What works for anxiety? Anxiety is when these anxious feelings are ongoing and exist without any particular reason or cause. It’s a serious condition that makes it hard for a person to cope with daily life. We all feel anxious from time to time, but for a person experiencing anxiety, these feelings cannot be easily controlled and can often develop gradually over time. There are many types of anxiety. While the symptoms for each type are different, some general signs and symptoms include: • Feeling very worried or anxious most of the time • Finding it difficult to calm down • Feeling overwhelmed by sudden feelings of intense panic/anxiety • Experiencing recurring thoughts that cause anxiety • Avoiding situations or things which cause anxiety • Ongoing difficulties (e.g. nightmares) after a traumatic event. Anxiety is the most common mental health condition in Australia. On average, one in four people – one in three women and one in five men – will experience an anxiety condition at some stage in their life. Although anxiety is common, many people affected do not get treatment.
Percentage of Australians aged 16yrs + affected by anxiety Type of disorder
% affected in previous 12months
% affected at any time in their lifetime
Post-traumatic stress disorder
6.4%
12.2%
Social phobia
4.7%
10.6%
Agoraphobia
2.8%
6.0%
Generalised anxiety disorder
2.7%
5.9%
Panic disorder
2.6%
5.2%
Obsessive compulsive disorder
1.9%
2.8%
A summary of what works for anxiety Generalised anxiety disorder
Behaviour therapy (including exposure therapy)
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Social anxiety disorder
Panic disorder & Agoraphobia
Specific Phobias
Obsessive compulsive disorder
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
When added to antidepressants
?
Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) Computer-aided psychological therapy (CAP) Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR)
?
Anti-convulsant drugs
?
Antidepressant drugs Azapirone drugs
?
?
? ?
Benzodiazepines
To download the full guide, click here. If you need assistance visit Beyond Blue’s support services. Our mental health professionals are available 24/7 on1300 22 4636, Web chat (3pm-12am AEST) and email (responses within 24hrs). For immediate support call Lifeline on 13 11 14 and in an emergency, always call triple zero (000).
28
?
