Anxiety is a natural human response to stress or perceived danger. It’s part of the body’s ‘fight or flight’ mechanism and helps us stay alert. When anxiety becomes excessive or ongoing, it can interfere with daily life. Symptoms may include fear, worry, or dread, along with physical signs like a racing heart, sweating, trembling, or shortness of breath. When these feelings arise without real threat or disrupt normal activities, it may indicate an anxiety disorder.

Feeling frequent worry, fear, or unease may indicate anxiety. Signs include constant worrying, physical symptoms like a racing heart or sweating, difficulty concentrating, avoidance of certain situations, and trouble sleeping. If these symptoms interfere with daily life, it’s important to consult a psychologist for a proper assessment and guidance.

Anxiety can be caused by multiple factors such as stressful life events, trauma, genetics, chemical imbalances in the brain, or chronic health issues. Often, anxiety arises from a combination of these influences, and each person’s experience can differ depending on their circumstances and coping mechanisms.

Anxiety Disorder Treatment & Counselling in Sydney

Q: How to help someone with anxiety?

Supporting someone with anxiety means being patient and understanding. Listen without judgment, allow them to express how they feel, and encourage calm breathing if they’re overwhelmed. Offer reassurance that anxiety can be managed, avoid minimising their feelings, and suggest professional help such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), which is highly effective in treating anxiety.

Q: Can anxiety be cured?

Anxiety may not always be completely cured, but it can be effectively managed. With treatments like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and relaxation techniques, people can reduce symptoms and improve their quality of life. Medication can also help in some cases, though therapy is usually the first recommended approach.

Q: Is anxiety the same for everyone?

No, anxiety varies from person to person. Some may feel a constant sense of unease, while others experience sudden panic attacks. The triggers, intensity, and symptoms are unique to each individual, so therapy often focuses on identifying personal causes and developing tailored coping strategies.

Q: How long does anxiety last?

Anxiety can last for a short period or be long-term depending on the individual and root causes. Some people experience it only during stressful situations, while others live with it chronically. With proper treatment and support, symptoms can be reduced or managed effectively, helping individuals lead balanced, fulfilling lives.

Understanding Anxiety

Anxiety is one of the most common mental health concerns affecting Australians today, with around 1 in 4 people experiencing an anxiety disorder at some stage of their life. The question ‘What is anxiety’ is a complicated one. The most simple answer is that anxiety is a very normal and essential human response to danger. In fact, humans have survived as a species in part because anxiety helps us detect and respond to threats. However, as our minds have evolved, the experience of anxiety can often arise when there is no real danger present. This can make anxiety feel overwhelming, confusing, and sometimes debilitating.

What Does Anxiety Feel Like?

Anxiety can be a very intense and frightening physiological experience. Common symptoms of anxiety include:

Racing heart or palpitations
Shortness of breath
Sweating or trembling
Nausea or stomach discomfort
Dizziness or light-headedness
Restlessness or feeling “on edge”

Alongside these physical symptoms, anxiety can also result in distressing thoughts, images, nightmares, and changes in behaviour. These experiences can interfere with daily life, relationships, work, and overall wellbeing.

Types of Anxiety

Anxiety can present in many different ways. You might notice a constant underlying feeling of anxiety, or it may arise in specific situations. Some common types of anxiety include:

Worry and Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD): ongoing, excessive worry about a range of everyday issues.
Panic Attacks: sudden episodes of intense fear, often with physical symptoms like a racing heart or shortness of breath.
Social Anxiety: intense fear or avoidance of social situations.
Health Anxiety: excessive worry about illness or physical symptoms.
Phobias: fear of specific things or events (e.g. flying, needles, animals).
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD): repetitive intrusive thoughts and behaviours that are difficult to control.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): anxiety and distress following a traumatic experience.
Body Dysmorphia: distress about perceived flaws in physical appearance.

While these labels can be helpful in understanding how anxiety manifests, at MyLife Psychologists we recognise that everyone’s experience of anxiety is unique.

How Therapy Can Help

At MyLife Psychologists, our experienced clinical psychologists are dedicated to understanding your individual experience of anxiety. We take the time to listen to your story, explore how anxiety affects your life, and work collaboratively to develop a tailored treatment plan. Our evidence-based approaches may include:

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): helping you identify and challenge unhelpful thoughts and behaviours.
Mindfulness and relaxation techniques: learning to stay grounded in the present moment and reduce reactivity.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): supporting you to make space for anxious thoughts while taking meaningful action toward your values and goals.
Exposure Therapy: gradually confronting feared situations in a safe and supportive way.
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR): reducing anxiety by reprocessing distressing memories and calming the nervous system.
Schema Therapy: understanding deeper patterns that may be maintaining anxiety.

Whether your anxiety is mild but persistent, or severe and impacting many areas of life, we’re here to help.

FAQs

What is anxiety?

Anxiety is a natural and essential human response to stress or perceived danger. It’s part of the body’s ‘fight or flight’ response and helps us stay alert and focused in high-stress situations. However, when anxiety becomes excessive or persistent, it can disrupt daily life. Symptoms of anxiety often include feelings of fear, worry, or dread, and can be accompanied by physical signs like a racing heart, sweating, trembling, or shortness of breath. When these feelings occur in situations where there is no real threat, or if they interfere with normal activities, it may indicate an anxiety disorder.

How to help someone with anxiety?

Helping someone with anxiety involves being patient, understanding, and supportive. Here are a few ways you can assist.

Listen without judgment. Often, people with anxiety just need someone to listen. Let them express their feelings without trying to immediately solve the problem.
Encourage breathing techniques. Help them focus on calming their breath if they’re experiencing a panic attack. Deep breathing exercises can help lower anxiety in the moment.
Offer reassurance. Remind them that their anxiety, though uncomfortable, is temporary and can be managed.
Avoid minimising their feelings. Phrases like “just calm down” or “it’s not that bad” can invalidate their experience and make them feel worse.
Suggest seeking professional help. Therapy, especially Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), is highly effective in treating anxiety. A psychologist can work with them to identify triggers and develop coping strategies.

Do I have anxiety?

If you often experience feelings of unease, worry, or fear, it could be an indication of anxiety. Some of the key signs of anxiety include:

Frequent worry or fear. Do you often find yourself worrying about things beyond your control, or feeling fearful without a clear reason?
Physical symptoms. Anxiety can cause physical symptoms like a racing heart, dizziness, sweating, shaking, or trouble breathing.
Difficulty concentrating. Are you often distracted by racing thoughts, making it hard to focus on the task at hand?
Avoidance. Do you avoid certain situations because they trigger anxiety, such as social gatherings or public speaking?
Sleep disturbances. Anxiety can interfere with sleep, leading to trouble falling asleep or staying asleep due to racing thoughts.

If these symptoms sound familiar and are interfering with your daily life, it may be time to consult with a psychologist to get a clearer picture and understand what’s going on.

Can anxiety be cured?

While anxiety may not always be “cured” in the traditional sense, it can definitely be managed effectively. With the right treatment and strategies, people with anxiety can learn to reduce their symptoms, cope with stressful situations, and lead fulfilling lives. Treatments such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and relaxation techniques have proven to be highly effective in reducing anxiety and helping individuals manage their symptoms. Medication may also be helpful in some cases, but therapy is often the first line of treatment.

What causes anxiety?

Anxiety can be triggered by a range of factors, including:

Stressful life events. Major changes, such as moving to a new city, changing jobs, or experiencing a loss, can trigger anxiety.
Trauma or past experiences. People who have experienced traumatic events may develop anxiety as a result. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one form of trauma-related anxiety.
Genetic factors. There is evidence to suggest that anxiety can run in families, indicating a genetic predisposition.
Chemical imbalances. Neurotransmitters in the brain, like serotonin, may play a role in anxiety. Imbalances in these chemicals can contribute to anxiety disorders.
Chronic health issues. Conditions such as chronic illness or pain can contribute to anxiety, particularly if they lead to uncertainty about the future.

In many cases, anxiety is triggered by a combination of these factors, and it can manifest in different ways for each person.

Is anxiety the same for everyone?

No, anxiety is unique to each individual. While there are common symptoms, like worry or fear, the way anxiety manifests can vary. For some, anxiety may be a constant background feeling of unease, while for others, it may appear suddenly in the form of a panic attack. The intensity and triggers of anxiety differ for each person, and it’s important to treat each case individually. Therapy can help you understand your personal triggers and develop tailored coping strategies.

How long does anxiety last?

Anxiety can be temporary or long-term, depending on the individual and the underlying causes. For some people, anxiety may only arise during stressful events, while for others, it may be a chronic condition. With proper treatment, anxiety symptoms can be significantly reduced or managed, even if the anxiety itself never fully disappears. The goal is to help individuals lead a healthy life with the tools to manage anxiety effectively.

Help for Anxiety in Sydney

You don’t have to navigate anxiety alone. Talking to a psychologist can be a powerful first step toward understanding what’s driving your anxiety and learning effective tools to manage it. With the right support, it’s possible to reduce anxiety, build confidence, and move toward the life you want to live.

At MyLife Psychologists, we offer:

Immediate availability to see a psychologist
Flexible appointment times, including after-hours
A warm and professional environment
Clinical psychologists trained in anxiety-focused therapies

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by anxiety, we’re here to help. Whether you’re experiencing panic attacks, social anxiety, obsessive thoughts, or just a constant sense of unease, therapy can offer meaningful support and relief.