Anxiety...

• "I worry and worry about things that later seem unimportant."
• "I go to sleep but my mind won't shut off."
• "I was in a grocery store when suddenly I felt terrified. My heart was racing and I bolted from the store. I have never returned."
• "I've been washing my hand obsessively. I know its silly but I can't stop myself."

Anxiety and fear are normal emotions. They evolved to enable us to respond to danger in our environment. They are part of the fight/flight mechanism and are mediated by the sympathetic nervous system. When anxiety and fear are aroused, energy is released in order for us to respond quickly; in moderation, this helps us survive and to escape threatening situations. However, if our response is out of proportion to the threat, these emotions can interfere with normal functioning and can dramatically affect the quality of our lives.

To learn more about anxiety, visit another article I wrote at Anxiety Attack Symptoms

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