Anxiety – Child & Adult

AnxietyAnxiety is the most common mental health issue in Australia today. I have always been an anxious person. I was an anxious child, and now I am an anxious adult.

BUT I have worked out ways to cope on a day to day basis, so let me help you. I have had fatigue, digestive problems, migraines, panic attacks, you name it!

Here at Counselling for your Peace.of.Mind you will be discussing your anxiety issues with not just someone who has been trained in dealing with anxiety and how it can dis-abilitate your life BUT by someone who understands exactly what you are going through.

Anxiety is a generalised mood that can occur, often without an identifiable triggering. Another view defines anxiety as a future-oriented mood state in which one is ready or prepared to attempt to cope with upcoming negative events, this “always at the ready” state of mind is exhausting, robbing us of the joy we feel.

However, in this busy stressful world, anxiety disorders are becoming a real threat if not managed. Here at Counselling for your Peace.of.Mind we aim for you to learn to Live Your Best Life!

Anxiety takes several forms: phobia, social anxiety, obsessive-compulsive, and post-traumatic stress. The physical effects of anxiety may include heart palpitations, and tension, fatigue, nausea, chest pain, shortness of breath, headache, stomach aches, or tension headaches. As the body prepares to deal with a threat, blood pressure, heart rate, perspiration, blood flow to the major muscle groups are increased, while immune and digestive functions are inhibited (the fight or flight response).

For someone who suffers anxiety this can lead to a Panic Attack!

AnxietyGirlAlthough panic attacks are not experienced by every person who has anxiety, they are a common symptom. Panic attacks usually come without warning and although the fear is generally irrational, the subjective perception of danger is very real. A person experiencing a panic attack will often feel as if he or she is about to die or lose consciousness. Between panic attacks, people with panic disorder tend to suffer from anticipated anxiety – a fear of having a panic attack may lead to the development of phobias. The emotional effects of anxiety may include “feelings of apprehension of dread, trouble concentrating, feeling tense or jumpy, anticipating the worst, irritability, restlessness, watching (and waiting) for signs (and occurrences) of danger, and feeling like your “mind’s gone blank” as well as nightmares/bad dreams, obsessions about sensations, a trapped in your mind feeling, and feeling like “everything is scary”.

Behavioural Effects

The behavioural effects of anxiety may include withdrawal from situations which have provoked anxiety in the past. Anxiety can also be experienced in ways which include changes in sleeping patterns, nervous habits, and increased motor tension like foot tapping, teeth grinding, counting.

Symptoms

The symptoms of anxiety include excessive and ongoing worry and tensions, an unrealistic view of problems, restlessness or a feeling of being edgy, irritability, muscle tension, headaches, sweating, difficulty concentrating, nausea, the need to go to the bathroom frequently, tiredness, trouble falling or staying asleep, trembling and being easily startled.

I have worked extensively with children over the past 17 years dealing with their anxiety – and the exhaustion it causes our minds is a large reason for depression if not attended to.

Get the ease and joy back into your life and make an appointment today, putting it off only extends your angst. Your best life is waiting for you.