Essendon Private Clinic
Anxiety Treatment in Melbourne
If anxiety is affecting your everyday life, feels difficult to control, or the treatment you are receiving no longer feels like enough, there may be other options to explore.
Essendon Private Clinic provides personalised, psychiatrist-led mental health treatment through inpatient care and structured day programs in Melbourne.
Support is available whether you are looking for help yourself or are worried about someone you care about.
Returning to EPC? Request a call back →
Private mental health hospital in Essendon West, Melbourne
Psychiatrist-led care
Inpatient, day program and TMS pathways
What Can Anxiety Feel Like?
Anxiety is a normal response to uncertainty, stress or situations that feel threatening. For some people, however, worry or fear can become persistent and begin to interfere with everyday life.
- Feeling anxious or on edge much of the time
- Worrying about many different things
- Racing or repetitive thoughts, or feeling like your mind will not switch off
- Difficulty relaxing
- Problems sleeping or feeling tired
- Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
- Feeling irritable
- Physical feelings of tension or unease
- Avoiding situations that feel overwhelming
- Finding it harder to manage work, study, relationships or everyday responsibilities
Anxiety can also present in different ways, including panic disorder, social anxiety and phobias. These experiences can overlap, and you do not need to identify a specific type of anxiety before seeking support.
Not sure whether you need help?
You do not need to have all of the answers before asking about support.
Anxiety in Australia
Anxiety is common and can affect people from all walks of life.
17.2%
of Australians aged 16–85 experienced an anxiety disorder
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics
17.4%
of Victorians experienced an anxiety disorder
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics
3.8%
of Australians experienced generalised anxiety disorder
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics
When Anxiety Starts Affecting Everyday Life
The severity of anxiety is not simply about how many symptoms someone experiences. What matters is how much it is affecting everyday life and whether the support currently available is enough.
Anxiety may begin to affect sleep and physical wellbeing, work or study, relationships, confidence and independence, everyday responsibilities or participation in usual activities.
If anxiety is increasingly limiting day-to-day life, it may be worth discussing your treatment options with a health professional.
Anxiety Treatment Options in Melbourne at Essendon Private Clinic
Treatment depends on the type and severity of anxiety, how it is affecting your life and what treatment you may already have tried.
Inpatient Mental Health Care
Planned, psychiatrist-led care in a private hospital environment for people who may benefit from more structured mental health treatment.
Day Programs
Structured therapeutic programs that allow you to receive ongoing treatment while continuing to live at home.
TMS
A psychiatrist can assess your symptoms, diagnosis, medication and treatment history and discuss appropriate next steps.
Psychological therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) may form part of treatment, with medication considered depending on individual circumstances.
When Might Inpatient Treatment Be Considered?
A planned admission may be worth discussing when anxiety is having a significant effect on everyday functioning and a person needs more structured support than can currently be provided in the community.
This may include situations where:
- Current treatment is no longer providing enough support
- Anxiety is making it difficult to maintain normal routines or responsibilities
- Several mental health concerns are occurring together
- A treating psychiatrist or doctor recommends a more structured treatment environment
Admission to EPC is based on referral, assessment and clinical suitability. If you are unsure whether inpatient treatment may be appropriate, our Intake Team can explain the process and what information is required.
Inpatient Care Is Different From Emergency Care
EPC provides planned, private mental health treatment. We are not an emergency department and do not provide crisis or emergency care. If you are in immediate danger, please call 000 or present to your nearest emergency department.
Treating More Than the Anxiety
Anxiety can affect much more than how you feel in the moment. It can influence sleep, relationships, confidence, work, routines, physical wellbeing and the decisions you make every day.
EPC’s Whole-Person Recovery Model considers these different parts of recovery through three connected pillars — ESSENTIAL, EMPOWERED, ENGAGED.
ESSENTIAL
Build Safety & Stability
Support with overwhelming emotions, sleep and daily routines, grounding, practical coping skills and building stability.
SKILLS YOU MAY EXPLORE
- Managing anxiety and physical symptoms
- Sleep, routine and activity planning
- Grounding and coping strategies
Additional topics may be explored according to your individual needs.
EMPOWERED
Understand Your Emotions
Recognising unhelpful thinking patterns, behavioural activation, emotion regulation and building resilience.
SKILLS YOU MAY EXPLORE
- Recognising triggers and anxiety patterns
- Challenging unhelpful thinking patterns
- Building emotional regulation and skills
Additional topics may be explored according to your individual needs.
ENGAGED
Connect With What Matters
Rebuilding relationships, confidence, meaningful activities, purpose and plans for life beyond hospital.
SKILLS YOU MAY EXPLORE
- Returning to meaningful activities
- Building confidence with others
- Managing anxiety for the future
Additional topics may be explored according to your individual needs.
How To Get Started With Anxiety Treatment
1
Contact our Intake team
We’ll listen and answer your questions.
2
Referral and assessment
Your psychiatrist will review your needs.
3
Understand your treatment options
We’ll explain the options that may help.
4
Plan your treatment
Together, we’ll create your treatment plan.
Worried About Someone With Severe Anxiety?
Anxiety can also be difficult for family members and carers to understand — particularly when someone is withdrawing, struggling to function or their existing treatment does not appear to be helping.
Family members and carers can contact our Intake Team to ask about treatment options, referrals and the intake process.
Does Private Health Insurance Cover Treatment?
Coverage depends on the treatment, your health fund, and your individual policy.
We work with major health funds
Most major Australian private health funds are accepted for eligible admissions. Cover depends on your fund, policy and level of hospital cover.
Out-of-pocket costs
Excesses and out-of-pocket costs vary by policy and treatment. Intake can explain what information is needed so you can confirm costs before admission.
We can help explain your cover
The intake team can walk you through the funding process and what to check with your health fund, including waiting periods and eligibility.
Frequently Asked Questions About Anxiety Treatment
Is it normal to feel anxious all the time?
Everyone experiences anxiety sometimes. Anxiety that is persistent, difficult to control or significantly affects everyday activities may warrant assessment by a health professional.
What does generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) feel like?
People with GAD may experience ongoing worry about different areas of life, difficulty controlling that worry, tiredness, sleep problems, tension, restlessness and difficulty concentrating. Experiences vary between people.
What are the different types of anxiety?
Anxiety can present in different ways. Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) may involve persistent worry across different areas of life, while panic disorder can involve recurring panic attacks and fear of another attack. Social anxiety disorder involves significant anxiety in social situations, and phobias involve intense fear linked to a particular object, situation or experience.
These experiences can overlap, and a qualified health professional can assess what may be happening and discuss appropriate treatment options.
What treatments are available for anxiety?
Treatment depends on your symptoms and circumstances and may include psychological therapies, medication and more structured mental health treatment where appropriate.
What if therapy or anxiety medication isn't working?
If symptoms continue despite treatment, a psychiatrist can review your diagnosis, medications, therapies already tried and whether another treatment approach or level of care should be considered.
When should I see a psychiatrist for anxiety?
A psychiatric assessment may be useful when anxiety is severe, persistent, affecting everyday functioning, complicated by other mental health concerns or is not responding adequately to existing treatment.
When might inpatient treatment be considered for anxiety?
Inpatient treatment may be considered when anxiety is significantly affecting functioning, existing support is not enough, other mental health concerns are occurring or a treating clinician recommends more structured care. Inpatient care is not required for everyone experiencing anxiety.
Do I need a referral to Essendon Private Clinic?
A GP or psychiatrist referral is generally required for a private admission. If you do not have an admitting psychiatrist, contact intake to ask about the pathway.
Can a family member contact EPC about someone with anxiety?
Family members and carers can contact intake to ask about treatment options and the referral process. EPC still protects the privacy and shares information only in line with consent and legal requirements.
Does private health insurance cover inpatient anxiety treatment?
Cover and out-of-pocket costs vary by insurer, policy and admission. Intake can explain what information is needed; confirm benefits with your health fund before admission.
Is TMS used for anxiety?
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is not usually a first-line treatment for anxiety disorders. It is more commonly used for conditions such as depression, although research is continuing into its use for some anxiety-related conditions. If anxiety occurs alongside depression or other mental health concerns, a psychiatrist can assess whether TMS may be appropriate as part of an individual treatment plan.
Where is Essendon Private Clinic located?
Essendon Private Clinic is located at 35 Rosehill Road, Essendon West VIC 3040, in Melbourne’s north-west. Contact our Intake Team if you would like to ask about anxiety treatment options, referrals or how to access care.
You Don't Need to Diagnose Yourself Before Asking For Help
Reading about symptoms online can help you recognise that something may not be going well. It cannot determine why you are experiencing those difficulties or what treatment you need.
Our Intake Team can discuss your circumstances and explain available treatment options.
YOU DO NOT NEED EVERY ANSWER BEFORE YOU CALL
Talk to Intake About Admission
Send a short enquiry and the intake team can explain anxiety treatment options, referrals, costs and next steps.