Whether it’s generalised anxiety or a specific phobia, an anxiety disorder can have such a detrimental effect on your life. Yet seeking help often becomes an overwhelming challenge for many, and can cause anxiety in itself.

At times, anxiety and fear serve as essential tools, and can help us in navigating dangerous situations. However, when anxiety becomes excessive and persistently disrupts daily life, it may indicate something underlying, such as an anxiety disorder.

Sometimes it feels as if there’s no obvious or “logical” reason for the way you feel. This may make an anxiety disorder even more worrying.

For many people, seeking guidance from a psychologist can help to reduce the anxiety they feel, learn to understand why they feel anxious, improve their confidence in managing stressful and anxiety-provoking situations, and develop healthy strategies to manage their anxiety effectively. At our Sydney psychology practice, our team of psychologists offer a wealth of knowledge and experience in addressing various anxiety-related concerns, employing evidence-based approaches.

The prospect of seeing a psychologist can be daunting; however, it’s often a positive step towards effectively managing anxiety and acquiring healthy coping mechanisms. At our Sydney psychology practice, we ensure that we have a warm, authentic atmosphere, where you’ll feel comfortable.

Types of anxiety disorders

Anxiety disorders deviate from the natural ebb and flow of typical daily anxiety. While anxiety and fear are innate responses, for some they become a daily struggle, and manifest as excessive worry that disrupts everyday life and can really hold you back from doing the things that are important to you.

Anxiety disorders are actually the most common types of mental illnesses in Australians, making up 3.3 million of the population or 1 in 6 people (ABS 2022a).

Understanding the types of anxiety disorders can shed light on their nuanced nature and the need for mental health support:

Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD)

Generalised anxiety disorder, or GAD, is characterised by persistent, excessive and unrealistic worry about various aspects of everyday life: from finance, family, to health and the future. The anxiety is excessive, difficult to manage and control, and often accompanied by psychological and physical symptoms, such as tension, agitation, irritability, fatigue, sleep disturbance, and/or difficulty concentrating.

This is the kind of anxiety that makes it really hard to be focussed in the present moment, and often keeps you up at night circling round and around in your mind.

Panic disorder

Panic disorders are often characterised by recurrent panic attacks, which culminate from physical and psychological distress, and sometimes people experiencing a panic attack will worry they are experiencing a life-threatening condition such as a heart attack. This is the kind of anxiety that can really hold you back from doing things for fear of having a panic attack. They can be incredibly frightening and lead to avoidance of things like exercise, crowds, and even leaving the house at all.

Panic attacks may also occur with other disorders, such as depression or PTSD.

Social anxiety

Social anxiety is often characterised by a persistent and significant fear in certain social situations. It can hinder social interactions and day-to-day functioning.

Our anxiety treatment centre in Sydney provides a safe space to address social anxiety, offering therapeutic techniques to build confidence, manage social fears, improve your relationships, and find meaningful connections.

Phobias

A phobia is a persistent and irrational fear of a particular object or situation - this could involve places, animals or people. This becomes so severe that they may experience physical symptoms, including panic attacks. The phobia is so intense that it interferes with day-to-day life and can feel completely immobilising in some situations.

Book your psychology appointment at our Sydney clinic

Seeking professional help to address anxiety concerns can be a positive step towards improving your mental wellbeing. Our team of psychologists in Sydney CBD offers a nurturing environment and evidence-based therapies, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Schema Therapy tailored to your individual needs.

If you’re seeking support with anxiety or related concerns, book your appointment at our Sydney psychology office by contacting us through our website form, emailing us at admin@brodieearl.com, or giving us a call on 0450 808 917.

Anxiety Psychologists Sydney