Before we jump in, there is a question that always strikes our mind. What is anxiety?

Is it a state of
mind? is it a disease? or is it curable? Anxiety is best described as a reaction to stressful, unfamiliar, or
dangerous situations. It's the sense of uneasiness, distress, or dread you feel before a significant event.

Now and then, everyone feels anxious. For instance, when faced with an issue at work, before taking a
test, or before making an important decision, you could worry.

Occasional anxiety might be okay. However, anxiety disorders vary. There is a category of mental
illnesses that induce feelings of anxiety that are intense and overwhelming. You may avoid work, school,
family get-togethers, and other social activities that can trigger or intensify the symptoms due to
excessive anxiety.

Such emotions of fear and panic interfere with everyday lives, are difficult to handle, out of proportion
to the real danger, and can last for a long time. To prevent these feelings, you can avoid places or
situations. Symptoms can begin in childhood or adolescence and continue into adulthood.

Generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder (social phobia), specific phobias, and separation
anxiety disorder are examples of anxiety disorders. There is more than one anxiety disorder one may
have.

The physical signs of anxiety refer to the ways in our body's experience examples are:


A sense of restlessness, and "angry and emotional," or on-edge;" feeling;
 Breath loss, or a sensation of choking;
 Sweaty palms;
 A racing pulse;
 Pain or discomfort mostly in the chest;
 Tension in the muscles, shaking, feeling shaky;
 Diarrhea or nausea;
 Fluttery feeling in the stomach ;
 Dizziness, or faint feeling;
 Hot flashes;
 Chills;
 Numbness, or sensations of tingling;
 An exaggerated reaction to surprise; and,
 Sleep disruptions and exhaustion

The psychological signs of anxiety can include:

 Concentration problems, or difficulty with staying on task;

  Difficulties with memory;
 Symptoms of depression such, as hopelessness, lethargy, and poor appetite

As we previously explained, anxiety is an emotion in its most basic form. This emotion, however, causes
a series of feelings. Popular terms used to describe the emotion of anxiety include:

 Apprehension,
 Distress,
 Fear and dread,
 Jitters and nervousness,
 Feeling overwhelmed,
 Sense of panic
 Uneasiness,
 Concern
 Fear of trepidation,
 Jumpiness or edginess

The behavioral symptoms of anxiety apply to a person's reaction when they are anxious. Responses to
such actions illustrate attempts to deal with the negative aspects of anxiety.

Typical anxiety behavioral responses can include:

 Avoidance habits, such as avoiding circumstances or locations that produce anxiety,

 Escaping from a condition that causes anxiety.
 Engaging in unhealthy habits that are dangerous or self-destructive.
 To reduce the overall level of anxiety, feeling compelled to limit the amount and scope of one's
daily activities.
 Becoming too attached to a security object or individual.

Although there are several symptoms to identify the anxiety disorder, there are few variations that
sometimes need much more attention or medical help. A few of the examples are:
Agoraphobia: When an emergency occurs, a person feels an intense fear of being in a place where it can
seem difficult to escape or get help. For instance, when on an airplane, on public transport, or standing
in line with a crowd, you may panic or feel anxious.

Separation anxiety: Little kids are not the only ones who experience this, grown-up people feel scared
or anxious when a loved one leaves. Anyone can get the disorder of separation anxiety.

Panic disorder: A sudden feeling of intense fear, which brings about a panic attack. One may break into
a sweat, have chest pain, and have a pounding heartbeat (palpitations) during a panic attack. The person
may feel like they are choking or having a heart attack sometimes.

It is important to remember, however that anxiety is an extremely subjective experience. Not everyone
will experience the same symptoms, nor will each person have the same symptom intensity.