Anxiety – More Common Than You Know
Anxiety is a natural emotion, yet for many Australians, it’s an ongoing challenge that can feel overwhelming. Research shows 1 in 4 Australians will experience an anxiety disorder at some point (Beyond Blue, 2025).
At Watkins Therapy Group we’ve seen how anxiety can hold people back and how it can be transformed into a pathway for growth. But what is anxiety and how can you manage it in ways that work for you? We break down what anxiety is, why it’s so common, and offer practical tools to manage it.
What Is Anxiety? The Basics
Anxiety isn’t just feeling nervous before a big moment—it’s a deeper, often persistent response to stress. It’s your brain’s way of sounding an alarm when it senses danger, even if that “danger” is a looming deadline or a tough conversation. For many, though, this alarm gets stuck on repeat, turning a natural emotion into a burden.
Common Signs of Anxiety
- Physical: A racing heart, sweaty hands, or restless nights.
- Mental: Constant worry, overthinking, or a mind that won’t quiet down.
- Emotional: Irritability, dread, or feeling trapped in your own head.
Anxiety in Australia
For men and women aged 18-65, The Australian Bureau of Statistics (2025) reports that 17% of people experience high anxiety levels, driven by everything from hybrid work pressures to rising living costs. For many Australians, anxiety is a frequent companion shaped by modern life. Ignored or unmanaged, it can strain everything from relationships, careers, health, money etc.
But here’s the truth: anxiety doesn’t have to control you and with the right support, you can navigate it and live a fulfilling life. Counselling offers a way to experience life differently. To understand where anxiety might be present in your life and how you can reshape your experience in these situations.
3 Tips to Help You Manage Anxiety
Anxiety management isn’t just erasing the emotion or trying to make it go away—it’s about learning to feel when it’s present, express it calmly and handle it in a way that positively impacts you.
1. Ground Yourself with the 5-4-3-2-1 Technique
- What It Is: A quick mindfulness tool to calm racing thoughts.
- How to Do It: Notice 5 things you see, 4 you can touch, 3 you hear, 2 you smell, 1 you taste.
- Why It Helps: It pulls you back to the present, breaking the anxiety cycle.
2. Connect with Support
- What It Is: Talking it out with someone who listens. A friend, family, or counsellor at Watkins Therapy Group
- How to Do It: Talk to a loved one you trust or reach out to us if you’re ready to chat.
- Why It Helps: Connection cuts anxiety’s power. Research shows social support slashes symptoms by 40% (ANU, 2024).
3. Move Your Body
- What It Is: Exercise to release tension.
- How to Do It: 30 minute per day. Start with 5 or 10 minutes and build up.
- Why It Helps: Endorphins drop anxiety by up to 20% (Healthdirect Australia, 2025).
Take Control Today
Unfortunately, many Australians, supress anxiety which can lead to physical strain on your heart from high blood pressure and stress hormones constantly getting released in your body. Seeking help is a bold step toward strength and getting you back to your full potential. Counselling is about creating a safe, down-to-earth space to explore what’s behind your anxiety and building tools that fit your life. This isn’t about “fixing” you it’s about empowering you to thrive. Anxiety is common, but it doesn’t have to rule your life. If you feel ready to make a change anxiety book a session now.
Reference List
- Australian Bureau of Statistics. (n.d.). Mental health. https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/mental-health
- Beyond Blue. (n.d.). Anxiety. https://www.beyondblue.org.au/mental-health/anxiety
- Healthdirect Australia. (n.d.). Exercise and mental health. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/exercise-and-mental-health