What is Anxiety?
Anxiety is a common and pervasive mental health condition characterized by persistent, excessive worries that don’t go away even in the absence of a stressor. Anxiety disorders can disrupt daily activities, causing significant emotional distress and impairing an individual’s ability to function.
Symptoms of Anxiety
The symptoms of anxiety can vary widely but typically include:
- Excessive Worrying: The most common symptom of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), marked by persistent worrying over everyday activities.
- Feeling Agitated: When anxious, the nervous system goes into overdrive, leading to symptoms like a racing heart, sweaty palms, and shaking hands.
- Restlessness: A common symptom among those with anxiety, particularly in teens and children.
- Fatigue: Despite being counterintuitive given the usual association with hyperactivity, anxiety can also lead to significant tiredness.
- Difficulty Concentrating: Anxiety often interrupts the ability to focus, affecting work and personal life.
- Irritability: Individuals with anxiety may display heightened irritability due to the constant strain of their emotional state.
- Tension: Muscle tension and aches are frequent physical symptoms associated with chronic anxiety.
