Anxiety is not one thing.
For one person it's a mind that won't stop. For another it's a racing heart, a knot in the stomach, a dread of panicking in a crowd, or the exhaustion of being braced all day. This assessment works out which kind you're dealing with, and how much.
What is an anxiety assessment?
A look at worry, tension, panic, bodily symptoms and avoidance, and how far they reach into your day. It combines short questionnaires, one scale I complete myself, and a conversation.
This assessment helps you see
- ✓ Whether it's worry, panic, physical tension or avoidance, or a mix
- ✓ How strong it is, and where in life it bites hardest
- ✓ How it differs from stress or low mood, which can feel the same
- ✓ What to work on first
Secure, confidential scheduling
The questionnaires we use
I choose from these depending on your question.
- GAD-7. Seven questions on nervousness, uncontrollable worry and restlessness over the past two weeks. You fill it in at home.
- DASS-21. Its anxiety scale covers panic, fear and body signals like a racing heart or trembling, over the past week. The same form also measures stress and low mood. You fill it in at home.
- HAM-A. I rate this one myself while we talk, across 14 areas: mood, tension, fears, sleep, concentration, body symptoms and how you seem in the room. It adds what a form can't show.
- Broad check (DSM-5 Level 1). If it's unclear what's going on, this sweep of 13 areas includes questions on anxiety, panic and avoidance.
How it works
First the forms, at home. Then a conversation, during which I rate the HAM-A. We spend the last part of the session making sense of the pattern together, and talking about what might help.
Questions people ask
Isn't some anxiety normal?
Yes. The question is how much it costs you: sleep, concentration, things you now avoid.
Why do you rate one scale yourself?
Forms capture what you notice. The HAM-A also captures what shows in the room, such as how tense you are as we talk. Together they give a fuller picture.
Could it be physical?
Anxiety can feel like a heart or stomach problem. If symptoms are new or severe, see a doctor as well. I can help you work out what to ask.
Will I be told to take medication?
Medication is a doctor's decision. If it's worth discussing, I'll say so and help you prepare.
Want a quick check first?
You can try the free GAD-7 screening questionnaire online. It takes about two minutes, your answers stay on your own device, and it is a guide rather than a diagnosis.