Normal Anxiety vs. Anxiety Disorder

What is anxiety?

Anxiety is a mood state, primarily characterised by apprehension or uneasiness about the future. This may also be accompanied by physical symptoms such as feeling restless, an increased heart rate, muscle tension and others.

What is normal anxiety?

While anxiety often has a negative association, it is a feeling that many people experience to some extent or another. In some cases, experiencing anxiety can be not only normal, but even useful.

Anxiety can serve as a sign that something is either dangerous or not quite right in our environment. This is what is commonly referred to as our fight or flight response. This response can prime our body for action and in some cases can help us to cope more effectively with a threat. Feelings of anxiety can also be a sign that a certain area of our life such as an unhealthy relationship or work environment may need to be considered more closely.

Anxiety can also serve as a motivator and can help us to feel more prepared when it comes to certain challenges. The Yerkes-Dodson Law, otherwise known as the inverted-U model of arousal, suggests that increased arousal levels can improve our performance by increasing our motivation, focus and attention. Maybe feeling anxious for an exam made you better prepared for it. Or perhaps worrying about that job interview motivated you to do some more research on the company. This theory proposes that you reach your peak level of performance with an intermediate level of stress and that too much or too little arousal can result in a poorer performance.

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Yorkes-Dodson Law

How do I know if I have an anxiety disorder?

The above are all examples of what can be considered “normal” anxiety; however, anxiety lies on a spectrum and for those on the higher end of this spectrum, these symptoms of anxiety can become more troublesome. People who have a diagnosis of generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) experience excessive, persistent, and disproportional anxiety and worry more days than not over a course of at least six months. Furthermore, these feelings of worry and apprehension are often difficult to control and may be present with or without the presence of stressors, often causing significant distress to one’s everyday life.

People with generalised anxiety disorder tend to worry about a range of events or activities, sometimes for no good reason at all. In fact, sometimes people are aware that their feelings of anxiety are not rational and even still find that these feelings persist, despite efforts to control their worry. People with an anxiety disorder may also experience physical symptoms such as restlessness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, an increased heart rate, irritability, muscle tension and/or sleep disturbances These worries can cause impairment in important areas of functioning, such as in their relationships or career. They may find themselves calling in sick to work, having difficulty concentrating when they are there or isolating themselves from their loved ones.

There are also several other anxiety disorders including social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, phobia-related disorders, separation anxiety disorder, agoraphobia, and selective mutism. These each have their own set of criteria, however generally speaking, what they each have in common is that they cause distress, negatively impact one or more areas of daily functioning, and occur for a long period of time.

What should I do if I suspect I have an anxiety disorder?

It is important to remember that everyone’s experience is different and that triggers, symptoms, and the severity of anxiety will differ from individual to individual. If you suspect that you may have an anxiety disorder, or are having difficulty managing your anxiety, a GP or mental health professional can provide an assessment and diagnosis.

A psychologist can help you to identify the causes of your anxiety and develop strategies to both treat and manage it. There are several talk therapies including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Mindfulness, among others that are effective in addressing anxiety and anxiety disorders. Many people suffer with debilitating symptoms of anxiety for long periods of time without seeking any support. In fact, many people become accustomed to it or begin to accept that this is something they have to live with. While challenging to deal with, anxiety is very treatable and with the right support many people improve.