Things you should know about anxiety
Anxiety is an emotion characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts, and physical changes like increased blood pressure.
People with anxiety disorders usually have recurring intrusive thoughts or concerns. They may avoid certain situations out of worry. They may also have physical symptoms such as sweating, trembling, dizziness, or a rapid heartbeat.
Anxiety is not the same as fear, but they are often used interchangeably. Anxiety is considered a future-oriented, long-acting response broadly focused on a diffuse threat, whereas fear is an appropriate, present-oriented, and short-lived response to a clearly identifiable and specific threat.
There are several different anxiety disorders, which can present with different symptoms. Typical symptoms of anxious feelings include the followingTrusted Source:
- restlessness
- uncontrollable feelings of worry
- increased irritability
- difficulty concentrating
- sleep difficulties
- grinding your teeth, especially at night
- changes in your sex drive
- feeling light-headed or dizzy
While many people will occasionally experience these symptoms in daily life, people with general anxiety disorder (GAD) will experience them at persistent or extreme levels.