Anxiety Disorders

Those not afflicted by anxiety disorders simply cannot imagine the feeling of having your whole body being overwhelmed with fear or abject terror for largely no reason at all and without warning. Anxiety disorders manifest in many ways and no two cases are ever the same. However, there are certain types of anxiety disorders that present frequently, which include the following:

• Generalised Anxiety Disorder – Feelings of worry and fear that manifest without any real trigger and can be overwhelming, often going on many hours of the day. There may be worrying thoughts, physical symptoms of worry such as a fast heart beat or breathing, sweating, stomach butterflies, a knot in one’s chest or just feeling muscular tension and on edge.
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) – Repetitive and distressing behaviours or thoughts are the key indicators of OCD. These thoughts or behaviours can be about hygiene, security, cleanliness, orderliness or just about anything.
• Panic Disorder – Panic attacks that come out of nowhere and have no real explanation, or indeed may occur in specific contexts. A panic attack can involve a rapid heartbeat, shallow fast breathing and often a deep sense of dread.
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) – When an individual suffers from chronic anxiety in the wake of a traumatic or distressing event/period in life. The individual may experience unwanted flashbacks about the event, wake with nightmares, avoid situations that remind them of the trauma and be generally hyper vigilant, always on edge.
• Phobias – these generally an irrational fear of something that is relatively harmless.

Each of the above anxiety disorders has the potential to take an enormous toll on the physical and mental health of the individual affected and should be brought to the attention of a professional when suspected.

While many of the symptoms associated with anxiety disorders are both obvious and predictable, others have a tendency to go overlooked. It’s always worth arranging a consultation with a professional should you or a loved one under your care present any combination of the following symptoms:

• Frequent bouts of diarrhoea or needing the toilet unusually frequently
• Jumpiness and feelings of on-going tension
• Feeling apprehensive about mundane tasks
• Inability to concentrate
• Insomnia
• Daytime fatigue or recurrent headaches
• Twitching or tremors
• Disorientation and dizziness
• Irritability
• Pessimism at most times
• Rapid heart rate
• Shortness of breath

None of the above symptoms alone can be used to conclusively diagnose an anxiety disorder, though must at the same time never be overlooked or ignored.

To live with an anxiety disorder is to live in a world of fear and apprehension. It may be difficult to accept and come to terms with such problems but the sooner you get in touch with us at NSP to discuss your own unique circumstances, the sooner you can get back to enjoying life at its most fulfilling.

Suffering in silence is no longer necessary. 

With a thorough assessment from our private psychiatrist you can be rest assured that you’ll be offered a personalised treatment