Anxiety and anxiety disorders, what’s the difference?

The way we talk about mental health and wellbeing has changed enormously over the past twenty years thanks to changing attitudes and the work of awareness and support organisations. Improvements have been made in diagnostics, the availability of services and the narrative around the topic.

In this blog, we’ll explore the difference between anxiety and an anxiety disorder, the different types of anxiety disorders and how an online GP consultation can help if you’re struggling with one.

Anxiety is a normal part of life, we all experience panic and worry during many stressful situations, however, if your anxiety is flaring up regularly, in situations that shouldn’t cause you to be so worried, then you may be struggling with an anxiety disorder.

Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD).

This is when a person becomes excessively anxious about small, everyday things. Something that may seem as simple as walking into a shop could trigger intense anxiety in someone with this disorder.

It’s extremely common and those who experience it will often feel fearful, nervous or tense. They may get irritated or angry easily or they may present little to no emotion whatsoever. Concentration and productivity could also become very difficult.

There are also many physical symptoms including a pounding heart, an inflated BP, nausea, rapid breathing, muscle tension, restlessness, sweating and trembling.

Social Anxiety Disorder

This is sometimes also known as social phobia, however it shouldn’t be confused with anthrophobia, which is the intense fear of people, eye contact and crowds.

However, people with social anxiety disorder do worry about social situations and embarrassment in social situations. For people with this condition, the idea of having to socialise may trigger palpitations, nausea, shortness of breath and an intense sense of dread.

Because of this, many sufferers will avoid social situations. While this may help them to avoid the horrible feelings they would experience if they attended, it’s not necessarily the best way to handle the disorder as it can lead to isolation, loneliness and exacerbate the difficulty.

Panic Disorder

Panic disorder is marked by sudden, recurring panic attacks, which are characterised by very strong feelings of fear, this can trigger heart palpitations and lead to difficulty breathing, which sometimes causes more panic. As a result of the physical sensations that accompany these episodes, sufferers often fear future attacks and an unhealthy cycle can develop.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

OCD is generally characterised by unwanted, intrusive thoughts which hyperfocus on a particular detail; this forms the obsessive element of the condition. The compulsive element is characterised by a need to repeat certain behaviours or tasks to alleviate the anxiety caused by the obsessive thoughts.

Common obsessions involve fears of contamination while a linked compulsion might be excessive handwashing.

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

PTSD can develop after an upsetting or traumatic experience. This could be anything from one incident to multiple years of trauma. It’s a difficult condition and those suffering from it will not only experience emotional symptoms like severe anxiety, but they may also suffer with physical symptoms.

Nightmares, flashbacks, restlessness and nausea are all common. Avoidance of certain people, places and situations is also common.

Treatment options

If one of the above sounds like what you are experiencing, then it’s possible you’re dealing with a disorder rather than typical anxiety.

There are many approaches to treating these disorders, but you’ll need to reach out to access them. Understandably, this can be extremely difficult, not just because it requires you to share sensitive and personal information. Some people’s geographical location makes accessing services awkward, mobility issues may play a role, while time constraints and financial concerns can also cause problems.

This is where telemedicine can help to bridge care gaps. An online GP consultation is the ideal solution to these barriers as it will allow you to speak to a doctor in Australia from the comfort of your own home.

Online doctor’s appointments are also valuable for people with social anxiety disorder, who may fear attending a clinic, sitting in a waiting room with other people and dealing with reception staff.

Prime Medic’s online GP services are available 24/7, so no matter what sort of schedule you have, you can speak to one of our healthcare professionals when it suits you.

The recommended treatment options will depend on how severe your case is, but there are many avenues to explore. This ranges from a referral to a psychiatrist or counsellor to a script for some antianxiety medication. Alternatively, your doctor may recommend a change in lifestyle or a break from your usual daily routine. You might get a medical certificate stating this which will be processed online, so you don’t have to worry about collecting it.

If you’re looking for an online doctor in Australia that can help you to deal with some mental health difficulties, then contact Prime Medic. Our team of doctors are empathetic, caring and professional. They’ll take your problems seriously and work with you to find the best treatment, so reach out to us today.