What is Anxiety?

“I feel anxious.” A commonly used phrase that can have many different meanings, anxiety is often labeled as the root of many problems. Anxiety is often used as another name for worry or apprehension, but “normal worrying” is different than a mental health disorder. The clinical name for anxiety is Generalized Anxiety Disorder and certain criteria must be met for this diagnosis to be given.  Symptoms of anxiety can include restlessness, being easily triggered, difficulty concentrating, muscle aches or soreness, and sleep difficulties. For criteria for Generalized Anxiety Disorder, to be met these symptoms must be accompanied by worry that is excess of what would be expected given the event or circumstance. This is the key factor that separates every day worry from a mental health disorder.  Generalized Anxiety Disorder can include panic attacks or not and presents differently in every person. Regardless of whether your worrying meets the criteria for a mental health disorder, management of the worry is important for healthy functioning. If you are struggling to manage your worries or anxieties, reach out to a mental health therapist today.