Anxiety

Anxiety is a psychological condition characterized by persistent and excessive worry, fear, or apprehension about real or perceived threats. It can manifest through a range of cognitive, emotional, and physiological symptoms, including constant worry, restlessness, difficulty concentrating, irritability, muscle tension, and sleep disturbances. Anxiety can be adaptive in response to stress or danger, but when disproportionate to the situation, it can impair daily functioning and quality of life. Anxiety disorders can range from generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and specific phobias. These disorders involve chronic anxiety that is difficult to control and significantly impacts personal, social, and occupational domains.

Some have proposed a way to distinguish anxiety from stress, where stress is viewed as the external (environmental) pressure that is put on us, while anxiety represents our personal response to it. Since anxiety can come in so many forms (through the physical experience of the anxiety, its triggers, its onset, etc.) , it is difficult if not impossible to propose a general treatment approach. Each case is unique, and treatment should be customized to the unique presentation of person’s anxiety. If you are seeking a diagnosis, it is important to consult a psychologist through a psychological assessment. Psychotherapy, on the other hand, can offer a space to explore feelings and experiences surrounding anxiety in order to collaborate on ways to work with and manage anxiety.