Medically reviewed by
Dr Beau Growcott BA (Psych), GradDipPsych, MPsych (Counselling), PhD
What is anxiety?
Anxiety is an emotional response we experience in anticipation of challenging situations. It can make us feel afraid, worried or uneasy, and cause sweating, a faster heart rate, and tension. Anxiety can cause a sense of dread about the future.
Anxiety itself is not a problem. In fact, like all feelings, it provides important information about what we believe is safe and good for us. In healthy quantities, anxiety helps us prepare and execute activities that keep us safe and healthy.
Anxiety can become a problem when we experience it in excess, and it impairs our day-to-day functioning. Excessive anxiety can lead to behaviours to avoid the feelings, including misusing drug and alcohol, sex, exercise, television and video-games, or solitude.
Excessive anxiety can stem from problems with understanding our thoughts, beliefs, assumptions, and expectations.
Anxiety disorders occur when anxious thoughts, feelings and physical symptoms are severe or occur often, and when they interfere with your daily life.
Types of anxiety disorders
How common is anxiety?
Almost one in eight Australian men (13.3%) and one in five women (21.1%) have an anxiety disorder, with higher rates in younger than older people (e.g. nearly one in four (24.4%) males aged 16-24 years, and one in 25 (4%) males aged 75-85 years).
Symptoms of anxiety
Each type of anxiety disorder has its specific symptoms.
What causes anxiety?
Everyone’s experience of anxiety is unique to them and is probably due to a combination of their biology, their experiences and their circumstances.
Anxiety seems to run in families but there’s no single ‘anxiety gene’, so if you have an anxiety disorder it does not mean you ‘got it’ from your parents or that you’ll ‘give it’ to your children.
How is anxiety diagnosed?
Your GP or a specialist mental health professional can diagnose anxiety disorder based on symptoms and the effects they have on your life. Your doctor might suggest running some other tests to rule out other potential causes of your symptoms.
How is anxiety treated?
Treatment for anxiety disorders depends on the specific triggers, symptoms and the effects they have on each person.
For some people, lifestyle interventions like regular physical activity, reducing or stopping alcohol or drug use, a healthy diet or getting better sleep can help to relieve anxiety. Relaxation and mindfulness may also be helpful.
Psychological therapy (e.g. cognitive behavioural therapy) or medication are other approaches to treatment for anxiety disorders.
Men typically attempt to manage anxiety themselves but this might not be possible and can lead to further problems.
What are the health effects of anxiety?
Excessive anxiety may lead to alcohol or substance use disorders, depression and suicide. It also increases the likelihood of cardiovascular disease and the risk of heart attack or dying from heart problems.
What should I do about my anxiety?
If you have symptoms of anxiety, or someone else mentions they are concerned about you, you should see your doctor straight away. They can help you to work out if anxiety is a problem for you or help with anything else that might be affecting you.
