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Our psychologists in Melbourne Bayside can tailor treatment for people who are dealing with a wide range of challenges

  • Worrying is a natural response to stress or challenging situations, but when it becomes excessive and persistent, it can be exhausting and overwhelming. Excessive worry, known as Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD), is a form of anxiety characterised by constant rumination on negative outcomes and worst-case scenarios. Common themes of worry include health concerns, fear of illness, performance, social judgment, finances and punctuality. In addition to worry, GAD symptoms may include difficulty concentrating, sleep disturbances, irritability, trouble relaxing, restlessness, and physical symptoms like nausea, stomach aches, headaches, or muscle tension.

  • It's normal to feel some discomfort or nervousness in social situations, but for some, this fear becomes overwhelming and disrupts daily life. Known as Social Phobia, this anxiety involves a persistent fear of negative judgment and evaluation from others. Sufferers worry about appearing foolish, making a bad impression, forgetting what to say, or being embarrassed.

    Physical symptoms can include shaking, feeling hot or faint, facial redness, dry mouth, and a rapid heart rate. This intense anxiety can lead to avoiding social interactions or situations altogether.

  • For those who have experienced a panic attack, the distress is all too familiar. Panic attacks are sudden episodes of overwhelming fear and discomfort. People with Panic Disorder face recurring, unexpected bouts of intense fear, often accompanied by physical symptoms like shortness of breath, heart palpitations, nausea, dizziness, shaking, and sweating. These sensations can be misinterpreted, leading to additional worries such as fear of losing control, having a heart attack, or "going crazy." The fear of future panic attacks and the inability to escape fearful situations can result in avoiding certain places or settings, such as crowded areas, public transport, driving, or social settings.

  • While it’s normal to feel sad or low occasionally, depression is a serious mental health condition where these feelings persist for weeks, months, or even years. It goes beyond simply feeling down and includes various symptoms that disrupt daily life and relationships.

    Depression is common but typically responds well to treatment.

    You may be experiencing depression if you feel a pervasive sense of sadness or emptiness for most of the day, nearly every day, and have lost interest or pleasure in almost all activities, even those once enjoyed. Other symptoms can include changes in appetite and sleep, lethargy, excessive worry, and negative thinking patterns.

  • Eating disorders involve an unhealthy relationship with food that negatively affects physical and mental health. Common disorders include anorexia nervosa, which is marked by severe food restriction and starvation, and bulimia nervosa, characterised by cycles of binge-eating and vomiting. Binge eating disorder involves consuming large portions frequently accompanied by a loss of control when overeating.

    Signs of an eating disorder include extreme food restriction, overeating, dissatisfaction with one’s weight or body shape, self-induced vomiting, excessive use of laxatives or diet pills, and over-exercising.

    Several factors can contribute to eating disorders including a genetic predisposition, stressful life events, and personality factors such as low self-esteem and perfectionism. Other factors that contribute to body dissatisfaction include negative role models and media influences.

    Additionally, a history of trauma, such as sexual abuse, increases the risk of developing an eating disorder. Professional treatment from an eating disorder psychologist is often necessary for sustained recovery.

  • Connecting with others is a fundamental human need, so when our relationships are troubled or we struggle to connect, it can leave us feeling unfulfilled. These interpersonal issues can have significant emotional, psychological, and social impacts. In therapy, addressing patterns of behaviour, trust issues, feelings of rejection, communication challenges, and intimacy concerns can help enhance relationship satisfaction and overall well-being.

  • Adjustment difficulties refer to the emotional and psychological changes people undergo in response to significant life events, such as career or relationship transitions, relocation, retirement, or loss. While change is a natural part of life, its impact on mental well-being can vary greatly. Adjustment problems may show up as increased stress, feelings of being overwhelmed, anxiety, or sadness.

  • Health anxiety is a persistent fear of having or developing a serious illness, such as cancer or a heart attack. It often stems from misinterpreting normal bodily sensations as dangerous. Our bodies naturally produce various physical symptoms—like changes in heart rate, breathing, or muscle tone—that may be uncomfortable or unexpected but are typically harmless.

    However, when someone with health anxiety interprets common symptoms like a headache, muscle twitch, or skin change as signs of a severe illness, it leads to unnecessary worry. This anxiety can become so overwhelming that it interferes with daily functioning and enjoyment of life.

  • Most people occasionally have distressing thoughts or feel the need to double-check things, like ensuring the stove is off or the car is locked. However, for those with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), these thoughts and behaviours become persistent, time-consuming, and disruptive to daily life.

    OCD is characterised by recurring, distressing thoughts, images, or impulses (obsessions) and the need to perform certain repetitive behaviours or mental acts (compulsions). While some people with OCD experience both obsessions and compulsions, others may have only one.

    Unlike everyday worries or habits, OCD symptoms are intensely distressing and can lead to significant avoidance of situations sufferers find triggering. Compulsive behaviours relieve anxiety however this creates a cycle where the person feels temporary relief, but the anxiety soon returns, leading to more compulsive actions.

  • While most people feel anxious when facing potential danger, such as getting an injection or encountering an angry dog, those with specific phobias experience an intense, irrational fear of certain objects, activities, or situations that far exceeds the actual threat. This fear leads to avoidance behaviours and significant anxiety when the feared object or situation is encountered. Common phobias include fears related to animals like snakes, spiders, or dogs, or natural environments such as storms, or medical procedures, and specific situations like elevators, airplanes, or tunnels.

  • Early life trauma can deeply impact emotional well-being, relationships, and social functioning in later years, often reducing resilience in the face of stress. Recent traumatic events such as personal tragedies, violence or accidents, natural disasters, and military combat can also heighten the risk of developing trauma-related anxiety, stress, or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

  • Unhappiness or anxiety can often stem from issues with self-image, which is how a person views themselves and their relationship with themselves. A negative self-image can impact mood, relationships, and overall life satisfaction. Addressing concerns such as feelings of unworthiness, low self-esteem, low confidence, and body image issues can significantly improve overall well-being.

  • Stress is commonly described as feeling overwhelmed, tense, or anxious when faced with situations that seem unmanageable. While stress is often seen as negative, it can sometimes be beneficial, helping us stay motivated and perform well.

    Responses to stress become unhelpful when they are exaggerated or prolonged, leading to increased irritability, low mood, or anxiety. Identifying stress triggers and improving emotional and behavioural responses can greatly enhance your ability to manage life's challenges. When stress is persistent or lasts for a long time, it can adversely affect both physical and mental health.

  • At times, we may feel uncertain about which direction to take in areas like work, relationships, study, or personal goals. This confusion can lead to a lack of motivation and a sense of being stuck. Related issues might include persistent self-doubt, indecision, unclear needs and wants, procrastination, and avoidance.