What is Anxiety?

Occasional anxiety is an expected part of life. You might feel anxious when faced with a problem at work, before taking a test, or before making an important decision. But anxiety disorders involve more than temporary worry or fear.

For a person with an anxiety disorder, the anxiety does not go away and can get worse over time. The symptoms can interfere with daily activities such as job performance, school work, and relationships.

Common signs and symptoms of anxiety

  • Feeling nervous, anxious or on edge
  • Not being able to stop or control worrying
  • Worrying too much about different things
  • Trouble relaxing
  • Being so restless that it is hard to sit still
  • Becoming easily annoyed or irritated
  • Feeling afraid as if something awful might happen
  • Sleep disturbance
  • Muscle tension
Anxiety and depression can feed into each other exacerbating symptoms.