How to Tell the Difference
Anxiety or being anxious may not imply any health issue. You can think of it almost as a spectrum or continuum of sorts. It could also help in some cases, sometimes it can help us prepare for things or help us stay alert in certain dangerous situations. It’s also a normal reaction to stress. But anxiety disorders aren’t a typical reaction to stress.
Basically there are two things that need to be present to define an anxiety disorder in comparison to simply being anxious. They include: when the anxiety is out of proportion to the situation and when you are unable to function normally.
Another common finding Trusted Source across anxiety disorders is out-of-the-ordinary and excessive anticipatory responding in the face of uncertainty.
We all face uncertainties in our lives that leave us disappointed. But people with anxiety disorder may anticipate the uncertainty and potential outcomes in a way that isn’t proportionate to the actual event.
An anxiety disorder is different from “normal” anxiety. “Abnormal” anxiety is defined by excessive and persistent worries that don’t go away, even when there’s nothing to be stressed or nervous about. With an anxiety disorder, people usually try to avoid triggering situations or things that worsen their symptoms.