We all experience anxiety when faced with stressful situations, like just before a sporting match or an exam. This is normal and it’s our body’s way of preparing us to act in difficult situations. Anxiety can actually help us perform better by helping us feel alert and motivated. But people with an anxiety disorder find that their anxiety gets in the way of their daily life and stops them from achieving their full potential.

Anxiety disorders are one of the most common mental health problems experienced by young people. They are characterised by excessive fear and problems associated with this fear that happen a lot of the time, feel overwhelming and interfere with daily life. Different situations or objects can cause different types of anxiety disorder, but they can all be treated.

What are the symptoms of anxiety?

physical symptoms of anxiety can include:

a racing heart
faster breathing
muscle tension
sweating
shaking
‘butterflies’
feeling sick in the stomach.

Anxiety might also involve:

persistent worrying and excessive fear
being unable to control the worries
being unable to relax
avoiding challenging situations
being socially isolated
withdrawing from friends and family
having trouble concentrating and paying attention
feeling irritated
poor sleep
problems with work, social or family life

What are panic attacks?

Panic attacks can occur as part of any anxiety disorder but not everyone with anxiety problems will experience them.

During a panic attack, a person may be suddenly overcome by strong fear and experience physical symptoms of anxiety, like a pounding heart, sweating, difficulty breathing, shaking, feeling dizzy or feeling sick. Panic attacks are short (about 10 minutes) and usually feel overwhelming. Someone experiencing a panic attack might feel like they’re having a heart attack or an asthma attack, or they might feel like they’re losing control.

Common anxiety disorders

There are different types of anxiety disorders. Some common anxiety disorders are:

Agoraphobia: Intense anxiety about using public transport, being in open spaces, being in enclosed spaces, being in a crowd or being alone outside of home.
Generalised anxiety disorder: Excessive worry about a variety of things, such as work or school performance. Someone experiencing generalised anxiety disorder may feel that their worries are out of control, feel tense and nervous most of the time, have trouble sleeping or find it hard to concentrate.
Social anxiety disorder: Intense anxiety in social situations due to fear of embarrassment or judgment by others. This often leads a person to avoid social situations, such as talking in class, going to parties, being the centre of attention or meeting new people.
Separation anxiety disorder: Intense anxiety about being away from close attachments, or excessive worry about harm coming to close attachments.
Panic disorder: Repeated panic attacks and fear of having another panic attack.
Specific phobias: Intense fear of a particular situation or object (like small spaces or spiders) that leads a person to avoid the situation or object.

Ways to overcome anxiety

There are lots of things you can do to manage your anxiety:

Look after yourself – eating well and having a regular sleep pattern is good for your mental and physical health
Exercise – regular exercise can help you feel less anxious and improve your mood
Get to know your thinking patterns – there are heaps of apps that can help you keep an eye on the thoughts that are more common when your anxious, there is also evidence that some positive self-talk (like ‘I can do this’) can be helpful
Learn some relaxation skills – regularly practising breathing and relaxation can really improve your mental wellbeing. Some people find that practising mindfulness, reconnecting with country or doing things that help them stay grounded can also help.
Don’t avoid – while it is understandable to avoid situations that make you feel anxious, over time this can have a big impact on your life. Learn some skills (self-talk, relaxation, breathing) then slowly put them into practice when you are in a situation that makes you feel anxious. The realisation that you can manage anxious situations can make a big difference in your life and boost your confidence and motivation as you continue to overcome your anxiety.