Anxiety Treatment in Sydney Inner West

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. 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 We 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.

Seeking Help for Anxiety

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.