Anxiety
Here is a guide to common anxiety presentations that we see at On Track.
If any of this sounds familiar, you are not alone, and we can help.
Generalised anxiety (GAD)
This is the constant hum type of anxiety. Your mind keeps scanning for problems and tries to think its way to safety. Topics rotate through work, health, money, family and the future. It can feel responsible to worry because worry seems like preparation, yet the thinking rarely switches off and it can be very stressful, distracting and tiring.
What you might notice
- Tense muscles, tired but wired feeling, unsettled stomach
- Lists on top of lists, difficulty deciding, second guessing afterwards
- Restless sleep or waking early to start thinking again
- Guilt when you relax because it feels like you are dropping the ball
Common loops that keep it going
- Treating every thought as urgent or important
- Reassurance seeking that soothes for a moment then needs repeating
- Avoiding uncertainty by over checking or over preparing
Life areas affected
- Being present with people you care about
- Starting tasks because they have to be perfect
- Finishing tasks because they never feel done
Panic disorder
Panic involves sudden spikes of fear with strong body signals. Heart racing, breath feeling wrong, dizziness, heat, tingling or a sense of unreality are common. The first attack often feels like a medical emergency. Later, fear of another attack can become the main problem.
What you might notice
- Episodes that seem to appear out of nowhere or after caffeine, heat or stress
- Scanning your body for danger and staying close to exits just in case
- Avoiding driving, queues, planes or busy places
- Worry that you might faint, choke, have a heart attack or lose control
Common loops that keep it going
- Catastrophic interpretations of your normal body sensations
- Escape and avoidance that prevent your body from learning it can settle
Life areas affected
- Travel, errands, exercise and social plans
- Confidence in your health and your ability to cope
Specific phobias
These are sharp fears of particular things or situations. Common examples include flying, needles, blood, heights, storms, spiders or vomiting. You may know the reaction is out of proportion, yet your body reacts fast and intensely.
What you might notice
- Instant urge to escape or get someone else to handle it
- Careful route planning to steer clear of triggers
- Tension for days before an anticipated event such as a flight or injection
Common loops that keep it going
- Avoidance that brings relief now but teaches the fear to stick
- Relying on others to manage the trigger which erodes confidence
Life areas affected
- Medical care, career choices and travel plans
- Family activities and personal freedom
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
OCD pairs intrusive thoughts, images or urges that you do not want with repetitive actions or mental steps that help you feel safer or make the thoughts go away. Often relief is only brief, which strengthens the cycle. Themes vary, and can include contamination, harm, checking, symmetry, morality, sexuality or identity.
What you might notice
- Time heavy rituals such as checking, cleaning, arranging or counting
- Mental rituals such as reviewing memories or neutralising thoughts
- Reassurance seeking from loved ones or online searching
- A need to feel just right before moving on
Common loops that keep it going
- Confusing responsibility with control and trying to be 100 percent certain
- Treating thoughts as facts rather than events of the mind
Life areas affected
- Morning and evening routines that stretch for hours
- Work, study and relationships crowded out by rituals
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
After a traumatic event or ongoing trauma, the nervous system can stay in guard mode. Triggers such as sounds, places or body sensations can bring back the experience as if it is happening now. This is your protective system doing overtime, not a personal failing.
What you might notice
- Intrusive memories, nightmares or flashbacks
- Avoiding reminders such as routes, conversations, news or medical care
- Feeling on edge, irritable or numb, difficulty relaxing or trusting
- Sleep and concentration problems that strain work and relationships
Common loops that keep it going
- Narrowing life to stay away from reminders
- Self-blame that blocks healing and connection
Life areas affected
- Feeling safe in your own body and in everyday places
- Staying engaged with people and activities you value
How treatment can help
Our role is to create a steady, confidential space and to tailor support to your goals. We keep it practical, and we check progress together.
Getting started
- A clear picture of what is happening for you, what sets it off and what keeps it going
- Collaborative goals such as sleeping better, reducing avoidance, returning to valued activities or feeling more confident in your body
Skills that make a difference
- Ways to settle the body during surges of anxiety, including breath and movement strategies that are easy to learn and use in real life
- Attention skills to step out of worry spirals and refocus on what matters now
- Building small daily acts that support stability such as routines, sleep, and helpful limits on alcohol and caffeine
- Gradual practice with feared situations when and how you are ready, so confidence grows rather than shrinks
- Working gently with unhelpful beliefs about danger, control and certainty without getting stuck in debate
Support for the bigger picture
- Looking at stress, life changes, health conditions or neurodiversity that may be part of the story
- Involving partners or family if you want support at home
- Teaming up with your GP or psychiatrist when medication or medical checks are relevant
- Neuropsychology input if your thinking has been affected by stress or injury, or if the possibility of neurodivergence needs to be explored
Staying on track
- Planning for setbacks so slips become information rather than failure
- Simple measures to track what is improving and what still needs attention
- Clear next steps when you feel ready to space sessions out or wrap up
We are based in Northbridge and offer secure telehealth across Western Australia. If parts of this page sound familiar, you do not have to sort it out alone. Book a time and we will work with you to find a path that fits your life.
Social anxiety
Here the fear centres on how you are seen by others. You worry about sounding awkward, being judged, or making a mistake in public. Avoiding social or performance situations brings quick relief, but confidence shrinks over time.
What you might notice
Common loops that keep it going
Life areas affected