What is it?
Everyone experiences anxiety at some time – anxiety can be quite useful in helping a person to avoid dangerous situations and motivate the solving of everyday problems. Anxiety can vary in severity from mild uneasiness to a terrifying panic attack. Anxiety also can vary in how long it lasts, from a few minutes to many years. An anxiety disorder differs from normal anxiety in the following ways:
- It is more intense
- It is long-lasting
- It interferes with the person’s work, activities or relationships
Anxiety disorders tend to begin in childhood, adolescence or early adulthood. The median age of onset is 11 years, which means half the people have their first episode by this age. Anxiety disorders often occur with mood disorders and substance use disorder. Anxiety disorders are more common in females than in males.