All about anxiety
Many of us are familiar with feelings of worry and have also experienced anxiety, with it being the most common mental disorder in Australia (ABS, 2022). At lightdespite, we work with our clients to manage the impact that anxiety has on their quality of life, and find it can be helpful to demystify what it is and why it’s so common.
What are the symptoms of anxiety?
People with anxiety may experience a range of symptoms,that can vary in frequency and intensity, including;
Physical, such as increased heart rate or muscle tension;
Cognitive, such as repetitive thinking or difficulty concentrating;
Emotional, such as fear or mood swings;
Behavioral, such as avoidance of certain situations or seeking reassurance from others.
Why do we experience anxiety?
Throughout our existence, human survival has required us to be aware of potential threats in our environments. Back in prehistoric times, life was dangerous and if you weren’t good at spotting danger, you were at greater risk of harm.
Our ancestors' safety-first default has evolved with our modern minds, and has also been intensified by the complexity and pace of our lives. This may show up as excessive worrying, hypervigilance, replaying conversations and experiences, predicting the worst, and avoiding the things we are anxious about. When our mind does this, it is just doing the job it has evolved to do - keeping us safe.
This short video from Dr Russ Harris, a renowned ACT practitioner and author does an ace job of explaining this in easy to understand terms.
Is anxiety normal?
While occasional anxiety is a natural and common human experience, it becomes a challenge when it significantly impacts a person's ability to function in daily life, interferes with relationships, or causes distress that is disproportionate to the situation.
Anxiety disorders, such as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and others, may be diagnosed when anxiety symptoms become chronic and pervasive.
For people experiencing persistent or severe anxiety, it is recommended they seek support from mental health professionals, as they can provide assessment, diagnosis, and tailored interventions.
References
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2020-2022). National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing. ABS. https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/mental-health/national-study-mental-health-and-wellbeing/latest-release.
Harris, R. (2008). The happiness trap. Robinson Publishing.
Harris.R (2017). The Happiness Trap: Evolution of the Human Mind. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kv6HkipQcfA
Nesse, R. M. (2022). Anxiety disorders in evolutionary perspective. In R. T. Abed & P. St John-Smith (Eds.), Evolutionary Psychiatry: Current Perspectives on Evolution and Mental Health (pp. 101–116). Cambridge University Press.