Anxiety affects everyone.
How common is it?
Anxiety is a universal experience - everybody experiences anxiety from time to time. However for around 20% of people anxiety becomes excessive, distressing and it starts to interfere with important aspects of life. At this point, it is good to take action and learn strategies to manage the anxiety.
Types of anxiety.
We provide treatment for many different types of anxiety disorders including;
Social anxiety: feeling excessively shy, self conscious and embarrassed. Worrying about what others think of you and avoiding situations where scrutiny is possible or where you may be the focus of attention (e.g., parties, job interviews, public speaking etc).
Generalised Anxiety: worrying excessively and uncontrollably about everyday situations. The worry produces physical symptoms such as muscle tension, gastrointestinal upset and/or sleep disturbance.
Separation Anxiety: Separation anxiety is most common in children and involves worrying about becoming separated from parents/caregivers. Children may need a parent close for comfort and may be reluctant to go to places (e.g., school, sleepovers, shops, camps) where separation is necessary or likely.
Phobias: fear and avoidance of specific animals (e.g., snakes, spiders), situations (e.g., the dark, elevators, airplanes), the natural environment (e.g., heights, storms, the water) , blood/injury/injections and Other (e.g., germs, vomiting, loud noises).
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: having repetitive, intrusive thoughts (e.g. “did I lock the door?”) and repeating behaviours over and over again (e.g., checking the lock, opening and closing the door) in order to feel more comfortable.
Panic attacks and Panic Disorder: having a sudden rush of physical symptoms of anxiety (e.g., heart racing, sweaty, pins and needles, butterflies in the tummy). During these attacks people often fear that they will die, lose control, or go “crazy”. Understandably, people who experience panic often avoid going to places that could trigger their panic or where escape or getting help would be difficult (e.g., movie theatres, buses, standing in queues, wide open spaces, elevators, planes etc).
What treatments exist?
We use research-based treatments for anxiety disorders. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (known as CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (known as ACT) have been shown to be highly effective in the treatment of anxiety disorders and are our treatments of choice. If you have a preference for one mode of therapy do let us know so that we can tailor sessions to your liking.
“Remember today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday.”
- DALE CARNEGIE