Anxiety: Definition, Symptoms, Warning Signs, Causes, Medications, Treatment Options, Prevention, and Home Remedies

Reports from the American Psychiatric Association show that anxiety is the most common psychiatric disorder in the United States and the rest of the world. During the COVID-19 pandemics, the number of cases increased significantly as more and more people experienced anxious symptoms. Many reported their symptoms to their healthcare providers, but others did not. The official statistics based on diagnosed cases are high. But if we consider the number of undiagnosed cases, the numbers will still be higher. After reading this article, you will have a complete understanding of this problem. You will be able to distinguish anxiety from normal worries that happen in your everyday life. And you will have a brief review of how to treat this problem medically.

What is anxiety?

The best way to look for a reliable concept of anxiety is the DSM-5, the leading textbook for psychiatrists. The section under anxiety disorders shows that they all feature excessive fear associated with a given circumstance that should not trigger such an intense reaction. You can say that the intensity of the emotion does not correspond with the severity of the problem or situation at hand. So, anxiety is much more than worrying about an upcoming exam or paying your bills. It is about losing yourself and your nerves in these problems with an exaggerated emotional response.