What is an anxiety disorder?

Everyone can experience worry or fear from time to time. It is a normal part of living. However, some people are diagnosed as having an anxiety disorder. This means they suffer physical or mental conditions associated with a fear of something happening or not.

Clinical psychologist Catherine Madigan can help you overcome your anxiety and start enjoying your life more. Call now on 0429 883671 to make an appointment.

Are you are experiencing persistent, severe, disabling, worry, fear or stress which is ruining your enjoyment of life? Is this affecting your ability to function effectively at work, home, school or other social settings? If so, then you may have a social anxiety disorder that we can help you overcome.

What are some common anxiety disorders?

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Psychiatric Disorders (DSM IV) lists the following anxiety disorders:

  • Agoraphobia (e.g. fear of  leaving the house, fear of traveling in trains, buses, ships, planes, fear of going of bridges or through tunnels, fear of lifts, theatres, cinemas, or having haircuts, fear of being home alone)
  • Panic Disorder without Agoraphobia
  • Agoraphobia without History of Panic Disorder
  • Specific Phobia (e.g. fear of animals, blood, injury, injections, flying, heights)
  • Social Phobia (fear of social or performance situations where one may be embarrassed, e.g. public speaking anxiety, dating, meeting new people, job interviews, participating in meetings, eating in public, writing in public, engaging in small talk etc.)
  • Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
  • Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) (This disorder develops after natural disasters such as bushfires and floods or personal disasters such as childhood physical or sexual abuse, rape, attempted murder etc.Sufferers have many symptoms, e.g. nightmares, panic attacks, and intrusive thoughts and generally try to avoid reminders of the trauma they went through
  • Acute Stress Disorder (This disorder is similar to PTSD but not as severe  and lasts no more than a month)
  • Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) -excessive worrying about various topics such as e.g. finances, health, work, study, etc

Although it may be tempting to self-diagnose an anxiety disorder, it is important to consult a qualified mental health practitioner. They can help you understand if an anxiety disorder treatment is appropriate. A psychologist or psychiatrist can confirm any diagnosis you think you might have.

You must not rely on the information on this site as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. No assurance can be given that the information on this site will always include the most recent developments or research with respect to a particular topic.

If you would like to talk about anxiety disorder treatment options in Australia, then contact us. We can also help you understand what can be claimed on Medicare for example. To do this you may need a mental health care plan with your general practitioner.

If you need help overcoming an anxiety disorder, a trained clinical psychologist can provide anxiety disorder treatment. Call us on 0429 88 3671 for psychology treatment in Melbourne and Hawthorn