Anxiety is a physiological state characterized by cognitive (mental), somatic (physical), emotional, and behavioral components These components combine to create the feelings that we typically recognize as fear, apprehension, or worry. The cognitive component entails expectation of a diffuse and uncertain danger. Emotionally, anxiety causes a sense of dread or panic and physically causes nausea, and chills. Behaviorally, both voluntary and involuntary behaviors may arise directed at escaping or avoiding the source of anxiety. This may become maladaptive such as in anxiety disorders. However, anxiety is not always pathological or maladaptive: it is a common emotion along with fear, anger, sadness, and happiness, and it has a very important function in relation to survival. ...

Anxiety is a physiological state characterized by cognitive (mental), somatic (physical), emotional, and behavioral components These components combine to create the feelings that we typically recognize as fear, apprehension, or worry. The cognitive component entails expectation of a diffuse and uncertain danger. Emotionally, anxiety causes a sense of dread or panic and physically causes nausea, and chills. Behaviorally, both voluntary and involuntary behaviors may arise directed at escaping or avoiding the source of anxiety. This may become maladaptive such as in anxiety disorders. However, anxiety is not always pathological or maladaptive: it is a common emotion along with fear, anger, sadness, and happiness, and it has a very important function in relation to survival.

Anxiety disorders

Generalized anxiety disorder is characterized by long-lasting anxiety that is not focused on any particular object or situation.

In panic disorder, a person suffers brief attacks of intense terror and apprehension that cause trembling and shaking, confusion, dizziness, nausea, difficulty breathing, and feelings of impending doom or a situation that would be embarrassing.

Social anxiety disorder is also known as social phobia. Individuals with this disorder experience intense fear of being negatively evaluated by others or of being publicly embarrassed because of impulsive acts.

Obsessive compulsive disorder is a type of anxiety disorder primarily characterized by obsessions and/or compulsions. Obsessions are distressing, repetitive, intrusive thoughts or images that the individual often realizes are senseless. Compulsions are repetitive behaviors that the person feels forced or compelled into doing, in order to relieve anxiety.

Post-traumatic stress disorder is an anxiety disorder which results from a traumatic experience.

Separation Anxiety Disorder is the feeling of excessive and inappropriate levels of anxiety over being separated from an attachment figure or from a person or place that gives a feeling of safety.

Separation Anxiety itself is a normal part of development in babies or children. It only when this feeling is excessive or inappropriate that it can be considered a disorder.