Anxiety is a feeling of worry, nervousness, or keyed-up distress about something in the future or if there is an uncertain outcome. When the experience of anxiety gets so strong that it is having a negative effect on a person’s ability to function it is considered an anxiety disorder.
There are four things to look for that are indicators of a problem.
- Is the degree of anxiety significantly greater than the actual problem?
- Is the experience of anxiety so strong that it feels out of control or overpowering?
- Is the anxiety interfering to the extent it is keeping someone from living a “normal” life?
- Is the anxiety persisting way past what would be expected?