Brooke Fryer
Anxiety is the most common mental health issue in Australia, with two million Australians affected every year. Numbers are now equaling up to twice as much as Depression. Sydney Observer’s Brooke Fryer chatted with beyondblue’s leading clinical advisor, Dr. Grant Blashki, to learn about how we can recognise, address and understand the country’s leading mental health issue.
SO: How many people have anxiety but don’t recognise it?
GB: One in three people take a year to recognise their symptoms as anxiety. One in six people take six years or more. As a GP, I see many patients who initially come in with physical symptoms in the first instance such as palpitations, headaches or abdominal problems, and its only in retrospect that we realise that these were actually symptoms of their anxiety.
SO: How do people recognise they have anxiety and what is the first step in reaching out?
GB: Everybody feels anxious sometimes. Anxious feelings become an anxiety condition when they persist and start interfering with your life. Consistently having trouble sleeping, avoiding socialising, or worrying about leaving the house are signs that you might be experiencing anxiety.
Australians aren’t sure how to recognise the signs of anxiety. Only 43 per cent of people can nominate a single sign or symptom. Common symptoms of anxiety are:
- Worrying about everything that could go wrong or badly
- A racing mind that won’t calm down
- Feeling tense or on edge
- Rapid or shallow breathing and a racing heart
- Problems sleeping (difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep)
- Avoiding (or escaping from) situations that make you feel anxious.
SO: Why may some people be ashamed or afraid to reach out?
GB: Stigma and fear of discrimination are common reasons that stop people from seeking help for a mental health condition. People worry that telling others will affect how they’re perceived in social situations and at work. Self-stigma can cause people to believe having a mental health condition is a sign of personal weakness.
SO: How does someone go about managing anxiety?
GB: There are various ways to treat and manage anxiety and people need to find what works for them.
There are some simple strategies you can do to help manage anxiety. Quality sleep, a nutritious diet, regular exercise and spending time with family and friends all help to keep you well. Do your best to maintain these as part of a routine.
Having a general check-up with the GP is a good start to make sure there is not a physical cause for the symptoms. For example, as a GP, I sometimes pick up problems like thyroid issues that have been driving the anxiety.
In Australia, if you undertake a GP mental health plan, you are entitled to a series of Medicare-subsidised sessions with a psychologist.
Practising slow breathing, muscle relaxation techniques or meditation can be very effective in reducing stress and anxiety.
Challenging your self-talk is another very helpful approach – how you think affects how you feel.
Anxiety can make you overestimate the danger of a situation and underestimate your ability to handle it. Try to think about the facts of a situation and use them to consider other possible views or outcomes rather than assuming the worst-case scenario.
For some people with more severe anxiety, some of the medication treatments can be very helpful too, always in conjunction with the psychological approaches.
SO: Lastly, how can beyondblue help those suffering from anxiety?
GB: beyondblue has resources, tools and tips to help you recognise the signs and symptoms of anxiety.
Visit the beyondblue website and take the anxiety checklist: www.beyondblue.org.au/anxietychecklist
In some parts of Australia there is now the NewAccess program, which is like a free personal coach who can help with problems such as stress and anxiety: www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/newaccess
The beyondblue forums are well worth joining to discuss anxiety issues with others who are going through similar experiences: www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/online-forums/anxiety
Mental health professionals are available at the beyondblue Support Service 24/7 by phone 1300 22 4636 and 3PM – midnight for online chat via www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support
