Anxiety and Stress
Anxiety is something that can impact many of us in Perth at different times, whether it’s before a job interview, exam, or meeting someone new. However, when anxiety starts affecting our daily lives or limits what we can do, it’s important to take action.
- IN PERSON appointments
- Telehealth appointments
- book online
This YouTube clip, “Know when Anxiety is Talking” from Beyond Blue is a good example of how anxiety can apply in a workplace setting.
Recognising When Anxiety Needs Attention
If your anxiety is getting in the way of your life or causing significant distress, we should consider speaking with a Perth GP about getting a Mental Health Care Plan. This plan can provide you with Medicare-subsidised sessions with a psychologist. While you may not see immediate results, with regular sessions, we can explore the root causes of our anxiety and develop strategies to manage it better over time.
Identifying Anxiety Symptoms
- Anxiety disorders come in various forms, each with unique symptoms:
- Anxiety disorders Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD): Persistent feelings of anxiety, restlessness, irritability, and difficulty concentrating.
- Panic Disorder: Sudden, intense episodes of fear or discomfort (panic attacks) accompanied by physical symptoms like a racing heart or sweating.
- Social Anxiety Disorder: Intense fear of being judged or watched by others, leading to avoidance of social situations.
- Phobia-Related Disorders: Intense fears or aversions to specific objects or situations, resulting in active avoidance.
- Accessing Professional Support in Perth (or via Telehealth for those outside Perth or who have difficulty leaving home)
- Therapy, especially approaches like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Exposure Therapy, is highly effective in treating anxiety disorders:
- CBT: Identifies and changes negative thought patterns and behaviours contributing to anxiety.
- Exposure Therapy: Gradually exposes individuals to feared situations or objects to reduce anxiety responses.
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Focuses on mindfulness and acceptance to help cope with anxiety.
Additional Resources
For those wanting to do some reading on the subject, I read this book ANXIETY (by a Psychiatrist, Dr Mark Cross who has his own longstanding experience with it) over the course of a long weekend (it’s also in dozens of libraries) and recommended it on the Huntingdale Psychology, Counselling & Clinical Hypnotherapy facebook page.
Medicare pays subsidies for Psychologist services because “talking therapy” works.