Anxiety is an emotional and physiological response to perceived threats, whether real or anticipated. It combines muscle tension, threat-related thoughts, and autonomic nervous system activation. Mild anxiety enhances performance; when chronic or disproportionate, it impairs daily functioning and quality of life.
Concept origin
Barlow's (2002) integrated biopsychosocial model in "Anxiety and Its Disorders" describes anxiety as the product of biological vulnerabilities, psychological factors, and life events. Contemporary neuroscience identifies the amygdala as the central node of the alarm system.
How it manifests
- ▸ Persistent muscle tension and feeling "on edge"
- ▸ Difficulty controlling worry across multiple areas
- ▸ Trouble concentrating or mind going blank
- ▸ Sleep disturbances — difficulty falling or staying asleep
Therapeutic approach
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) has the strongest empirical support: it identifies automatic distorted thoughts, challenges them, and replaces them through cognitive restructuring and gradual exposure to avoided situations.
Related concepts
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