Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Personality Style

Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Personality Style GAD Diagnosis Print Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Personality Style By William Meek Updated on October 01, 2019 Generalized Anxiety Disorder Overview Symptoms & Diagnosis Causes Treatment Living With In Children Kelly Knox/Stocksy United Anxiety and personality style are sometimes linked.  Anxiety can come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and flavors. Sometimes anxiety is like a little pinch that can propel you to do something youve been avoiding, and sometimes it can be an overwhelming crush of terror. But most of the time it is somewhere in between. There is an array of explanations for what  causes generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). One that gets overshadowed by biological explanations is that anxiety can be a learned style for how someone deals with feelings and the world. What Is Generalized Anxiety Disorder? Some people develop GAD as a child while others do not see symptoms until they are an adult. Either way, living with GAD can last a long time. In many cases, it occurs along with other anxiety or mood disorders. In most cases, it improves with medications or talk therapy (psychotherapy). Making lifestyle changes, learning coping skills and using relaxation techniques also can help. Symptoms of GAD GAD symptoms can include: Persistent worrying or obsession with small or large concerns thats out of proportion to the impact of the eventInability to set aside or let go of a worryInability to relax, restlessness, and feeling keyed up or on edgeDifficulty concentrating, or the feeling that your mind goes blankWorrying about excessively worryingDistress about making decisions for fear of making the wrong decisionCarrying every option in a situation all the way out to its possible negative conclusionDifficulty handling uncertainty or indecisiveness Physical signs and symptoms may include: FatigueIrritabilityMuscle tension or muscle achesTrembling, feeling twitchyBeing easily startledTrouble sleepingSweatingNausea, diarrhea or irritable bowel syndromeHeadaches Personality Style Although there may always be some biological/genetic influence in how psychological problems develop, exploring how a person first learned to deal with the world can also uncover contributing factors. If someone was taught either directly or indirectly that becoming anxious helps produce successful outcomes or is the default feeling to experience, anxiety could easily become part of a persons disposition in dealing with work, relationships, the future, etc. In this sense, anxiety can be thought of as a personality trait or even a personality style. Disguise for Other Feelings Anxiety can also often be experienced in place of other feelings. For most people, anxiety is part of experiencing fear. However, feelings that are uncomfortable or difficult to express can be transformed into anxiety. Three of the most common feelings that can be disguised by anxiety are anger, guilt, and grief. Many people struggle to absorb, process, express and understand these feelings and honor their intent (to express dislike, ask for forgiveness, accept a loss, etc.) In turn, they can become anxious about the same situations or things that may seem less deserving of attention (e.g. every detail of how an event will go). What Can Be Done People with these experiences, which include a subset of people with GAD, must look within themselves to see what real feelings exist and may be disguised by anxiety. They must also determine whether or not changing an uncomfortable part of their personality may be something to try. Both of these can become part of treatment for GAD, and you should ask your provider about these if they resonate with you. The 9 Best Online Therapy Programs

Sex Education And Sexual Education Essay - 1326 Words

Social trends, public health interest, politics, and various polemics have always affected the essence and teaching of sex education in the United States in different ways. Various sexual education methods exits, however comprehensive and abstinence-only programs are the most commonly know in public schools. Although many schools in the United States prefer to give an abstinence-only lecture, the results shown proof that these programs are ineffective because it simply does not fit the reality we live in, comprehensive sex education works better, and they do not offer honest nor accurate information about human sexuality. Providing information regarding development of the human body, sexuality, and sex relations is what sex education programs accomplish; communicating with young people and assist them into making the correct decisions regarding sex and their sexuality. Future of Sex Education explains that sex education should include information in relation to puberty, reproduction, preventing sexual violence, and gender individuality appropriate to the student’s level and cultural background. Sexual Education has been taught in schools for nearly thirty-five years; since then the abstinence-only programs have existed as well. Adolescent Family Life Act (AFLA) is known for being the originator of today’s abstinence-only-until-marriage programs which goals were to avoid prenuptial teenage pregnancy through self-restraint, encourage adoption among pregnant teenagers, and toShow MoreRelatedSex Education And Sexual Education1253 Words   |  6 Pagesteach sexual education classes, or teach abstinence education classes? Pregnancy rates in America are slowly decreasing, but are still extremely high. According to K. F. Stanger-Hall (2011), Pregnancy rates in America are more than double the rates of other countries with 72.2% per 1000 girls between the ages of 15-19 becoming pregnant. The best way to lower teen pregnancy is to teach about prevention in schools with sex education or abstinence classes. Teenagers need to learn about sex so thatRead MoreSex Education And Sexual Education991 Words   |  4 PagesCountless avenues shape our knowledge of sex; whether its teachers, parents, media, or other sources. At some point most individuals receive an account of sex education. These lessons, connections, and knowledge we acquire impact our ideas about sex. The subject of my interview, whom we’ll refer to as Jessica, was no exception. Jessica is a 21-year-old, who grew up in a small, conservative North Carolina town. The public schools she attended taught sex education from an abstinence perspective and usedRead MoreSex Education And Sexual Education884 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"After a while, sex became a reality. It’s a lot harder to abstain when you’re actually in the moment, faced with that decision† (Stevens). Individuals encounter the reality of coming face to face with the temptations of intercourse; over time it becomes harder to sustain from joining the system. Students devour lust, but do not know how to co ntrol themselves and sex education provides substantial advice. With this in mind, sex education provides preparedness, answers questions, and creates awarenessRead MoreSexual Education And Sex Education1762 Words   |  8 Pagesimportance of sexual education and describe differences and similarities in some of the research done on this topic. Having sexual education available to youth is the key in reducing the number of unwanted situations in the sexual health of the individuals. Teaching adolescents about sex is beneficial because they become aware of consequence that might follow specific actions. This is a chance to ensure adolescents take safer routes when deciding to become sexually active. Youth sexual education has beenRead MoreSexual Education And Sex Education1358 Words   |  6 PagesDo Not Have Sex, You Will Get Pregnant Die (Mean Girls) What if a rapist was coming at someone? Do kids know what to do besides lie on the ground and cry? What if a teenager had an unplanned pregnancy? Do they know their options about abortion or adoption or keeping the baby? Will young adults know the results of their choices? Sexual education teaches all of the following, and kids in the curriculum are more likely to defend themselves in a plot when they were approached by a stranger (â€Å"TeachingRead MoreSex Education And Sexual Education1632 Words   |  7 Pagessystems in the United states have been implementing sexual education into classrooms. Arguments are abundant when dealing with such fragile situations and there are many advantages and disadvantages of sexual education being taught in the public schools. It seems that most parents are either strongly for or against sex education classes, but there are a few parents that are on both sides. In fact, there are more parents that support sex education classes. However, there ar e pros and cons that mustRead MoreSex Education And Sexual Education1365 Words   |  6 PagesSex education is and always has been lacking in our country. An increase in sexual education would be greatly appreciated from almost everybody, especially with how high the sexually transmitted disease rate has raised in the past twenty years. Sex education can be used to teach young people how to have safe sex and show them the scary truths of sex that they are never taught otherwise. To lower STD rates and raise pregnancy awareness in younger people, schools and parents should be teaching childrenRead MoreSex Education And Sexual Education948 Words   |  4 Pagescomprehensive sex education taught in schools. One the other hand, the opponents believe that the reason for this decline is the sex education classes that teach about not having sex. Even when most schools are teaching abstinences only sex education about sixty-six percent of high school students says they are sexually active . Which concludes that the abstinences only sex education is not working and is not the proper way of teaching sex education in schools. Not teaching proper sex education may resultRead MoreSex Education And Comprehensive Sexual Education1609 Words   |  7 PagesLet s talk about sex. Stances on comprehensive sexual education vary, whether it be from religious beliefs or past experiences, different views are held throughout. It is in the interests of society in general... for every secondary school pupil to be in receipt of sexual education† (Cumper 16). The phrase ‘it’s better to be safe than sorry’ applies heavily on the topic of sex education, the idea of a pregnant and STD ridden 15 year old tends to frighten a million times more than the thought ofRead MoreSex Education : Comprehensive Sexual Education972 Words   |  4 PagesSex Education Comprehensive sexual education has long been a contentious issue within the United States of America. Owing largely to America’s history and culture, sexual education has long been stigmatized as unnecessary involvement in the private life, or even misattributed to rising rates of pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. A U.S. review article, however, poses the opposite argument – â€Å"The overwhelming weight of evidence reveals that sex education which discusses contraception

The Last Supper Essay - 910 Words

The Last Supper The Last Supper was a very powerful Biblical event, in which Jesus and his disciples gathered for one final dinner together. According to the Bible, important events took place during the Last Supper, including an announcement by Jesus that one of his disciples would betray him and the first communion. To artists in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, it was necessary to give proper deference to such notable occurrences. Both Leonardo da Vinci and Jacopo Robusti, known as Tintoretto, took upon the challenge of recreating the Last Supper. While Last Supper by da Vinci and Last Supper by Tintoretto are very similar in subject matter, they differ in composition, symbolism, and the choice of†¦show more content†¦Da Vinci has arranged the disciples into groups of three and tied all the groups together through their hand motions giving this piece a symmetrically aesthetic feeling. Your eye is taken on a journey through the oval-shaped composition of the piece, but it is clear that Jesus serves as the vital magnet. The Last Supper by Tintoretto is a beautiful Mannerist-style painting in which the painter creates a revolutionary type of composition. The piece’s surface plane now shoots in a diagonal motion and Jesus is noticeable only because of the light around his head. There is a feeling of unsure commotion throughout the figures as they lean into uncomfortable positions, such as the maid in the foreground. The figures also seem to blossom in light through a darkness of the background. The two brightest areas, Jesus and the light fixture, fight for the viewers attention and create a sense of uncertainty, perfecting what the Mannerist’s set out to accomplish. The use of symbolism in both Da Vinci’s and Tintoretto’s Last Supper is important to the interpretation of each piece. Da Vinci is the first known artist to place Judas, the disciple who betrays Jesus, on the same side of the table as Christ. This subtly symbolizes the trust that Jesus shared with his followers, and it is more realistic. By placing Christ in the center, as the focalShow MoreRelatedThe Last Supper By Sebastiano Ricci1234 Words   |  5 Pagesbring the joy. Fun in life or silence for the soul. In other words, painting is a language that communicates an artist s ideas and emotions based on the artist s painting techniques. The Last Supper by Sebastiano Ricci, an Italian artist, illustrates the biblical moment where Jesus and his disciples reunite for last time. Above all, the art’s balanced symmetry, composition, colors, and sharpness enhances the symbolic meaning of Ricci’s art work. Symmetry are often used in painting, although sometimesRead MoreAnalysis Of The Art Piece Name Yo Mama s Last Supper By Cox962 Words   |  4 PagesIn this essay I am going to conduct an â€Å"Australian Bushman† approach to analyze the art piece name Yo Mama’s Last Supper by Cox. Later on in the essay, I will include contextualization of the analysis. This art piece portrays a darker colored woman in the middle with twelve men sitting at the table, six men on each side. She is not wearing any sort of garments except for a simple white cloth around her spread out arms. All men are divided into three-men group based upon similar actions. The man immediateRead MoreThe Last Supper638 Words   |  3 PagesThe Last Supper, by Leonardo da Vinci, is one of the most famous works of art in the world. This painting represents the religious ceremony with Jesus Christ and his 12 disciples. This is the last meal that was shared between him and his disciples before his arrest and his untimely crucifixion. Leonardo was commissioned to execute the painting in the Dominican monastery of this Church by Duke of Milan, Ludovico Sforza. Leonardo da Vinci was an artist, scientist, architect, author, engineer, inventorRead MoreThe Last Supper2048 Words   |  9 PagesThe Last Supper – Research Essay The Last Supper is a religious scene in the Catholic bible, which tells the story of the last meal the night before the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. An important role in its religion, the Last Supper scene has been recreated by artists many times. These visual interpretations of the event generally show Jesus, surrounded by his disciples. During the meal, Jesus breaks the bread and serves the wine accompanied with the command â€Å"Take this all of you and eat it†¦ thisRead MoreWhat is The Eucharist?1467 Words   |  6 PagesPassover. The symbolism of both rituals is deeply entwined; we remember, give thanks, worship, and renew our covenant with God. Jesus instituted the Eucharist at the Last Supper. Although scholars are uncertain as to whether the Last Supper was the Passover meal, it â€Å"took place in the atmosphere of the Passover† . The Last Supper added a new dimension to the Jewish ritual meal, â€Å"in terms of what (or better who) was celebrated† . Jesus asked the disciples to â€Å"do this in memory of me† (1 Cor 11:24Read MoreThroughout The Bible, Jesus Is Known For Eating With The1458 Words   |  6 PagesJesus created a connection with the marginalized groups and spread the word of God. The last supper was the last meal that Jesus shared with his disciples before his crucifixion. In my essay, I will discuss the painting The Sacrament of the Last Supper by Salvador Dalà ­. I will discuss how the painting shows the divinity of Jesus, displays Jesus, and interprets the last supper. The Sacrament of the Last Supper by Salvador Dali is a large painting in the National Gallery of Art. In the painting thereRead MoreAssemblage Art And The Arts At Ohio State University968 Words   |  4 PagesMichael Smooke Collection, its name is The Last Supper. Though I didn’t learn about assemblage, I was exposed to the relevance of one of the most historically significant paintings by Leonardo da Vinci, The Last Supper. This late 15th-century painting is a religion icon and depicts Jesus Christ and his 12 disciples at their last supper before Jesus was sent off to get crucified. I believe the piece of art I analyzed was clearly inspired by Leonardo’s The Last Supper due to the same name and key similaritiesRead MoreThe Prayer Of An Ecumenical Worship1634 Words   |  7 Pagesin today’s context the bread and the wine are a way of honoring the sacrifice upon the cross. The gap between the human life experience from the Last Supper to a Communion is difficult to bridge. Some believe that the bread and wine are a literal representation of Christ’s body. Others partake of Communion as a way to recreate a version of the Last Supper. Not to say that is a wrong way of interpreting the bible, but that the practice fai ls to understand the historical-critical perspective of whatRead MoreRenaissance : The Last Supper1418 Words   |  6 Pagesthe forefront of the Renaissance and change in the European society. Leonardo Da Vinci, also named Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci, was one of the most famous of these Artists at this time, composing multiple pieces of art such as â€Å"The Last Supper.† â€Å"The Last Supper† by Leonardo Da Vinci is one of the most reproduced, fascinating, and elegant paintings from the Renaissance. The original is 15 by 29 feet large, but multiple reproductions have smaller dimensions to be more compatible for spaces in museumsRead MoreThe New American Standard Bible965 Words   |  4 PagesScripture quoted in this paper is from the New American Standard Bible (NASB), as it appears in the Comparative Study Bible, for the purpose of compliance with Bacone College’s Christian Ministry Degree program. The Lord’s Supper 14  ¶ When the hour had come, He reclined at the table, and the apostles with Him. 15 And He said to them, â€Å"I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; 16 for I say to you, I shall never again eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God

Scarcity of Water Free Essays

Water scarcity involves water stress, water deficits, water shortage and water crisis. The concept of water stress is relatively new. Water stress is the difficulty of obtaining sources of fresh water for use, because of depleting resources. We will write a custom essay sample on Scarcity of Water or any similar topic only for you Order Now Some have presented maps showing the physical existence of water in nature to show nations with lower or higher volumes of water available for use. Others have related water availability to population. A popular approach has been to rank countries according to the amount of annual water resources available per person. For example, according to the Falkenmark Water Stress Indicator a country or region is said to experience â€Å"water stress† when annual water supplies drop below 1,700 cubic metres per person per year. At levels between 1,700 and 1,000 cubic metres per person per year, periodic or limited water shortages can be expected. When water supplies drop below 1,000 cubic metres per person per year, the country faces â€Å"water scarcity† The United Nations’ FAO states that by 2025, 1. billion people will be living in countries or regions with absolute water scarcity, and two-thirds of the world population could be under stress conditionsThe World Bank adds that climate change could profoundly alter future patterns of both water availability and use,thereby increasing levels of water stress and insecurity, both at the global scale and in sectors that depend on waterAnother measurement, calculated as part of a wider assessment of water management in 2007,[6] aimed to rel ate water availability to how the resource was actually used. It therefore divided water scarcity into ‘physical’ and ‘economic’. Physical water scarcity is where there is not enough water to meet all demands, including that needed for ecosystems to function effectively. Arid regions frequently suffer from physical water scarcity. It also occurs where water seems abundant but where resources are over-committed, such as when there is overdevelopment of hydraulic infrastructure for irrigation. Symptoms of physical water scarcity include environmental degradation and declining groundwater. Water stress harms living things because every organism needs water to live. How to cite Scarcity of Water, Papers

Wild Land Fires free essay sample

A discussion of the mechanisms for coping with wild land fires in the U.S. This paper presents a detailed examination of wild land fires. Means of managing the fires, including controlled burns, the use of technology for pattern prediction and the development of protective gear are outlined. Americans have spent the last few months watching wild land fires burn out of control in several states. Arizona, California and Colorado have all been ravaged with devastating and extremely expensive fires that went out of control and destroyed homes, property and wildlife. While firefighters from across the nation rushed to aid the local firefighters in those areas, the public watched the coverage unfold on television news channels. Wild land fires can be devastating for many reasons. They not only cause financial devastation and property destruction but they interfere with the ecological process by destroying wildlife and plant life. This paper attempts to explore wild land fires and the steps that are being taken to lessen their damaging impact by getting them contained more quickly. We will write a custom essay sample on Wild Land Fires or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page

The case for real change

The case for real change Free Online Research Papers Change is everywhere and nothing in this world can remain untouched from it. In this article also the author talks about the change that takes place in the organizations and the end results of such change programs. To remain competitive it is a must for the modern day organization to undergo through many change programs from time and again. But to carry out the change programs effectively and efficiently is not that simple as it seems to be. Many times the change programs fail to deliver the end result that had been intended. Here the author raises the question that why the change programs fail to deliver the end result that had been intended previously. And to address this issue the author has presented some few key practices that will facilitate in guiding a change program based on his experience as a coach and facilitator of many change programs. The issue that the author has raised here is very important one because as change programs have so much importance in the very existence of a company and so if the change programs fails to deliver good results than the organization would be on the back foot. From the various data that are available it is a well known fact that most of the change program does not deliver what was intended from it. So from this point of view this article is very important for those people who are directly or indirectly involved in carrying out a change program. In an attempt to address the issue raised in the article to some extent the author has suggested five activities that lead to a change program being an ineffective one. Firstly he writes that people create too much hype about the change program but later fail to deliver according to the hype created. The author here does not mean that it’s a bad thing to hype something before it has been initiated but it only becomes a problem when the hype is not followed by certain actions. The author is right here when he says that, lets hype the actions we are actually taking, not just our intensions and plans. Then in the next point the author mentions that the action that are going to be carried out must be accordance to the advertisement of that particular task. The author raises a valid point that no any action should be talked in loud voice until and unless it is actually carried out. Another reason the author cites for the change program to fail is the fact that a lot of time is wasted on endless meetings and forming committees rather than actually thinking towards accomplishing the change program. Another important thing mentioned in the article is that there should be made changes in the senior leadership as and when require. If some young and dynamic person is willing to explore far beyond the boundaries, s/he should be given the opportunity to do so. Leadership plays one of the most important roles in the accomplishment of the change program. We know that those that did best at change programs the top management were more involved. So letting people who are more likely to become good leaders come in the frame of things would be a good thing with respect to the change program. Another mistake that most of the time spoils the change initiative is not involving the customers in the process. Ultimately no matter how good the leader may be or how well the change program has been carried out but ultimately the success and failure of the program remains in the market itself. And by market we mean the customers. So if the customers don’t accept the change then it would be of no use. It would be better to involve the customers early in the change program rather than be sorry when the program fails to deliver the intended result. The author presents the example of Unilever case from which the above mentioned points seems to be really important one. The case talks about the success story of the Asia hair category team. And the author credits this success to the factors that he talks about in the beginning. Here the author does a good job by presenting a real case to support his argument. After going through the case of Unilever it becomes quite clear that for any change program to be effective one needs to focus on its customers and market place, very little must be hyped and the action must be decisive, and leaders should not be kept constant. The author at the last part of the article talks about the importance of relationship and communication in the change program. According to the author how much we talk about the importance of various things for a change program to be successful but ultimately it’s the quality of communication as well as the level of relationship that eventually matters. After going through the article I found that the author is quite experienced in the subject matter that he is trying to deal in the case. The author must be congratulated for the input he has delivered on the subject matter. But still there are certain gaps that do exist in the article. The five elements that the author mentions that are important for making effective decision on change program is presented in a well organized manner. But the author has not clearly mentioned that is these elements equally applicable for all types of organization or is it for a manufacturing company only. In the article also the author only mentions examples of manufacturing company only. The author should have presented some more relevant examples to support his arguments. As in the beginning of the article the author mentions about his experience in the subject matter. So it would have been more realistic if the author had mentioned some more examples of real company’s that he was involved in. At the end of the article the author talks about the power of relationship and communication in the effectiveness of the change program. But this can’t be applicable in all the countries. As every country have their own kind of culture and similarly the degree of relationship and communication might differ from one country to another. The level of communication will be different in an individualistic society to that of collective society. The author concludes the article by saying that the leaders should go hand in hand with the team members during initiating a change program. And the leaders should go for the change program selectively, constructively, personally and, above all, credibly. Though, it’s a necessity for organizations nowadays to go for the change initiatives but it’s also equally important that the initiative should only be taken after thorough analysis and proper visualization that is both realistic and achievable. This article would have been more informative as well as interesting if the author had presented few more examples of some real change programs of various companies. The author does not maintain a smooth flow of ideas due to which it becomes difficult to grasp what the author is trying to say in its exact sense. Overall it’s a good article and it only some minor adjustment in order to make it more interesting and reader friendly. Research Papers on The case for real changeEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenThe Project Managment Office SystemRelationship between Media Coverage and Social andOpen Architechture a white paperInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesIncorporating Risk and Uncertainty Factor in CapitalMind TravelBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of SelfCapital PunishmentComparison: Letter from Birmingham and Crito

How to Explore the Great Barrier Reef 4 Best Bases

How to Explore the Great Barrier Reef 4 Best Bases SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Swimming through coral forests, coming face-to-face with a sea turtle, relaxing on powdery white beaches, being surrounded by schools of neon-colored fish: you can do all of these at the Great Barrier Reef, one of the great natural sites of the world. The awe-inspiring reef stretches roughly 1,250 miles from north to south, contains nearly 3,000 individual reefs and hundreds of islands, is home to thousands of species of coral, plants, and animals, and covers an area roughly the size of Italy. With so much to see, where should you base yourself? There are numerous cities and towns along Australia’s northeastern coast that serve as jumping-off points for exploring the Great Barrier Reef, and each offers something different. This guide explains the pros and cons of four of the reef's best bases. For each base, tour prices, marine life, and options for other activities in the area are ranked from 1-3 stars. Tour Prices refer to what you can expect to pay for a reef tour, with three stars indicating the cheapest tours and one star indicating the most expensive (all prices mentioned below are in Australian dollars). Marine Life refers to how much coral and aquatic life you can expect to see under the water and how diverse it'll be. Bases with three stars generally have the most pristine and abundant marine life, while lower rankings indicate some degradation and/or sparseness of marine species. Don't think a low ranking means you'll be swimming through an underwater desert though; you'll see interesting things on any tour. Finally, it's also important to enjoy yourself before and after your reef tours, so Options for Other Activities are also ranked. More stars in this category means you have a wider variety of things to do nearby when you're not on the reef. Below the star rankings, the base itself, what reef tours generally offer and where they go, and options for nearby activities are explained in more detail. Knowing this information will help you choose a base that fits your interests and budget, helping you have the best Great Barrier Reef trip possible. At the end of this guide is additional logistical information to help you plan your trip after you've decided on a base. Cairns Tour Prices: Marine Life: Options for Other Activities: The Base The most popular base for visiting the Great Barrier Reef is the city of Cairns, and, as such, it’s here that you’ll find the widest variety of reef tours and tour operators. Cairns is a lively city that has decades of experience as a top tourist destination. Some visitors will appreciate all the amenities and activities Cairns has to offer, while others might be turned off by the proliferation of backpacker bars, tattoo parlors, and souvenir shops. Cairns is definitely a place that knows how to make the most out of its popularity with tourists. There’s a wide variety of accommodation here, ranging from hostels to exclusive resorts, but most places are moderately-priced hotels. Despite its commercialism, Cairns is still an enjoyable place to visit and offers travelers plenty to do both in and out of the water. The Reef and Reef Tours Cairns is the city closest to the reef, so trips out to the reef here are shorter than those from many other bases. Tours go to a variety of spots, but two of the reefs closest to Cairns are Arlington Reef and Sudbury Reef. Because Cairns is the most popular base for the Great Barrier Reef, many of the reefs around it are heavily visited, and some of the reefs, particularly those closest to the mainland, have suffered significant degradation as a result. There will still be things to see, but the coral may be sparse, and there may not be as much marine life as in other places. However, this depends significantly on which reef or reefs your tour visits. Because Cairns is the main jumping-off point for the Great Barrier Reef, there are tours catering to all budgets, and if you’re willing to spend the money, you can get high-end tour experiences similar to those at other bases in this guide. However, the majority of the Great Barrier Reef tours in Cairns cater to budget travelers and backpackers. This means you’ll find the cheapest reef tours here, starting at about $100. These tours often have larger groups and visit 1-2 reef sites during the day. Additional Activities As one of Australia’s top tourist destinations, there are lots of things to do in Cairns. The Cairns Lagoon, a pool and artificial beach close to the ocean, is a popular spot for all travelers, as are the lush Cairns Botanic Gardens and the Esplanade Boardwalk winding along the edge of the water. For families with children, Cairns has playgrounds, water parks, and nearby Trinity Beach to keep them occupied. You’ll also find bike tours, hiking, whale watching tours, jetskiing, waterfalls, rafting tours, markets and several museums and galleries nearby. Cairns has probably the best nightlife scene on the coast and numerous bars and restaurants that cater to all tastes and budgets. A popular day trip from Cairns is traveling to Kuranda. Visitors can take the spectacular Kuranda Scenic Railway over treetops and past waterfalls to reach Kuranda, a cute village in the rainforest. At Kuranda there are several animal parks, a butterfly sanctuary, hiking trails, shopping opportunities, riverboat tours, and numerous restaurants and ice cream shops. Port Douglas Tour Prices: Marine Life: Options for Other Activities: The Base Another popular base for the Great Barrier Reef, Port Douglas is like Cairn’s richer and more sophisticated cousin. There’s still fun both day and night to be had, but, in general, Port Douglas caters to a somewhat older and wealthier crowd than Cairns does, and it’s a favorite destination for celebrities. As a result, accommodation and dining prices are about 25%-50% higher than what you'll find in other areas. The vibe in Port Douglas is quieter and more relaxed than many other towns along the coast. The town has a few small museums and buildings of interest, an excellent market on Sunday mornings with homemade food and handicrafts, and is home to Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas where visitors can witness an alligator feeding show, view numerous Australian animals, and take a photo cuddling a koala. Four Mile Beach is the major beach in town, and it’ll do the job if you just need a place to splash around, but it’s definitely not one of the standout beaches in the area. The waves are often rough, the water is not very clear, and the sand is somewhat rocky and strewn with seaweed. The Reef and Reef Tours Day tours in Port Douglas tend to be more expensive than those in Cairns, Airlie Beach, and Townsville, but they are often higher-quality, going to the outer reef, visiting several reef sites, and having smaller boats with fewer people on board. Expect to pay over $200 for snorkeling and at least $300 for diving. Prices can be twice these amounts for the highest-end companies. A few of the biggest tour companies basing themselves in Port Douglas are Quicksilver, Wavelength, and Poseidon. Popular reef spots tours visit from Port Douglas include Agincourt Ribbon Reef, Opal Reef, St. Crispin Reef, and Tongue Reef, all located in the outer reef. While there is coral bleaching in this area, the coral is, generally still vibrant and diverse. Swimmers will often find themselves exploring massive coral forests while parrotfish, clownfish, damselfish swim nearby. This part of the reef also has some of the best opportunities for spotting mega fauna like sharks, rays, and sea turtles. Additional Activities While people who like to keep active may not find enough to do within Port Douglas, a short drive from town are some of Queensland’s most popular attractions including the Daintree Rainforest, Cape Tribulation, and Mossman Gorge. These three sites are within Daintree National Park and can all be visited in a day (with a guide or on your own), although many people enjoy the seclusion and nature they offer and choose to stay longer. The Daintree Rainforest is one of the last homes of the massive cassowary, an endangered Australian bird related to the ostrich and emu. There’s a boardwalk through the forest and other walking trails. Cape Tribulation is a remote and attractive beach where Captain Cook once ran aground, while Mossman Gorge is an important Aboriginal site where visitors can explore the rainforest and wade in the Mossman River. There’s a huge amount of biodiversity in this part of Queensland, and spending the day in some of the area’s top natural spots on land can be a good change of pace from all the time you’ve spent in the water. Townsville Tour Prices: Marine Life: Options for Other Activities: The Base Townsville is one of the largest cities in the area, and it’s often considered the unofficial capital of North Queensland. Due to its size and the number of administrative buildings located within it, Townsville lacks a lot of the charm and atmosphere of other towns along the coast, and it can often feel like you're in any generic large city. However, Townsville’s not all business, and visitors to the city can still find hiking trails, animal sanctuaries, and museums to enjoy. These are discussed in more detail in the â€Å"Additional Activities† section. Also, Townsville’s size means it has numerous amenities for travelers, although the city is more focused on local business than catering to tourists. The Reef and Reef Tours While the other bases in this guide are equally suitable for both snorkelers and divers, Townsville is most popular for its Great Barrier Reef diving opportunities. The main reason people do reef tours from here is because of the wreck of the SS Yongala, a large passenger ship which sank off the coast in 19. Today the site, a three-hour boat ride from Townsville, is often described as the best wreck dive site in the world, and it is visited by over 10,000 divers each year. As one of the largest historic shipwrecks, there is a lot to explore here. Large species often frequent the site, including sharks, grouper, sea snakes, and barracuda. Because of potential dangers associated with wreck diving, only experienced divers can visit the Yongala site. However, Townsville has options novice divers and Great Barrier Reef snorkeling as well. Nearby are several reefs, including Lodestone Reef, Wheeler Reef, and Kelso Reef. These areas typically have numerous coral species and good visibility. Be aware that Townsville is farther from the Great Barrier Reef than both Cairns and Port Douglas, so it will take longer to get to the reefs, even those closest to shore. Magnetic Island is another popular place for diving from Townsville. There are day trips available, or you can choose to spend several days on the island. There are multiple dive sites around Magnetic Island, and because its waters are generally calm and shallow, it’s a popular place to take diving classes. Tour prices in Townsville are slightly higher than those in Cairns and about what you’d pay in Port Douglas. Additional Activities When you’re not on the water, Townsville has multiple attractions to fill your time. For those who want to see wildlife, the Reef HQ Great Barrier Reef Aquarium and the Billabong Sanctuary are two top places to get up-close with animals. Townsville is home to numerous museums, including the Museum of Tropical Queensland, the Army Museum of North Queensland, and the Perc Tucker Regional Gallery. Townsville also has great walking and hiking opportunities, many of which include viewpoints over the town and coast. The Strand, Castle Hill, and Mount Stuart are some of the most popular. Airlie Beach Tour Prices: Marine Life: Options for Other Activities: The Base Little Airlie Beach, with a population of less than 10,00, is the most southerly base listed in this guide, about a seven-hour drive or a one-hour flight from Cairns. Airlie Beach has primarily been a backpackers’ destination with little more than a few hostels and beach bungalows. However, as its fame increases, the town has become home to more upscale cafes, shops, and hotels. Because it is not as heavily visited as Cairns or Port Douglas, Airlie Beach has a more laid-back atmosphere, with many people content to relax on the beach when they’re not touring the reef. The Reef and Reef Tours It’s possible to do traditional day tours to the reef from Airlie Beach, but most people who visit the Great Barrier Reef from here do so on a several day live-aboard tour of the gorgeous Whitsunday Islands. This collection of over 70 islands is covered with powdery sand and palm trees, and it has some of the most pristine coral in the Great Barrier Reef. The reefs surrounding the islands are called fringing reefs, and they are particularly known for their vibrant soft coral species. Turtles and whales are also frequent visitors to the reefs surrounding the islands. The best spots for diving are in the outer islands of the Whitsundays, particularly Hook, Hayman, and Langford islands. During these live-aboard trips, which are often 2-3 days but can be longer, guests will overnight in boat cabins or a room on one of the islands (you can also travel directly to the islands and stay there). During the day, there are typically several dives as well as time for exploring the islands. Some tours also include additional activities like sailing, which is a popular activity in the Whitsundays. Live-aboards also offer the chance for night dives. These dives can give you the chance to see a lot of marine life that isn’t active the day, including many types of sharks and other large fish species. However, be aware that, although you’ll have headlights, some people find swimming in near darkness to be disorienting and unsettling. Live-aboards are generally the most expensive reef tours; expect to pay at least $500 for a two-day trip, with some tours costing significantly more. Additional Activities Beyond reef tours you’ll find a couple other things to do in Airlie, such as helicopter tours, hiking (the town is close to jungly Conway National Park), and a water park, but, in general, Airlie is famous for one thing: the gorgeous beaches, considered some of the best in Australia. In town, manmade Airlie Beach Lagoon is a pretty stretch of sand, dotted with palm trees and grassy spots perfect for picnics or relaxing. On Whitsunday Island, Whitehaven Beach is a standout in a country known for its beaches. Almost all tours to the Whitsunday Islands visit this stunner, with gleaming white sand mingling with swirls of tropical blue water. Additionally, because Airlie Beach is still a popular spot for young backpackers, there’s always something going on in the evenings at the local bars and pubs. When's the Best Time to Visit the Great Barrier Reef? The Great Barrier Reef can be visited any time of the year. However, the weather is best between June and August, when it’s Australia’s winter. During these months the water is clearest and the chance of rain is lowest. Try to avoid Queensland’s rainy season from January to March when visibility is lower, the days can be gloomy, and the chances of cyclones are highest. Stinger season, when large numbers of jellyfish come to the waters around the reef, is typically from November through May. During this time, you’ll often have to wear a stinger suit to protect yourself from jellyfish tentacles. This is not a big deal, though; the stinger suit is a lot like a wetsuit and wearing it won’t be too cumbersome or uncomfortable. It’s also important to keep in mind that, even during the height of stinger season, the chances of getting stung are still low, and your tour operator will have supplies on board to treat any stings. How Do You Get to These Bases? Cairns and Port Douglas are closest to Cairns Airport. The city of Cairns is a short drive away, and Port Douglas can be reached by frequent buses and taxis that make the one-hour drive throughout the day. Townsville is served by Townsville Airport, a few miles from the city. Airlie Beach can be reached by Proserpine Airport or Hamilton Airport. From Proserpine, there are regular bus and taxi connections to Airlie Beach. From Hamilton Airport, which is on Hamilton Island in the Whitsundays, it’s a 50-minute ferry ride to Airlie. Because these are both smaller airports, flights can be less frequent and more expensive, so many people opt to drive or take a long-haul bus from Cairns or Brisbane to Airlie. Buses run daily, and the trip takes about hours from Cairns or 20 hours from Brisbane. Driving will likely get you there a few hours sooner because you won't be making as many stops as the buses. Once you get to your base, there are numerous buses and ferries to help you get around the area. Many tour companies offer hotel-pickup and drop-off on the day of your reef tour, although some charge extra for this service. How Can You Choose the Best Great Barrier Reef Tour? The Great Barrier Reef tourism market is saturated with tours, each of them claiming to be the best on the reef. Even after you’ve winnowed down your choice for a base, you’ll still have to choose between a multitude of tour operators. Ask these questions before you book a trip: What’s the Cost of the Tour? What Does That Include? For many Great Barrier Reef tours, you get what you pay for. Higher-priced tours will typically have fewer people and go to more distant parts of the reef, but it’s always smart to compare the cost of different tours with what you’ll be getting. Also make sure to ask what the price includes. Many things, like snorkel or dive gear, should be included, but you may have to pay extra for the Great Barrier Reef Tax ($6.50), extra food and beverages, seasickness pills, and photos from the day. How Many People Will Be on the Tour? How many people will you be sharing the boat and that part of the reef with? Great Barrier Reef tours typically range from 10 to over 100 people, but some especially large operators have a couple hundred people in the water at a time. Having a lot of people in the water with you can make it difficult to swim and scare away the marine life. Which Parts of the Reef Will You Visit? Tourism, development, and climate change have all taken a toll on the Great Barrier Reef, and some parts are in much better shape than others. The outer reef sites (those farthest from the coast) are often healthier, larger, and more vibrant because they see fewer tourists. Some heavily-visited reefs close to shore have suffered serious coral bleaching and death, and, unfortunately, aren’t very interesting to view. Many operators wait until the day of the tour to choose which exact sites they’ll be visiting based on the weather, but you should still be able to find out which reefs the company visits most often and where those reefs are. Additionally, if you’re prone to seasickness, you may want to visit a reef closer to shore to minimize travel time. There are numerous inner reef sites in good condition, so just make sure to do some online research on the health of the reefs after you get this information from the tour operator. How Many Other Tours Will Be There? Some of the higher-end operators have exclusive access to certain parts of the reef, while others share spots with many other tours. Ask how many other tours and people you can expect at the sites that tour will be visiting. How Many Dive Sites Will There Be? Many Great Barrier Reef tours will visit one site on the reef and spend the entire day there, while others will visit two or three sites, or even more if you’re doing an overnight tour. Some parts of the reef are large enough to justify spending an entire day at them, and you may prefer this option if you want to minimize travel time. However, if you want to see diverse parts of the reef, a tour that stops at several different places may be more enjoyable. How Long Will You Spend in the Water? The tour departure and return times may make it seem like you’re out on the water all day, but a lot of your time could be eaten up by traveling to the reef, going over safety information, getting people organized, and breaking for meals. Get specifics on how long you can expect to actually be in the water. 5 Things to Know Before You Visit the Great Barrier Reef While it’s possible to sign up for a reef tour heading out the next day, you’ll have more options and peace of mind if you book several weeks beforehand. The most popular operators can get booked well in advance, especially during Australian school holidays when Great Barrier Reef holidays are extremely popular. If you’re prone to seasickness (or think you might be), take sea sickness pills several hours before you get on the water. You can purchase medication before you leave for Australia, or you can purchase prescription or over-the-counter seasickness pills at any major pharmacy in Queensland. If you’d like pictures from your reef trip, you may want to purchase a disposable underwater camera. These are available at many tourist shops. There are also companies, mostly in Cairns, that rent underwater digital cameras by the day. Renting one costs about twice as much as buying a disposable camera, but they have higher image quality. You can also rent or buy a waterproof case for your own digital camera from many of these shops. If you don’t want to take pictures but still want some memories of what you saw in the reef, many reef companies have an employee taking pictures throughout the day. You can purchase a digital collection of these photos at the end of your trip. Always be aware of where your body is in relation to the reef. This is particularly true when you’re swimming in shallow water because the reef can be within a few inches (or less) of your kicking feet. Hitting the reef not only damages it, it can also be very painful and leave nasty cuts and bruises.