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Patients are seen in a hallway at the regional psycho-neurological hospital on the outskirts of Slovyanoserbsk, in a territory controlled by "Lugansk People's Republic" (LPR), eastern Ukraine, December 1, 2014. The Psycho-Neurological Hospital outside the village of Slovyanoserbsk is caught in the crossfire in separatist-held territory about 30 km (20 miles) northwest of the rebel stronghold of Luhansk and near the frontline. Medical workers say the head of the hospital was killed by a shell in Luhansk and about half the 180 staff have fled. There were 400 patients when fighting began, they say. Picture taken December 1, 2014. REUTERS/Antonio Bronic

A new survey of 700 people by BeyondBlue, a national initiative that creates awareness about anxiety and depression, showed that two out of five Australians believed that anxiety was not a personality trait but a mental condition. A total of 700 people were surveyed between the ages of 25 and 45 and they believed that the condition was not a treatable mental health condition and that it had to be taken seriously.

According to ABC News, 40 percent of the participants of the survey felt that anxiety was not a mental health issue but a personality trait. A majority of the participants disagreed.

According to Australian Bureau of Statistics and BeyondBlue, anxiety was a common mental health condition in the country and about one out of every four people were affected by it and almost 3 million people suffered from it. The chairman of BeyondBlue, Jeff Kennett, said that the organisation had ramped up the awareness campaign after the findings of the survey. He felt that creating awareness could help people in recognising the signs and symptoms of the condition.

Kennett, the former Victorian premier, said that it was amazing to see the number of people who believed that anxiety was part of one's personality when actually it was not. He added that it could be treated and cured and the most important point to remember was to seek help. He explained that he was not a mechanic and that if he knew his car had an issue, he would fix it and in a similar manner, if he recognised that he had a problem, he would seek help.

According to Kennett, there were six categories of anxiety, of which the better known ones was called post-traumatic stress which Armed Forces personnel usually suffered from. He added that the best thing to do was to seek help quickly.

Fatimah Abbouchi Del Cid, a 28-year-old woman, had her first panic attack 7 years ago while having dinner with her sister at a restaurant, reported Sydney Morning Herald. She said that she felt like she was going to do. A fellow diner, who was a doctor, told her that she could be having a panic attack. When she went to a hospital, the staff confirmed the diagnosis.

Most people fail to recognise the symptoms of an anxiety attack. Symptoms can include hot and cold flashes, compulsive behaviour and negative thoughts.

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