We all experience stress. Stressors are the things that go on around us, such as high work demands, relationship issues, financial concerns, and caring responsibilities. Stress can also come from our thinking patterns. The way we think about ourselves, others, and the world around us can cause us to become stressed, even in the absence of a specific external issue or influence. When we become stressed, we experience hormonal changes and variations in our blood pressure. Stress is correlated with an array of other physical health issues, including anxiety.
Anxiety is the most common diagnosed mental health disorder. There are a number of diagnosable conditions that are considered anxiety disorders, including Generalised Anxiety Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Panic Disorder, Social Phobia, and other Phobias. On average, one in four people (one in three women and one in five men) will experience an anxiety disorder during their lifetime. People with anxiety will experience varying symptoms, however common symptoms can include:
– Chronic worry
– Feelings of dread
– Unable to relax
– Physical discomfort
– Changes in appetite
– Fidgety
– Catastrophise
– Avoidant behaviours
When someone is diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, 50% of the time they will likely also be experiencing symptoms of depression.
Answer the Goldberg Anxiety / Depression scale below:
1. Have you felt keyed up or on edge?
2. Have you been worrying a lot?
3. Have you been irritable?
4. Have you had any difficulty relaxing?
5. Have you been sleeping poorly?
6. Have you had headaches or neck aches?
7. Have you had any of the following: trembling, tingling, dizzy spells, sweating, urinary frequency, diarrhoea?
8. Have you been worried about your health?
9. Have you had difficulty falling asleep?
If you answered yes to a large majority of these questions, you may be experiencing certain symptoms of anxiety. It is important to remember that this is not a diagnosis. Should you wish to discuss your responses further, it is important you do so with a health professional, such as a Psychologist or your GP.
Treating both stress and anxiety is possible. There is a wide variety of tools that are used to help people manage external stressors and reframe unhelpful thinking patterns that contribute to stress and anxiety. Treatment has been shown to work. It helps people return to full functioning lives that are meaningful and bring joy. Cause Effect Psychology employs Psychologists who are highly trained at treating stress and the array of anxiety disorders. They tailor their treatment program to suit the client, utilising the following treatment methodologies:
– Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
– Motivational Interviewing (MI)
– Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
– Mindfulness
– Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)
– Interpersonal Therapy (IPT)
If you would like to discuss treatment options or how we might assist you in managing stress or anxiety, please contact us today.