Anxiety is a typical stress response and can be beneficial. For instance, it may make us aware of danger and helps us stay alert to protect ourselves. Anxiety can motivate us to prepare for important events, like a big test or job interview.
Anxiety disorders, however, are different from normal feelings of anxiety. These disorders can be debilitating and often involve feelings of intense and excessive worry and fear. These episodes of fear and sometimes panic are often out of proportion to the potential danger of the situation and can be persistent.
According to a review in The Lancet, anxiety disorders comprise the most common group of mental disorders. In one study, researchers affirmed that anxiety disorders occur worldwide, finding evidence that one in every 14 people meets the criteria for an anxiety disorder, and over 40 million U.S. adults are affected….