What is Anxiety?
Characterized by persistent and intense feelings of tension, nervousness, and stress, anxiety is a common disorder that affects nearly 30% of adults at some point in their lives, according to the American Psychiatric Association. Anxiety is a general term that covers a range of phobias and disorders, including panic, social anxiety, and separation anxiety. It can affect children and adults alike.
People with these conditions experience constant worrying and avoidance or fearfulness of anxiety triggers, which can include social interactions, being in a crowded place, public speaking, or flying on a plane. These feelings can lead those with anxiety to go to extreme measures to avoid the things they are afraid of, which can make day-to-day life more difficult than it needs to be. A stressful situation can also cause panic attacks, a sudden onset of intense fear that causes serious physical symptoms that may make you feel like you’re having a heart attack or even dying.