Anxiety Disorder
Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia)
Social Anxiety Disorder involves a marked fear or anxiety about one or more social situation whereby an individual is exposed to possible scrutiny of others including general social situations, meeting unfamiliar people, performing a task in front of others such as a speech or eating or drinking in front of others. An individual with Social Anxiety Disorder fears that they will appear anxious to others and will be negatively evaluated or rejected. The social situation almost always provokes anxiety and is therefore often avoided. To find out more about Social Anxiety Disorder download the Social Anxiety Disorder factsheet. from beyond blue. Please note that it is important to not self diagnose. Clinical Psychologists undergo specialized training to formally assess and treat such conditions.
Generalised Anxiety Disorder
Generalised Anxiety Disorder typically involves excessive worry or anxiety that is difficult to control as well as other symptoms such as restlessness, fatigue, poor concentration, irritability, muscle tension or sleep dysfunction. To find out more about Generalised anxiety disorder download the Generalised anxiety disorder factsheet Please note that it is important to be assessed by a trained clinical psychologist in order to receive a diagnosis.
Panic Disorder (Including Panic attacks)
Panic attacks are commonly experienced by 40 percent of the population. A panic attack is an abrupt surge of intense fear or discomfort and can include a number of the following symptoms: heart racing or pounding, sweating, trembling, shortness of breath, chest pain, feelings of choking, nausea, dizziness, chills or heat sensations, numbness or tingling, fear of losing control, feelings of unreality or fears of “going crazy”.
Panic Disorder involves recurrent unexpected panic attacks as well as persistent concern or worry about having additional panic attacks or of their consequences, for example, losing control or “going crazy”. Panic Disorder is also characterized by a change in behaviour such that the individual may avoid certain places or situations in order to avoid the incidence of further panic attacks. For further information about Panic disorder, please download the Panic Disorder Factsheet. In order to receive a diagnosis, it is important to be assessed by a trained professional who will take into account your unique personal circumstances.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Obsessive compulsive Disorder involves the presence of obsessions, compulsions or both. Obsessions are intrusive or unwanted thoughts, urges or images that keep coming back. The individual often tries to ignore or get rid of the distressing thought with some other thought or action. An example of an obsession may be the fear of being contaminated by germs, explicit sexual thoughts or excessive concern for religious or moral ideas.
A compulsion is a repeated behaviour that an individual feels driven to perform to prevent or reduce anxiety or to stop a dreaded event or situation from occurring. Examples of compulsions include: hand washing, counting, checking, praying or repeating words silently. Compulsions are often time consuming or distressing. For more information, please download the Obsessive Compulsive Disorder factsheet.
Individuals with Obsessive Compulsive disorder are sometimes ashamed by their obsessions or compulsions and this can hinder them seeking out and receiving treatment. The Clinical psychologists at Inner South Psychology are very familiar with these sorts of thoughts or behaviours and are non-judgmental and focused on helping the individual recover from such difficulties.
Specific Phobias
Specific phobias involve marked fear or anxiety about a specific situation or object, for example, flying, heights, receiving an injection, seeing blood or animals. The distressing fear or anxiety is typically out of proportion to the actual danger posed by the situation or object, which is often avoided. To find out more about specific phobias please download the Specific Phobias Factsheet. It is important to not self diagnose such conditions but rather to be assessed by a trained professional.
Agoraphobia
Agoraphobia involves marked fear or anxiety about two or more of the following: using public transport, being in open spaces, being in enclosed places, being outside the home alone or standing in a line or being in a crowd. The individual typically fears or avoids these situations because of thoughts that escapes will be difficult or embarrassing and help may not be available. Agoraphobia is often experienced with panic disorder or panic attacks. For more information about agoraphobia please download the Agoraphobia Factsheet. For further information about how is may affect you, please talk to a clinical psychologist.
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Posttraumatic Stress disorder involves exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury or sexual violence. The individual additionally experiences intrusion symptoms such distress, intense physiological sensations, distressing dreams or flashbacks. The individual also tries to avoid remembering, thinking or feelings associated with the event or external reminders of the event. Changes in thoughts or moods also occur. For example, the individual may feel intense fear, horror, shame guilt or anger. They may not recall important aspects of the traumatic event, or they may blame themselves. They also experience a change in their arousal or reactivity, for example, they may become irritable, reckless, hypervigilance or suffer from sleep disturbance. For more information on Posttraumatic Stress disorder, please download the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Factsheet. It is important to not self diagnose such a condition and rather to talk to a clinical psychologist.
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