Coping with an Anxiety Disorder

What is anxiety?

Anxiety is a pretty broad reference to an internal state people feel when they are fearful of the unknown.  Anxiety differs from regular fear because there is no “clear or present danger.”  Instead it is a worry that something bad might happen.

Fear is:

When you are walking alone down an empty sidewalk at night and a man pops out, pointing a gun at you.  That emotion you feel is fear.  You can see the danger in front of you and you worry if you will make it out okay.

Anxiety is:

When you are walking down that same empty sidewalk at night and you suddenly get the feeling that someone might be lurking in the shadows behind you.  That emotion you feel is anxiety.  You could be in danger, but you could be imagining the danger as well.  You don’t know because you can’t see it.

Anxiety by itself is a normal human reaction in uncomfortable or uncertain situations.  It helps to protect ourselves from situations like the one I described above.  However, when one starts to be anxious, even when they know they are not in any kind of danger, then the anxiety can become an issue.

Anxiety as a disorder

Sure, a lot of people get nervous when they get up on stage, ready to deliver a speech in front of a large audience.  In fact, this is one of the most common fears human beings have.  Just because you get anxious sometimes, even when you know everything will probably be okay, doesn’t mean you have an “anxiety disorder.”

Anxiety becomes a disorder when it starts to interfere with the normal functioning of one’s life.  For example, if you get so nervous about this speech you are going to have to give (even weeks before you have to give it) that you get cramps or stomach aches.  Or if you find that you are unable to sleep or eat because you are so paralyzed with fear, then the anxiety is a disorder.

Types of anxiety

Anxiety disorders can take a number of different forms.  Each one is very different from the others; however, in some cases a person can suffer from more than one anxiety disorder at once.  If you feel this is the case for you, I would seek help right away (see the Resources section).