Anxiety is a natural reaction that everyone experiences which helps us to be alert to potentially dangerous or fearful situations. However, for some people anxiety prevents then from living their life in the way that they would like.
In addition to fear and panic a person with an anxiety disorder may experience symptoms including:
- feeling irritable or uneasy
- excessively worrying about things
- appearing to others as being 'highly strung'
- having difficulty relaxing, concentrating and sleeping
- developing elaborate plans to avoid certain places, situations or objects
- physical symptoms such as heart palpitations, muscle spasm, sweating, shortness of breath, headaches and nausea, with no physical cause.
Workplace solutions and adjustments
There are some useful resources and strategies available for people with an anxiety condition including:
People with anxiety may experience difficulty with memory and concentration, dealing with stress and psychological demands, interacting with others, managing their emotions at work and or solving problems and making decisions. Some suggestions for management include:
References
Mental Health Council of Australia 2010, Fact Sheet: Alcohol, anxiety and depression, Mental Health Council of Australia, Canberra, viewed 18 May 2010, http://www.mhca.org.au/documents/AboutMentalHealth/FactSheet-AlcoholAnxietyandDepression.pdf.
Mental Health Association NSW Inc. 2008, Anxiety – what is it?, Mental Health Association NSW, Sydney, viewed 18 May 2010, http://www.mentalhealth.asn.au/images/pdf/Illness/anxiety.pdf.