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What is Anxiety?
Anxiety is a normal, healthy emotion, and everyone experiences
anxiety from time to time. For about one in every twelve people,
however, anxiety is so persistent and severe that it creates
serious difficulties. People with anxiety problems may be
constantly fearful and worried or they may be so scared of
certain situations that they can't face them. Severe anxiety can
also lead to other problems like depression, relationship
difficulties, and drug and alcohol abuse.
The signs and
symptoms vary for each individual and there are no rules for
anxiety. The symptoms can include:
Physical symptoms:
Psychological symptoms can include:
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Insomnia
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Feeling
worried or uneasy all the time
-
Feeling
tired
-
Being
irritable or quick to anger
-
An
inability to concentrate
-
A fear that
you are going "mad"
-
Feeling
unreal and not in control of your actions
(depersonalisation), or detached from your surroundings (derealisation).
The Facts
about Anxiety
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Anxiety disorders are the most common
mental disorder in Australia.
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Nearly one
in 10 people will experience some type of anxiety disorder
in any one year.
-
In any one year 7.8% males and 12.1%
females suffer from anxiety, ie it is more common in females
than males, ie 1 in 8 women and 1 in 12 men.
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One in four
people will experience an anxiety disorder at some stage in
their lives.
-
Anxiety
disorders are more than just feeling stressed – it is a
serious illness.
-
People with
anxiety disorders find it hard to function every day.
What Causes
Anxiety?
Anxiety can be
caused by a number of factors. It is believed that anxiety
disorders can be triggered by:
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a family
history of mental health problems
-
stressful
life events
-
ongoing
physical illness (such as thyroid problems)
-
personality
factors
-
alcohol
dependence or substances such as ecstasy or caffeine, or by
withdrawal from long-term drugs.
It is advisable
to see your GP in order to rule out any physical cause.
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