Anxiety

Modern psychology can transform lives, and at Psychology Melbourne, our clinical and counselling psychologists have helped thousands of people deal with their anxiety and achieve deep, lasting change.

Anxiety is a normal response and the body's way of responding to a perceived threat. Adrenaline pumps into our bloodstream as our biology prepares us for a primitive choice: fight or flight.

It's so instinctive that it often kicks in when the threat exists only in our minds.

We think we're in danger, and that's enough to trigger the anxiety system. People who get anxious tend to get into scanning mode where they're constantly on the lookout for danger, hyper-alert to any of the signals.

There are many body symptoms that are associated with anxiety, such as:

  • dry mouth and/or difficulty swallowing
  • difficulty concentrating
  • sweaty palms
  • increased breathing
  • rapid heart rate
  • hot flushes
  • muscle tension and headaches
  • tightness in the chest
  • light headed or dizzy
  • sexual difficulties

Do any of these sound familiar? If so, then don't be alarmed, these are normal responses to life's stressful events and the reality is that we all experience some of these symptoms at varying intensity from time to time.

Sometimes, however, people need help. Our highly experienced, registered psychologists work hard to make counselling fast, affordable and effective.

Call our reception on (03) 9682 4000,  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or request an appointment.
What Causes Anxiety?

The truth is there’s no simple cause of what researchers call "generalised anxiety". Everyone is different. But there are some important factors that have been identified. They can generally be divided into biological and psychological causes.

Biological Causes: No single gene has been associated with generalised anxiety, however it does seem that some individuals may inherit greater vulnerability to anxiety disorders or mood disorders. Some people born with a particular ‘anxious’ type of temperament, may be more likely to develop an anxiety disorder later in life.

Psychological Causes: While our biology may make us vulnerable to experiencing anxiety, not all people with this vulnerability go on to develop problematic anxiety. A great deal depends on the lifestyle of that person, the types of life stressors they have encountered, and how they cope with such stressors.

This is where psychological counselling at Psychology Melbourne can be useful. Your psychologist can help you identity your type of anxiety and how your mind and body interact when faced with stressful life situations.
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General Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

 

Characterised by uncontrollable and unrealistic worries about everyday situations such as school, work, relationships or health, the condition tends to be all-consuming, interfering with one's normal routine and interrupting normal sleep patterns.

GAD may interfere with your ability to enjoy many of the normal aspects of life. It is possible that you might also be more likely to misuse alcohol and drugs as a way to escape or numb overwhelming feelings.

 
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Treatment for Anxiety

Anxiety Disorders can be treated. There are a number of effective treatments available and psychologists often use a combination of approaches that can include medication.

Psychological treatments have the highest success rate in treatment of the majority of anxiety disorders. These well-researched interventions aim to change the patterns of behaviours, thoughts and beliefs which trigger anxiety. Common treatment methods include cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy, behavioural therapy and solution-focussed therapy.
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