Worry that refuses to switch off, even when no immediate threat exists, defines clinical anxiety. The body stays on alert—heart rate rises, muscles tighten, attention narrows to possible danger.

Anxiety disorders take several forms: generalized anxiety that floats from topic to topic, panic attacks that surge without warning, social anxiety that makes ordinary interactions feel hazardous, and specific phobias locked onto particular objects or situations. Genetics, temperament, and learning history all contribute. Chronic stress can lower the threshold at which the alarm system fires.

Effective treatments include cognitive-behavioral techniques that challenge catastrophic thoughts, exposure that gradually reduces avoidance, and, when needed, medication that dampens physiological arousal. Many can still serve a useful purpose by preparing a person for real challenges; the problem arises when it floods daily life and shrinks the range of possible action.

• Excessive fear or worry out of proportion to threat
• Produces physical and cognitive symptoms
• Appears in several recognized disorder forms
• Responds to therapy and sometimes medication