Understanding the scope and reach of anxiety in Australia has proven to help inspire many individuals to seek the help and anxiety counselling they need. Here are a few key facts about anxiety and anxiety therapy in Australia that you should know:
● A significant percentage of the Australian population struggles with anxiety. According to Beyond Blue, a national non-profit that works to address mental health issues, one in every three women and one in every five men contend with anxiety at some point in their lives. It is the most common mental health issue in Australia.
● Anxiety is often misunderstood. One of the biggest challenges of treating anxiety is recognising that you struggle with it in the first place. The hurdle is the simple fact that everyone feels stressed, anxious or worried from time to time. Even people who experience chronic anxiety might see it manifest in different ways. However, certain symptoms are widely associated with chronic anxiety, including panic attacks, avoidance of situations that make you feel anxious, and catastrophising (imagining disastrous outcomes in all or most situations). You may also experience excessive fear, worry, and more.
● There are ways to manage anxiety. Just because you have anxiety right now doesn’t mean you have to let it disrupt your life forever. You can learn how to manage your anxiety so that it has less of a grip on you in the future. Again, these management strategies vary from person to person. Someone might find that slow, controlled breathing is the most effective way of dealing with panic attacks and other anxiety symptoms. In contrast, someone else might discover strength by facing down events or situations that make them anxious and trying to break patterns of anxious thought. Anxiety counselling is designed, in part, to train individuals on how to use these tools to live happier, more fulfilling lives.