Signs of Anxiety
Depending on where you get your information, 12%-15% of the Australian population experience anxiety each year.
Over 34% of the Australian population are effected by anxiety over their lifetime. How many of these seek treatment for anxiety is unclear. This may take several different forms (social, specific phobias, generalised, separation, agoraphobia, selective mutism or panic attacks).
Panic attacks represent a significant percentage of individuals presenting at hospital emergency departments each year.
Panic attacks often feel like your having a life-threatening event (heart attack). The bright side is that your not but the dark side is recognising how powerful a panic attack can feel.
Although panic attacks and anxiety have a couple of symptoms in common (trembling, sweating and increased heart rate) there’s one significant difference:
Panic attacks cause an extreme sensation of fear that strikes out of nowhere. Terror is an integral part of experiencing a panic attack.
Beyond that, panic attacks include at least four of the following symptoms:
- Numbness or tingling
- Nausea or abdominal distress
- Palpitations, a pounding heart, or an accelerated heart rate
- Sweating
- Trembling or shaking
- Sensations of shortness of breath or smothering
- Feelings of choking
- Chest pain or discomfort
- Feeling dizzy, unsteady, lightheaded, or faint
- Chills or heat sensations
- Feeling like reality is confusing or feeling detached from yourself
- Fear of losing control or “going crazy”
- Fear of dying
All anxiety symptoms have at the root of the condition a feeling of not being in control or not being able to control the stressful or fearful event at the time of the event.
What is important to understand is that it’s possible to treat anxiety and panic attacks effectively.
If you have any of the above symptoms that are compromising the quality of your life, please fill out the Book Your Appointment at the right of this page of call 9288 4588 to book a consultation on our treatment approach.
Medicare rebates are available if you obtain a GP Mental Health Plan prior to your first consultation with IPS.
