Anxiety is a normal and adaptive response to stress or danger, designed to help us prepare and respond to potential threats. However, when feelings of anxiety become excessive, irrational, or interfere with daily life, they may be indicative of an anxiety disorder.
Anxiety is often characterised by feelings of fear, worry, or apprehension, which can be accompanied by physical symptoms such as rapid heartbeat, sweating, trembling, and shortness of breath. People with anxiety may also experience persistent and intrusive thoughts, difficulty concentrating, and a heightened sense of alertness or vigilance.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), in 2017-18, an estimated 2.4million Australians (or 10% of the population) aged 18 years and over had experienced symptoms of an anxiety disorder in the previous 12 months. Additionally, around 6% of Australians aged 4-17 years (or around 210,000 children and adolescents) had experienced an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives.
The ABS also reports that women were more likely to experience symptoms of an anxiety disorder than men. In 2017-18, around 1 in 6 women (16%) had experienced symptoms of an anxiety disorder in the previous 12 months, compared to around 1 in 10 men (10%).
There are many different type of anxiety disorders, each with their own specific symptoms and diagnostic criteria. Common anxiety disorders include generalised anxiety disorder, panic disorder, agoraphobia, specific phobia, social anxiety disorder, and separation anxiety disorder.
Anxiety can be caused by a rang if factors, including genetics, brain chemistry, life experiences, and environmental stressors. It can also co-occur with other mental health conditions such as depression, substance abuse, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Therapy can help people learn coping strategies and relaxation techniques. Additionally, lifestyle changes such as regular exercise, healthy eating, and stress reduction techniques can also help deduce symptoms of anxiety.