Anxiety is a natural emotional response characterized by feelings of fear, worry, uneasiness, and tension, often accompanied by physical symptoms such as a rapid heartbeat, sweating, restlessness, and muscle tension
. It is typically a reaction to stress or perceived danger and can be helpful by motivating people to focus or stay safe in challenging situations like taking a test or facing a difficult problem
. However, anxiety becomes problematic when it is excessive, persistent, and disproportionate to the actual situation, interfering with daily life. This can lead to anxiety disorders, which are mental health conditions involving intense, frequent, or uncontrollable worry and fear that may include panic attacks, avoidance behaviors, and physical symptoms like chest pain or shortness of breath
. Anxiety disorders include generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, phobias, and others
. In summary, anxiety ranges from a normal, adaptive response to stress to a clinical disorder when it is chronic, overwhelming, and disruptive, requiring treatment such as therapy or medication
