In short
Anxiety shows up in the body as well as the mind: a racing heart, shortness of breath, tight chest, sweating, stomach upset, muscle tension and poor sleep, along with worry, restlessness and avoiding things. When it’s persistent and gets in the way of life, it may be an anxiety disorder, which is common and treatable.
On this page
Anxiety is common
Everyone feels anxious sometimes. It’s a normal response to stress or danger. Anxiety becomes a problem when it’s intense, lasts a long time, is out of proportion to what’s happening, or stops you doing things. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health conditions in Australia. In a national survey, about one in seven Australians had an anxiety disorder in the previous 12 months.
Physical symptoms of anxiety
- Racing or pounding heart
- Shortness of breath or feeling you can’t get a full breath
- Tight chest
- Sweating, trembling or shaking
- Dizziness or light-headedness
- Nausea, butterflies, diarrhoea or other stomach upset
- Muscle tension, headaches, jaw clenching
- Tiredness
- Trouble getting to sleep or staying asleep
Want to talk it through?
Talk it through with an Australian doctor online. No referral needed.
Emotional and thinking symptoms
- Persistent worry that’s hard to control
- Feeling on edge, restless or keyed up
- Irritability
- Difficulty concentrating, or your mind going blank
- A sense of dread or that something bad will happen
Behavioural signs
- Avoiding situations, people or places
- Needing reassurance often
- Checking, over-preparing or procrastinating
- Using alcohol or other substances to cope
Types of anxiety disorder
- Generalised anxiety disorder: ongoing worry about many things
- Panic disorder: repeated, unexpected panic attacks and fear of having more. See what is a panic attack.
- Social anxiety disorder: intense fear of being judged
- Specific phobias and agoraphobia
Post-traumatic stress disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder are closely related. See PTSD symptoms.
Could it be something physical?
Some physical conditions can cause anxiety-like symptoms, such as an overactive thyroid, heart rhythm problems, low blood sugar, too much caffeine, and some medicines or substances. A GP can check for these, especially if symptoms are new.
What helps
- Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), which has the strongest evidence for anxiety disorders
- Online programmes, such as those from THIS WAY UP
- Regular exercise, sleep and cutting back on caffeine and alcohol
- Slow breathing and relaxation
- Medicines, which help some people, usually alongside therapy. Your GP can talk this through.
A GP can prepare a mental health treatment plan, which gives eligible people access to Medicare-subsidised psychology sessions.
When to get help
See a GP if anxiety is affecting your work, relationships or daily life, or has lasted weeks. If you’re having thoughts of suicide, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. In an emergency, call 000. Chest pain or trouble breathing should never be assumed to be anxiety: call 000.
Next step: talk to a doctor
Answer a few quick questions and you’ll get an email about your eligibility. A consultation doesn’t guarantee any particular treatment.
References
- Craske MG, Stein MB, Eley TC, et al. Anxiety disorders. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2017;3:17024.
- Penninx BW, Pine DS, Holmes EA, et al. Anxiety disorders. Lancet. 2021;397(10277):914-927.
- McEvoy PM, Grove R, Slade T. Epidemiology of anxiety disorders in the Australian general population: findings of the 2007 Australian National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing. Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 2011;45(11):957-67.
- healthdirect. Anxiety.
- Beyond Blue. Anxiety.
- THIS WAY UP (St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney). THIS WAY UP online programs.
This guide is general information, not medical advice. It doesn’t replace a consultation with a doctor who knows your history. In an emergency, call 000.