Anxiety is a natural and often necessary emotion that everyone experiences from time to time. It's your body's response to stress and a signal that something in your environment may be threatening or dangerous. Anxiety can manifest as feelings of worry, fear, unease, or apprehension.
However, when anxiety becomes excessive, prolonged, or begins to interfere significantly with daily life, it can be classified as an anxiety disorder. Common symptoms of anxiety disorders include:
- Excessive worry or fear
- Restlessness or feeling on edge
- Rapid heart rate or palpitations
- Sweating or trembling
- Difficulty concentrating
- Irritability
- Muscle tension
- Sleep disturbances (difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep)
- Overthinking