Start Your Journey Toward Calm and Clarity
Feeling anxious from time to time is normal. But if worry becomes constant, overwhelming, or interferes with your daily life, you may be experiencing an anxiety condition. You’re not alone — anxiety affects around 1 in 6 Australians every year, making it one of the most common mental health challenges people face. (Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing, 2020-21)
At Rose Park Psychology, we provide evidence-based therapy for anxiety, tailored to the unique needs of children, teenagers, and adults. Whether you’re facing persistent worry, panic attacks, social fears, or a combination of symptoms, our experienced psychologists are here to help.
Do I Have Anxiety? Common Signs and Symptoms
Anxiety affects how you think, feel, and behave, and can even show up in your body. You might be experiencing anxiety if you notice:
- Racing thoughts, constant worry, or fear of losing control
- Feeling restless, tense, or irritable
- Trouble sleeping, concentrating, or staying calm
- Physical symptoms like a racing heart, chest tightness, nausea, dizziness
- Avoidance of feared places, situations, or social interactions
- Sudden panic attacks without a clear trigger
Paper craft representing anxiety and mental disorders. Concept of mental health
Types of Anxiety
Anxiety is an umbrella term that covers several different presentations. At Rose Park Psychology, we support clients experiencing:
- Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) – Ongoing, excessive worry about everyday issues like work, health, or relationships, often accompanied by restlessness, fatigue, or tension.
- Panic Disorder – Recurring panic attacks with intense physical symptoms (e.g. racing heart, breathlessness) and ongoing fear of future attacks.
- Social Anxiety Disorder – A strong fear of being judged or embarrassed in social or performance settings, leading to avoidance of everyday interactions.
- Specific Phobias – Intense fear of particular objects or situations (e.g. flying, needles, animals), often causing distress and avoidance.
- Health Anxiety – Persistent worry about having a serious illness, despite medical reassurance, often involving frequent checking or avoidance.
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) – Unwanted thoughts (obsessions) paired with repetitive behaviours or mental rituals (compulsions) to reduce distress.
- Separation Anxiety – Excessive fear about being apart from loved ones, commonly seen in children and teens, but can also affect adults.
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) – Triggered by trauma, PTSD can involve flashbacks, nightmares, emotional numbness, and hypervigilance.
- Mixed Anxiety and Depression – Many people experience anxiety alongside low mood, fatigue, or hopelessness; therapy can address both simultaneously.
Each type of anxiety has unique challenges. Your psychologist will help clarify what you’re experiencing and design a treatment plan tailored to your situation.
What Causes Anxiety?
There’s no single cause. Anxiety often develops due to a mix of:
- Genetics or family history of mental health conditions
- High-stress environments (e.g., school, work, parenting)
- Past trauma or adverse experiences
- Rigid or perfectionistic thinking styles
- Physical health issues or chronic illness
- Sleep disturbances and poor lifestyle habits
Anxiety can also be influenced by unhelpful thought patterns, such as:
- Catastrophising – assuming the worst will happen
- Mind-reading – thinking others are judging you
- Overgeneralisation – seeing one bad event as part of a pattern
How We Treat Anxiety
Our psychologists use a range of evidence-based therapies, tailored to your symptoms, preferences, and goals. These include:
Simple Strategies to Start Managing Anxiety Today
Professional support is often essential for understanding and managing anxiety in a lasting, meaningful way. However, many people also find value in incorporating small daily practices that complement their therapy and provide moments of calm between sessions:
- Slow Breathing – Inhale for three counts, exhale for three, and repeat to regulate your body’s stress response.
- Progressive Muscle Relaxation – Gently tense and release muscle groups to reduce physical tension.
- Worry Time – Allocate 10 minutes each day to write down and process anxious thoughts.
Additional resources from Beyond Blue and the Black Dog Institute can offer helpful self-help tools and information to complement your therapy or guide you before reaching out
– 10 strategies for managing anxiety – Beyond Blue – Beyond Blue
– https://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/resources-support/anxiety/
Who We Support
Anxiety looks different depending on your stage of life. We offer age-informed support for:
- Children – who may show clinginess, physical complaints, or sleep issues
- Teenagers – experiencing school avoidance, perfectionism, or social fears
- Adults – managing workplace pressure, relationship tension, or parenting stress
- Parents and Families – navigating their child’s anxiety through family therapy and parent coaching
We provide both in-person therapy in Adelaide and telehealth sessions across South Australia and beyond.
Call our friendly team or book an appointment online to connect with an experienced anxiety psychologist today.
Contact us at admin@roseparkpsychology.com.au or on (08) 8333 0940.
