Anxiety refers to a feeling of stress, worry, or nervousness as a reaction to difficult and stressful situations. Some feelings of being anxious are completely natural; they even help you become productive in dealing with challenging situations. However, a feeling of intense fear, worry, and panic about day-to-day situations that interfere with your daily life and surroundings to a great extent is a psychiatric condition called anxiety disorder.
A rapid heartbeat, sweating, fatigue, irritability, feeling of dread, racing thoughts, and difficulty concentrating are some of the symptoms of anxiety. Factors like a family history of anxiety, childhood adversity, substance misuse, chronic illness, or high-stress environments can increase the risk. Anxiety disorders are the most common types of mental health conditions and are twice as likely to affect females as males.
If episodes of anxiety become too frequent and severe, and start affecting your quality of life and everyday behavior, it is essential to seek professional help. Medications, psychotherapy, and lifestyle modifications can help alleviate the symptoms of anxiety.
