Anxiety
What is Anxiety?
Anxiety refers to a normal and often necessary response to stress or potentially threatening situations. It is a natural human emotion characterized by feelings of unease, worry, or fear. Anxiety can manifest both physically and psychologically, affecting a person's thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.
While anxiety is a common experience, it becomes problematic when it becomes excessive, persistent, and interferes with a person's daily life. Anxiety disorders are a group of mental health conditions where anxiety is the predominant feature. They include generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, specific phobias, and others.
People with anxiety disorders often experience symptoms such as excessive worrying, restlessness, irritability, difficulty concentrating, sleep disturbances, muscle tension, and physical sensations like a racing heart or shortness of breath. These symptoms can be distressing and impact various aspects of a person's life, including work, relationships, and overall well-being.
The causes of anxiety disorders are multifactorial and can involve a combination of genetic, environmental, and psychological factors. Traumatic experiences, chronic stress, a family history of anxiety or other mental health conditions, and certain brain chemistry imbalances may contribute to the development of anxiety disorders.
