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Anxiety symptoms

Compassionate support for managing anxiety and related symptoms

AHPRA-registered Clinicians
Australian-owned and operated
Telehealth nationwide
Talking about anxiety takes courage. Our Clinicians meet you with patience, never a stopwatch.

What anxiety is

Anxiety is the body’s natural and automatic response to a real or possible threat. Everyone experiences it, and in the short term it is useful: it sharpens attention and prepares the body to act.

It becomes a health problem when it arrives without a proportionate trigger, stays after the situation has passed, or grows large enough to shape what a person will and will not do. Anxiety disorders affect 1 in 4 Australians at some stage in their life, which makes them among the most common health conditions in the country.

A journal and pen in warm lamplight

Common symptoms

Physical

  • Shortness of breath
  • A racing or pounding heart
  • Sweating, trembling or shaking
  • Chest tightness
  • Nausea or stomach upset
  • Dizziness
  • Muscle tension

Psychological

  • Excessive worry that is difficult to control
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Restlessness or feeling on edge
  • Irritability
  • Trouble falling or staying asleep
  • Avoiding situations that trigger the anxiety

The physical symptoms are often what brings people to a doctor first, and they can be convincing enough that other causes are looked into before anxiety is considered.

The main types of anxiety disorder

  • Generalised anxiety disorder, persistent and excessive worry across everyday matters
  • Social anxiety disorder, avoidance of social situations through fear of embarrassment or judgement
  • Panic disorder, sudden intense episodes of fear, often with strong physical symptoms
  • Agoraphobia, avoidance of situations where escape or help might be difficult
  • Specific phobias, intense fear attached to a particular object or situation
  • Obsessive compulsive disorder, unwanted intrusive thoughts that drive repetitive behaviours
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder, persistent fear responses following a traumatic event

More than one can be present at the same time, and anxiety frequently occurs alongside depression, chronic pain and sleep problems.

Where to start in Australia

A general practitioner is the usual first point of contact, and a GP can prepare a mental health treatment plan, which gives Medicare-subsidised access to a psychologist. Healthdirect publishes plain-language information on anxiety and the support available, and Beyond Blue and Lifeline both run support lines.

What is done about anxiety, and by whom, is a conversation with the practitioner who assesses you. This page does not describe treatment, and it is not a substitute for that conversation.

Before you book

What a consultation covers

A structured review of your health with an AHPRA-registered Clinician, by video or telephone.

  1. Your history

    A consultation with a LeafLine Clinic Clinician is a structured review of your health. Your Clinician takes your history, including how long symptoms have been present, how they affect your daily function and sleep, what has already been tried and what happened, your current medicines, and your other conditions.

  2. What you have already tried

    Your Clinician will discuss your concerns and review your previous treatments: what has been tried, what happened, and what you are taking now.

  3. The options

    Your Clinician explores appropriate management options based on clinical judgement and your individual circumstances. Specific treatment options can only be discussed and decided during a private consultation with a qualified Clinician.

  4. Whether this clinic is right for you

    Some people are not suitable for care through this clinic. A history of psychosis, schizophrenia or bipolar disorder is an exclusion here, and where that applies your Clinician will discuss where to go next.

When to seek medical support

See a doctor if anxiety is persistent, is affecting your sleep, work or relationships, or is leading you to avoid things you would otherwise do. For mental health crisis support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14, available 24 hours. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 000.

Common questions

How common is anxiety in Australia?

Anxiety disorders affect 1 in 4 Australians at some stage in their life, which makes them among the most common health conditions in the country.

What is the difference between anxiety and an anxiety disorder?

Anxiety is a normal and useful response to a real or possible threat. It is considered a disorder when it occurs without a proportionate trigger, persists after the situation has passed, or becomes large enough to limit what a person does day to day.

Why do I get physical symptoms with anxiety?

Anxiety triggers the body's automatic threat response, which produces a racing heart, shortness of breath, sweating, trembling, chest tightness, nausea and dizziness. These symptoms are often what brings people to a doctor, and other causes are usually looked into before anxiety is considered.

Where do I start if I think I have an anxiety disorder?

A general practitioner is the usual first point of contact, and can prepare a mental health treatment plan for Medicare-subsidised psychology sessions. Healthdirect publishes plain-language information on anxiety, and Beyond Blue and Lifeline run support lines. For crisis support call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

About this page

This page is general health information about a condition. It is not a description of any treatment, it is not medical advice, and it is not a substitute for an assessment by a qualified practitioner. Decisions about your care are made with your Clinician, in a consultation, based on your own history.

Last reviewed 7 September 2026. Written by Umar Khan, CEO.

Sources

Book a consultation

If you’re experiencing anxiety symptoms, you can book a telehealth consultation with one of our AHPRA-registered Clinicians to discuss your symptoms and care options.

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