Feeling restless - Healthdirect Australia

Restlessness may affect your mental state and be experienced as an inability to remain at rest, difficulty in concentrating, not being able to relax or ... PRINT SHARE shareviaFacebook shareviaTwitter shareviaEmail Thereisatotalof5errorsonthisform,detailsarebelow. Pleaseenteryourname Pleaseenteryouremail Youremailisinvalid.Pleasecheckandtryagain Pleaseenterrecipient'semail Recipient'semailisinvalid.Pleasecheckandtryagain AgreetoTermsrequired Thankyouforsharingourcontent.Amessagehasbeensenttoyourrecipient'semailaddresswithalinktothecontentwebpage. Yourname:isrequired Error:Thisisrequired Youremail:isrequired Error:Thisisrequired Error:Notavalidvalue Sendto:isrequired Error:Thisisrequired Error:Notavalidvalue Error:Thisisrequired IhavereadandagreetotheTermsofUseandPrivacyPolicyisrequired. Onthispage Whatcancauserestlessness? Self-helpforrestlessnessduetoanxietyordepression WherecanIgethelp? RelatedinformationonAustralianwebsites Everyonecanfeelrestlessandfidgetyfromtimetotime.However,whenrestlessnessisexperiencedmorefrequentlyandisaccompaniedbyothersymptomsitcaninterruptdailylifeandreduceaperson’squalityoflife. Restlessnessmayaffectyourmentalstateandbeexperiencedasaninabilitytoremainatrest,difficultyinconcentrating,notbeingabletorelaxorbeingconstantlyuneasy.Itmayalsobesomethingthataffectsyouphysically,suchasinrestlesslegssyndrome. Whatcancauserestlessness? Occasionalrestlessnesscanbepartofnormallife,butwhenitisexperiencedoften,restlessnessmaybeafeatureofamedicalcondition. Conditionsthatmaycauserestlessness Someconditionsthatmayfeaturerestlessnessasasymptominclude: depression—ifyouaredepressed,youmayfeelangry,irritable,orrestless bipolardisorder—restlessnessandfeelingonedgecanbeassociatedwithepisodesofmaniaorhypomania,andalsowithdepressiveepisodes anxiety—peoplewhohaveananxietyconditioncanfeelrestlessandtense attentiondeficithyperactivitydisorder(ADHD)—restlessnessandfidgetingaresymptomsofhyperactivityinADHD dementia—peoplewithdementiamayexperience‘sundowning’,wheretheybecomerestlessinthelateafternoonandevening;dementiacanalsocauseagitation,whichcanshowitselfasrepetitivetalkingandaskingquestions,orpacing hyperthyroidism—wherethethyroidglandisoveractive–cancausesymptomsofrestlessness,nervousnessandirritability restlesslegssyndrome—thiscausesanunpleasanturgetomovethelegstorelievediscomfort,usuallyintheevenings,oftenaffectingsleep alcoholwithdrawal—detoxingfromalcohol(ifyouhavedevelopedadependenceonit)cancausesymptomsincludingrestlessnessandagitation illicitdrugwithdrawal—restlessnessandirritabilitycanresultfromwithdrawalfromsomeillicitdrugs. (Alwaysdiscusswithdrawalfromalcoholordrugswithyourdoctorfirst.Sideeffectsmaybesevereandyoumayneedsupportormedicalsupervision.) Medicinesthatmaycauserestlessness Somemedicinesmaycauseakathisia,adistressingsyndromethatfeaturesrestlessness.Withakathisia,theaffectedpersonisunabletostaystill.Theymayshuffletheirfeetandmarchonthespot.Akathisiaisveryupsettingandcancausesuicidalthoughts. Akathisiacanbeasideeffectofseveraltypesofmedicines,includingsomeantipsychoticsandsomeantiemetics(medicinestostopyoufeelingsick). Ifyouorsomeoneyoucareforisexperiencingsuicidalthoughtscalltriplezero(000)orgotoyournearestemergencydepartment. Ifyouthinkamedicineiscausingyourrestlessness,speaktoyourdoctororpharmacistforadvice.Theremaybeanalternativemedicinethatdoesnothavethatsideeffect. Self-helpforrestlessnessduetoanxietyordepression Ifyourrestlessnessisimpactingonyourdaytodaylife,seeyourdoctor.Whetherthecauseismedicalorpsychological,theycanhelpyouaccessappropriatehelp. Ifyourrestlessnessisasymptomofanxietyordepression,inadditiontogettingprofessionalhelpfromyourdoctororamentalhealthprofessional,theremaybesomethingsyoumaybeabletodoyourselftoimproveyoursymptoms. Tohelpyoucopewithfeelingsofrestlessnessorirritability,trysomeofthefollowingtips. Meditate—meditationcantrainthemindtoignoreimpulsesandenableyoutostaycalmerandfocusedduringperiodsofanxietyorstress.Mindfulnesscanreducestressandhelpyoutomanagedepressionandanxiety. Trybreathingexercises—theycanreducestressandimprovesymptomsofanxietyanddepression Talktoyourfamily,friendsandworkcolleagues—don’tbottleupyouremotions.Ifyouhaveanissuewithsomeone,trytodealwithitstraightawaysoyou’renotstewingoveritandcausingyourselfunnecessarystress. Cryifyouneedto—somepeoplefinditcanmakethemfeelbetter.Don’tfeelembarrassed.Cryingmayeasepressureandtension. Eatabalanceddiet—apoordietcanincreasefeelingsofanxietyanddepression. Getenoughsleep—sleepiscloselylinkedtoyourmentalhealth. Noticeyourfeelings—beawareofchangesinyourmoodsandthoughtsandtakenoteofanythingthatmakesyoufeelgoodorbad. Taketimeforyourself—evenifit’sonlyhalfanhour—eachday.Gosomewherequietandrelax,goforawalk,ordosomethingyouenjoy. Stayactiveandexercise—joinagroupexerciseclasslikeyogaorpilates,ordoyourownclassathomeusingarentedDVDoronlinesession.Exercisecanhelpyoutorelaxandsleepbetter.Justgoingforawalkordoing5minutesofyogaorstretchingathomecanberelaxing.Gettingoutsideinthefreshairandsunlightcanhelptoregulateyourmood. Dosomethingenjoyable—haveyourfriendsaround,watchamovie,ordosomethingelsethat’sfuntolightenyourmood. Avoidalcoholanddrugs—thesecanhaveanegativeimpactonyourmentalhealth. WherecanIgethelp? Ifyouneedhelp,talkingtoyourdoctorisagoodplacetostart. Yourdoctorcanhelpyoubycreatingamentalhealthtreatmentplan,ifnecessary.Medicarerebatesareavailableforsessionswithmentalhealthprofessionals.Yourdoctorcanalsoprescribemedicinesfordepressionoranxiety,ifappropriate. Itcanbehardtotakethefirststepofreachingouttoyourdoctor—herearesometipsfortalkingtoyourdoctoraboutmentalhealth. Allconversationswithyourdoctorareprivateandtheywillkeepyourhealthinformationconfidential. FINDAHEALTHSERVICE—TheServiceFindercanhelpyoufinddoctors,pharmacies,hospitalsandotherhealthservices. ASKYOURDOCTOR—Preparingforanappointment?UsetheQuestionBuilderforgeneraltipsonwhattoaskyourGPorspecialist. Ifyou’dliketofindoutmoreortalktosomeoneelse,herearesomeorganisationsthatcanhelp: MindSpot(anyonesufferingfromanxietyordepression)—call1800614434. BeyondBlue(anyonefeelingdepressedoranxious)—call1300224636orchatonline. BlackDogInstitute(peopleaffectedbydepressionandextrememoodswings)—onlinehelp. Lifeline(anyoneexperiencingacrisisorthinkingaboutsuicide)—call131114orchatonline. SuicideCallBackService(anyonethinkingaboutsuicide)—call1300659467. ReachOut(onlinementalhealthservicesforyoungpeopleandtheirparents) Headspace(mentalhealthinformation,groupchat,andonlinecommunities SANEAustralia(mentalhealthinformation,peersupportandcounsellingsupport) MensLineAustralia(telephoneandonlinecounsellingservice) AboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderresources Headspace(Yarnsafe-Mentalhealthandwellbeing) BeyondBlue(AboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderpeople) Learnmorehereaboutthedevelopmentandqualityassuranceofhealthdirectcontent. Lastreviewed:September2021 BackToTop Relatedpages Facingfears Searchoursitefor Relaxation RestlessLegsSyndrome Depression AttentionDeficitDisorder BipolarDisorder AnxietyDisorders CognitiveTherapy Hypochondria Serotonin PostnatalDepression Generalsearchresults Resultsformedicalprofessionals Topresults Relaxationexercises Relaxationtechniquescanhelptorelaxthemindandbodyandalsomanagesomeofthesymptomsofanxietyanddepression. ReadmoreonBeyondBluewebsite Stressmanagementforteens-ReachOutParents Relaxationtechniquescanbeaneffectivestressmanagementforteensinthemomentandoverthelong-term. ReadmoreonReachOut.comwebsite 5waystodeclutteryourmind|Relaxation|ReachOutAustralia Havingaclutteredmindcanmakeyoufeelstressed,anxiousandoverwhelmed.Checkout5ofthebestwaystodeclutteryourmind. ReadmoreonReachOut.comwebsite Calmingtechniques–breathingtraining Guidetoasimplebreathingtechniquethatcanhelpyouremaincalmduringtimesofanxietyorstress. ReadmoreonWAHealthwebsite Anxiety&howtodealwithit:parents|RaisingChildrenNetwork It’simportanttodealwithanxietyifitinterfereswithhealth,dailylifeorrelationships.Relaxationtechniquescanhelp,ascanprofessionalsupport. Readmoreonraisingchildren.net.auwebsite Whatismindfulness?|MensLineAustralia Mindfulnessmeans‘beingpresent’&givingyourfullattentiontothemoment.LearnhowtopracticemindfulnesswithMensLineAustralia. ReadmoreonMensLineAustraliawebsite PsychologicalTreatmentsforBladderandBowelAnxieties PsychologicalTreatmentsforBladderandBowelAnxieties:Abriefoutlineofpsychologicalinterventionsthatareusedtotreatbladder&bowelanxieties ReadmoreonMindovergut.comwebsite Mindfulness Mindfulnessisamentalandphysicaltechniqueyoucanusetofocusyourawarenessonthepresentmoment.Beinginthemomenthelpsyouacknowledge,a... ReadmoreonSANEAustraliawebsite Mindfulness-BasedCBTCourseforAnxiety&Depression|THISWAYUP Learnmindfulnessandcognitivebehaviouralstrategiesformanagingsymptomsofanxietyanddepressionwithourclinically-provenonlinecourse. ReadmoreonThisWayUpwebsite Howmindfulnesscanhelpduringthecoronavirusoutbreak Inthisarticle,providedbySmilingMind,welookathowmindfulnesscanhelpduringthecoronavirusoutbreak ReadmoreonBeyondBluewebsite Showmore Topresults Meditationtherapyforanxietydisorders|Cochrane Authors'conclusions: Thesmallnumberofstudiesincludedinthisreviewdonotpermitanyconclusionstobedrawnontheeffectivenessofmeditationtherapyforanxietydisorders ReadmoreonCochrane(AustralasianCentre)website Relaxationfordepression|Cochrane Authors'conclusions: Relaxationtechniquesweremoreeffectiveatreducingself-rateddepressivesymptomsthannoorminimaltreatment ReadmoreonCochrane(AustralasianCentre)website TheHealthBenefitsofMeditation|Ausmed Meditation,whichdescribedbyBetterHealthChannelasthe‘focusingofattentiontobringaboutfeelingsofcalmandheightenedenergyandawareness’,canhelptoreduceanxietyandstress.Itiswidelyunderstoodtoprovidearangeofhealthbenefits. ReadmoreonAusmedEducationwebsite Restlesslegssyndrome|AustralianPrescriber Restlesslegssyndromeiscommon.Whilemanypatientsaresimplyinconvenienced,otherssuffergreatlyfromwakefulnessanddisturbedsleep. ReadmoreonAustralianPrescriberwebsite Exerciseforpreventingandtreatinganxietyanddepressioninchildrenandyoungpeople|Cochrane Authors'conclusions: Whilstthereappearstobeasmalleffectinfavourofexerciseinreducingdepressionandanxietyscoresinthegeneralpopulationofchildrenandadolescents,thesmallnumberofstudiesincludedandtheclinicaldiversityofparticipants,interventionsandmethodsofmeasurementlimittheabilitytodrawconclusions ReadmoreonCochrane(AustralasianCentre)website Anxiety-Orygen,RevolutioninMind Orygenistheworld’sleadingresearchandknowledgetranslationorganisationfocusingonmentalill-healthinyoungpeople. ReadmoreonOrygenwebsite Mind-bodyinterventionsduringpregnancyforpreventingortreatingwomen'sanxiety|Cochrane Authors'conclusions: Mind-bodyinterventionsmightbenefitwomen’sanxietyduringpregnancy ReadmoreonCochrane(AustralasianCentre)website GAD|CRUfAD CONTACTUSURGENTCAREAboutUsOurResearchForPatientsForCliniciansSelectPageGeneralisedAnxietyDisorderGeneralizedAnxietyDisorderPages266-269fromtheManagementofMentalDisorders,publishedbyWorldHealthOrganization,Sydney ReadmoreonCRUfAD–ClinicalResearchUnitforAnxietyandDepressionwebsite Factsheets-Orygen,RevolutioninMind Orygenistheworld’sleadingresearchandknowledgetranslationorganisationfocusingonmentalill-healthinyoungpeople. ReadmoreonOrygenwebsite ASummaryofAnxiety|Ausmed AnxietyreferstoagroupofdisordersthatarecollectivelythemostcommonmentalhealthconditioninAustralia.Everypersonexperiencesanxietythroughouttheirlives,butforsome,anxietyisconstant,overwhelmingandinterfereswiththeirabilitytogoabouttheirdailylife. 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Relatedpages Facingfears Searchoursitefor Relaxation RestlessLegsSyndrome Depression AttentionDeficitDisorder BipolarDisorder AnxietyDisorders CognitiveTherapy Hypochondria Serotonin PostnatalDepression Symptomchecker Worriedaboutyourhealth?Selectasymptom,answersomequestions,getadvice. StartYourSymptomCheck servicecategory Findahealthservice Pleaseenterasuburborpostcodeofyourlocationandselectfromthelist. Unabletofindyourlocation.Pleaseentermanuallybelow. Locationnotfound. GP(Generalpractice) Pharmacy EmergencyDepartments Hospitals Needmoreservices? enteralocation Pleaseenterasuburborpostcodeofyourlocationandselectfromthelist. Unabletofindyourlocation.Pleaseentermanuallybelow. Locationnotfound. 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