What is anxiety?

Anxiety is the body’s natural response to perceived threat — a surge of physiological arousal (elevated heart rate, muscle tension, heightened alertness) meant to prepare you to respond to danger. Occasional anxiety is a normal, even useful, part of being human. Anxiety becomes a clinical concern when it’s disproportionate to the actual situation, persistent, and significant enough to interfere with daily life.

Common anxiety disorders

Type	What it looks like
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)	Persistent, excessive worry about multiple areas of life, most days, for six months or more
Panic Disorder	Recurrent, unexpected panic attacks and persistent fear of future attacks
Social Anxiety Disorder	Intense fear of judgment or embarrassment in social situations
Specific Phobias	Intense, focused fear of a particular object or situation (heights, flying, needles)

Physical symptoms

Anxiety isn’t only mental — it shows up in the body: racing heart, shortness of breath, muscle tension, restlessness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, sleep disruption, and gastrointestinal discomfort are all common. Because these symptoms overlap with other medical conditions, a doctor may run tests to rule out physical causes (such as thyroid issues) before an anxiety diagnosis is made.

Evidence-based treatment

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) — the most extensively studied and effective therapy for anxiety disorders, focused on identifying and shifting anxious thought patterns and gradually facing avoided situations.
• Medication — SSRIs and SNRIs are commonly prescribed and can meaningfully reduce symptoms, often used alongside therapy rather than instead of it.
• Exposure-based approaches — structured, gradual exposure to feared situations, particularly effective for phobias, social anxiety, and panic disorder.

Explore anxiety further