Wondering if you’re struggling with anxiety, or just feeling a bit stressed? Take our online anxiety test and find out.
Over the last two weeks, how often have you been bothered by any of the following problems?
Question 1 of 7
You're likely experiencing little to no anxiety.
That’s reassuring. Still, staying mindful of stress and checking in with yourself regularly can support your mental wellbeing.
This suggests some anxiety symptoms, but not necessarily a disorder.
It may help to explore stress triggers and build in supportive habits. Speaking with a counsellor now can offer clarity and early strategies.
You may be feeling consistently anxious, and it’s worth looking more closely at how it’s affecting your life.
A professional conversation can help unpack what’s going on and offer practical ways forward.
This level of anxiety is likely impacting your daily life. You're not alone, and support is available.
Our counsellors are trained to help you understand your experience and guide you toward relief and recovery.
Am I simply feeling tense, a bit worried, or do I have anxiety?
Everyone experiences stress and worry from time to time, but how can we tell if what we’re feeling is just everyday anxiety, or something more serious?
This anxiety self-test is a helpful tool to give you more insight into whether you may be struggling with anxiety. It can’t provide a diagnosis, but it can indicate the likelihood that you may be experiencing an anxiety disorder.
Only a qualified mental-health professional such as a Psychologist, Accredited Mental-Health Social Worker, Psychiatrist, or General Practitioner can diagnose an anxiety disorder. Anxiety is often confused with everyday stress, but clinical anxiety involves persistent, excessive worry that lasts for at least six months and interferes with work, study, sleep, or relationships. If you spend much of the day feeling on edge, experience physical symptoms like muscle tension or a racing heart, and find it difficult to control the worry, consult a professional for a formal assessment.
No. Self-diagnosis relies on subjective interpretation and often overlooks co-occurring issues such as depression, substance misuse, or thyroid conditions. In Australia an official diagnosis requires a structured interview conducted by a registered clinician who can rule out medical causes, identify the specific anxiety subtype, and develop an evidence-based treatment plan.
Anxiety is the body’s fight-or-flight system on overdrive. It is a condition where everyday events trigger disproportionate fear and physical arousal, leading to restlessness, irritability, stomach upset, and difficulty concentrating. Occasional worry is normal, but anxiety disorders create ongoing distress that disrupts daily life.
Routine pathology cannot diagnose anxiety; there is no single biomarker in current clinical use. Research into inflammatory markers, stress hormones, and genetic factors is promising, yet results remain inconsistent. Doctors may order blood tests to exclude medical conditions that mimic anxiety, such as hyperthyroidism or vitamin B12 deficiency.
Australian Bureau of Statistics data show the highest prevalence in people aged 18 to 24, with roughly one in three reporting an anxiety disorder in the past year. However, anxiety can emerge at any life stage, and midlife adults often experience health-related or financial-related anxiety spikes.
No. For some, anxiety appears as constant rumination and insomnia; for others it involves sudden panic attacks, compulsive behaviours, or social withdrawal. Cultural background, gender, and personal coping style shape how symptoms manifest. What unites anxiety disorders is the disproportionate fear that impairs functioning.
Severity depends on individual impact rather than diagnostic label. Panic disorder with frequent unexpected attacks may feel more disabling than social anxiety that is limited to presentations, yet either can become severe. Agoraphobia coupled with panic can be particularly incapacitating because it restricts leaving the house altogether.
Genetics
Chronic stress or burnout
Perfectionistic or high-risk personality traits
History of trauma, abuse, or bullying
Long-term medical conditions such as asthma or cardiac disease
Substance use, especially stimulants and alcohol
Significant hormonal changes, such as postpartum or menopause
Social isolation or financial hardship
A clinician uses standardised interviews like the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview or the Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule, along with rating scales such as the GAD-7. They assess frequency, duration, functional impairment, and rule out physical illnesses. A full diagnostic report guides therapy choices, which may include cognitive behavioural therapy, lifestyle changes, or medication.
Mild situational anxiety can resolve once the stressor passes, but clinical anxiety disorders rarely disappear spontaneously. Without treatment they often persist or worsen. Evidence-based therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, mindfulness training, and medication when appropriate significantly improve long-term prognosis.
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