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Anxiety disorders

Anxiety is basically a normal bodily reaction that enables us to deal with threats. An anxiety disorder occurs when anxiety becomes so intense and frequent that it interferes with everyday functioning. Treatments with good results are available.

Anxiety in children and young people - Read more at helsenorge.no

Anxiety disorders - Read more at helsenorge.no

Phobias - Read more at helsenorge.no

Health anxiety - Read more at helsenorge.no

Panic disorder - Read more at helsenorge.no

Social anxiety disorder (social phobia) - Read more at helsenorge.no

Symptoms

Anxiety disorders is a collective term for mental disorders characterised by anxiety or fear. Some anxiety disorders are associated with specific objects or situations (phobic anxiety), being critically judged by others (social anxiety), or becoming ill (health anxiety). Anxiety disorders can be characterised by persistent worries, restlessness, agitation and irritability (generalised anxiety). Anxiety can also occur as sudden attacks with intense physical reactions (panic disorder).

Different anxiety disorders

Different anxiety disorders have many features in common, but also some distinctive characteristics:
 
  • With social anxiety disorder, people fear situations in which they risk being subjected to other people's critical scrutiny and being judged as nervous, weak or stupid.
  • Panic disorder is characterised by sudden attacks of intense fear that something terrible will happen, accompanied by severe physical discomfort and persistent fear of further attacks.
  • Some people also develop agoraphobia, with an intense fear of leaving home and being in public places, such as cinemas, shopping centres, buses and trains, where it is difficult to get away quickly.
  • Generalised anxiety disorder is characterised by feeling anxious much of the time, constantly worrying about bad things that might happen, and feeling restless and agitated.
  • Health anxiety or hypochondria is a persistent and debilitating fear of having, or developing, a serious illness.
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder occurs as a consequence of extremely frightening events, such as disasters, serious accidents, abuse and rape. The threat is relived as intrusive and distressing memories and intense physical arousal.
A key feature of anxiety disorders is the development of avoidance behaviour, in which people avoid places or situations they believe will trigger their anxiety. Avoidance is one reason the anxiety persists, and it is the biggest obstacle to the person's everyday functioning.
 
 

Typical characteristics

Anxiety is characterised by specific bodily reactions and thought patterns.
 
  • Bodily reactions: Increased heart rate, palpitations, tension, trembling, sweating and rapid breathing. An anxiety attack may be accompanied by dizziness, spots before the eyes, nausea, a sense of unreality, numbness and chest pain. These reactions are harmless, but frightening.
  • Thought patterns: There is a connection between thoughts, physical arousal and feelings of anxiety. Thoughts can cause anxiety, increase it and help maintain it. A stream of worrying thoughts can keep the body stressed and create a sense of danger and lack of control. Catastrophic thoughts are frightening thoughts about being unable to cope with a situation or something being seriously wrong with the body, for example, “I’m going to faint!” or “I’m making a fool of myself!”

 

Referral and assessment

To receive treatment from specialist health services, you need a referral. It is usually your GP who refers you for assessment and treatment, but other healthcare professionals can also make a referral. Based on the referral and the prioritisation guide “Mental health care for adults”, we will assess whether you are entitled to treatment from specialist health services.

Assessment

To provide good treatment, it is important to assess the problems and difficulties for which you are seeking help. The assessment takes the form of conversations and the use of various assessment tools. Your thoughts and opinions about which measures are best suited to you should be given considerable weight. Your therapist should listen to what you have to say, and your views should be taken seriously.

Your doctor should first have investigated whether your anxiety symptoms are caused by a physical illness or medication side effects. The assessment consists of conversations with your therapist, focusing on the following points:

  • The duration, intensity and extent of the anxiety symptoms, and the situations in which they occur
  • Possible links between anxiety symptoms and your life situation
  • Previous anxiety symptoms and treatment
  • Previous stressful experiences and traumatic events
  • Use of medication
  • Catastrophic thoughts, feelings and behaviour patterns in anxiety-provoking situations
  • Symptoms of other mental disorders, such as depression
  • Use of intoxicating substances
  • Level of physical activity
  • Problems in your private life, studies or work
  • Personal resources and opportunities for support from others
  • Whether you have children and whether they currently have any special needs that should be addressed
 
Based on the assessment, your therapist should be able to make a diagnosis. Together, you will agree on a treatment plan based on the type and extent of the anxiety, its triggers, and factors that maintain the problems.



Treatment

Treatment for anxiety usually consists of a combination of different measures. An important principle of anxiety treatment is that you gradually learn to expose yourself to and cope with anxiety-provoking situations. This means that you take an active part in planning and carrying out your own treatment.
 
Treatment takes place individually or in a group, or through online treatment. If needed, family members can take part in some parts of the treatment.

The most common elements of treatment are:

  • Information about anxiety: What happens in the body, and why? The links between anxiety and thought patterns, such as persistent worry or catastrophic thinking. Behaviours that can help maintain anxiety, such as avoidance. The relationship between past and ongoing life stressors and anxiety disorders.
  • Advice on managing persistent and intrusive worry, increasing tolerance of uncertainty and developing problem-solving skills.
  • Help with planning and carrying out anxiety exposure training, and learning practical coping strategies.
  • Conversations about understanding and managing stress and problems in everyday life.
  • Working through any stressors and trauma that may have contributed to the anxiety disorder, for example, having been bullied.
  • Assessment of medication treatment, with clear information about the medication you are offered.
  • Possible offer of an anxiety management course, online treatment or 4-day treatment.
 
Participation in working life gives everyday life meaning and structure, leaving less room for passivity, worry and rumination. Long-term sick leave may therefore be unhelpful both for anxiety disorders and depression.
 

 

Follow-up

After you have completed treatment with us in the specialist health service, you may benefit from follow-up by your GP and other primary health care professionals. A useful tool here is a relapse prevention plan, with points outlining specific things you can do, based on your own experience of what helps.
 
If needed, your primary care provider can consult us for professional advice. You can also discuss the possibility of a new referral if this becomes relevant.
Last professionally updated 19.04.2023

Contact

  • Contact Psychiatric Hospital Department, Arendal

    Dydens vei 22, Arendal

    Dydens vei 22

    Dydens vei 22, 4838 Arendal

    Getting here

    Transport

    You can reach our locations by public transport. Visit Agder public transport to find your route:akt.no

    You may be entitled to reimbursement of necessary expenses when travelling to and from your place of treatment.

    As a general rule, you should use public transport, and you will have to pay a co-payment. To get reimbursed for travel expenses you have paid, you must complete a travel expense claim form and send it toPatient Travel.

    Practical information

    Is your appointment inconvenient? If you receive your appointment letter digitally on helsenorge.no, you can now send a direct message to the department you are due to visit if you need a new appointment time. You must be a registered user on Helsenorge to access the service.
    You can also contact the department where you have an appointment or call the switchboard on: 38 07 30 00
    ​

    Children and young people are affected when someone in the family is ill, and need to understand what is happening. You may be a patient yourself, a next of kin, or a parent of sick children who have siblings. We at the hospital will help ensure that the children and young people in your family are well cared for.

    Children as next of kin

    Many patients and next of kin want to take photos/videos or blog about their time in hospital. This is of course permitted, as long as you respect the privacy of other patients and staff.

    Here are a couple of good tips for using social media if you are a patient or next of kin:

    • Be considerate of others. You must have consent if you want to take photos or videos of patients or staff. All patients are entitled to privacy while in hospital.
    • Parents/guardians decide whether you can take photos of children or publish photos of their children online. Parents should consider what is best for the child. Once the child has turned 12, their views must be given considerable weight. Once the child has turned 15, they decide for themselves whether they are happy to be photographed and whether the photos may be published.
    • Remember that staff must also give their permission if you want to publish photos you have taken of them.
    • You should remove content you have published if the person concerned asks you to. If someone has posted pictures of you online without your permission, you can ask them to delete them. If they do not comply, you can contact: www.slettmeg.no.

    Audio recording
    It is not illegal to record conversations in which you are a participant for private use. However, publishing and sharing the recording requires the consent of the person you are speaking with. Secretly recording conversations in which you do not participate is illegal.

    The parking spaces at Sørlandet Hospital are subject to a fee Monday to Friday, 08:00–20:00. Anyone wishing to park on hospital grounds must follow the signs and instructions on the payment machines.

    At the hospitals in Arendal and Kristiansand, you can pay for parking with EasyPark (mobile app) or by card at other locations. Check the signs for payment options and time limits.

    At the hospital in Kristiansand, you can register your parking via the EasyPark app, at the machine where you park, or on the Flowbird website.

    Register payment on the website

    Overview of parking spaces at Eg in Kristiansand
     

    At the hospital in Arendal, cameras read vehicles’ registration numbers as they enter and leave the parking garage through the Autopay service. Follow the signs and read the instructions.

    Pay at the payment machine

    If you have not created a profile onAutopay.io, you can pay at the machine by the main entrance. Enter the vehicle’s registration number. You can pay by card.

    Pay automatically

    Register as a customer with your registration number and bank card at www.autopay.io. Once registered, you will pay automatically every time you park in the garage.

    At certain times, for example when there is a lot of snow, it may be difficult to find a parking space. We therefore recommend that you allow plenty of time.

    For electric cars:

    Electric cars are charged from the first hour.

    Do you need to charge your car? Not all of our hospital sites have charging stations, and those that do have a limited number. You therefore cannot count on being able to charge your car while you are here as a patient or visitor. You can see all charging stations here:

    All charging stations on one map - Norwegian EV Association​

    Blood donors can park for free at the hospital.
    For more information, please contact the blood bank.


    Parents/guardians of children (under 18) with a hospital stay of more than 14 daysare entitled to free parking for the remainder of the child’s stay. This also applies if the child’s stay begins at another hospital. Contact the hospital department for more information.

    A valid disability parking permit entitles you to free parking in designated spaces
    Please contact the Service Desk to register your disability parking permit. Vehicles displaying a disability parking permit are exempt from time limits unless otherwise indicated on the sign.

    Parking for expectant mothers in Kristiansand
    Free parking is available for expectant mothers outside the Women’s Department at the hospital in Kristiansand. The maximum parking time is 2 hours.

    Smoking can cause discomfort to others. Thank you for being considerate and helping Sørlandet Hospital maintain a smoke-free environment.

    Do you need someone to talk to? Our hospital chaplains have extensive experience supporting people in various life situations. They meet you on your terms, regardless of your faith, beliefs or outlook on life. The hospital chaplains are available around the clock, every day of the week, for patients, relatives and staff.

    Would you like to get in touch? You can ask hospital staff to help you or call the switchboard on: 38 07 30 00.

    The hospital chaplains can also put you in touch with other faith and belief communities.

    If you need an interpreter, please notify the hospital well in advance of your appointment. The cost of the interpreter is covered by the health service.Helsenorge.no

    Patients not fluent in Norwegian are entitled to an interpreter.Helsenorge.no/interpreter

    All visitors can use the hospital’s free wireless internet.

    Look for HSO-Gjest in your network list and follow the login instructions.

    If you cannot find the network, you are in an area that has not yet been covered.

  • Contact the Psychiatric Hospital Department, Kristiansand
    Nybygg psykisk helse inngangsparti i grønne omgivelser. Foto.

    Andreas Kjærsvei 93

    Andreas Kjærsvei 93

    Andreas Kjærsvei 93, 4615 Kristiansand

    Getting here

    Transport

    You can reach our locations by public transport. Visit Agder public transport to find your route:akt.no

    You may be entitled to reimbursement of necessary expenses when travelling to and from your place of treatment.

    As a general rule, you must use public transport and pay a user fee. To claim reimbursement for travel expenses you have paid, you must complete a travel expense claim form and send it toPatient Travel.

    Practical information

    Is the appointment inconvenient? If you receive your appointment letter digitally through helsenorge.no, you can now send a direct message to the department you are visiting if you need to reschedule. You must be a registered user of Helsenorge to access this service.
    You can also contact the department where you have an appointment or call the switchboard on: 38 07 30 00
    ​

    Children and young people are affected when someone in the family is ill, and need to understand what is happening. You may be a patient or a relative, or a parent of a sick child who has siblings. At the hospital, we will help ensure that the children and young people in your family are well cared for.

    Children as next of kin

    Many patients and relatives want to take photos/videos or blog about their time in hospital. You are of course welcome to do so, provided you respect the privacy of other patients and staff.

    Here are a few useful tips on using social media if you are a patient or relative:

    • Be considerate of others. You must have consent to take photos or videos of patients or staff. All patients are entitled to privacy while in hospital.
    • Parents/guardians decide whether you may take photos of children or publish pictures of their children online. Parents should consider what is best for the child. Once the child has turned 12, their views should be given considerable weight. Once the child has turned 15, they decide for themselves whether they may be photographed and whether the photos may be published.
    • Remember that staff must also give their permission if you want to publish photos you have taken of them.
    • You should remove content you have published if the person concerned asks you to. If someone has posted photos of you online without permission, you can ask them to delete them. If they do not comply, you can contact: www.slettmeg.no.

    Audio recording
    It is not illegal to record conversations in which you take part for private use. However, publishing and sharing recordings requires the consent of the person you are speaking with. Secretly recording conversations in which you do not participate is illegal.

    Have you worked in the healthcare sector or received healthcare outside the Nordic countries during the past year?

    This may include, for example, a hospital admission, extensive outpatient treatment or a visit to the dentist. In such cases, your GP must test you for bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics (such as MRSA).

    Ask your GP to send you the test results before your appointment with us and bring them with you when you come to the hospital.

    Parking at Sørlandet Hospital is subject to a fee Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 20:00. Everyone wishing to park on hospital grounds must follow the signs and instructions on the payment machines.

    At the hospitals in Arendal and Kristiansand, you can pay for parking using EasyPark (a mobile app) or by card at other locations. Check the signs for payment options and time limits.

    At the hospital in Kristiansand, you can register your parking using the EasyPark app, at the machine where you park, or on the Flowbird website.

    Register payment on the website

    Map of parking areas at Eg in Kristiansand
     

    At the hospital in Arendal, cameras read vehicle registration numbers as vehicles enter and leave the car park, using the Autopay service. Follow the signs and read the instructions.

    Pay at the payment machine

    If you have not created a profile onAutopay.io, you can pay at the machine by the main entrance. Enter your vehicle registration number. You can pay by card.

    Pay automatically

    Register as a customer using your registration number and bank card at www.autopay.io. Once registered, you will be charged automatically each time you park in the car park.

    At certain times, for example when there is heavy snowfall, it can be difficult to find a parking space. We therefore recommend that you arrive in good time.

    For electric cars:

    Electric cars are charged from the first hour.

    Need to charge your car? Not all our hospital sites have charging stations, and those that do have a limited number. You should therefore not count on being able to charge your car while you are inside as a patient or visitor. You can view all charging stations here:

    All charging stations on one map - Norwegian EV Association​

    Blood donors can park at the hospital free of charge.
    Contact the blood bank for more information.


    Parents/guardians of children (under 18) who are staying in hospital for more than 14 dayscan park for free for the remainder of the child’s stay. This also applies if the child’s stay begins at another hospital. Contact the hospital department for more information.

    A valid disabled parking permit entitles you to free parking in designated spaces.
    Contact the Service Desk to register your disabled parking permit. Vehicles displaying a disabled parking permit are exempt from time limits unless otherwise indicated on the sign.

    Parking for expectant mothers in Kristiansand
    Parking is free for expectant mothers outside the Women’s Department at the hospital in Kristiansand. The maximum parking time is 2 hours.

    Smoking can cause discomfort to others. Thank you for being considerate and helping to keep Sørlandet Hospital smoke-free.

    Need someone to talk to? Our hospital chaplains have extensive experience supporting people in different life situations. They will meet you on your terms, regardless of your faith, beliefs or outlook on life. Hospital chaplains are available 24 hours a day, every day of the week, for patients, next of kin and staff.

    Would you like to get in touch? You can ask hospital staff for help or call the switchboard on 38 07 30 00.

    Hospital chaplains can also put you in touch with other faith and belief communities.

    If you need an interpreter, please notify the hospital well in advance of your appointment. The healthcare service covers the cost of the interpreter.Helsenorge.no

    Patients not fluent in Norwegian are entitled to an interpreter.Helsenorge.no/interpreter

    All visitors can use the hospital’s free wireless internet.

    Look for HSO-Gjest in your network settings and follow the login instructions.

    If you cannot find the network, you are in an area where it has not yet been installed.

TEST VERSION
Machine-translated copy of sshf.no for testing only. Not official information.