Does Everyone Have Anxiety?

Everyone feels nervous in certain situations and there are always moments of anxiety that occur as a natural response to stress. It is true that everyone feels anxious sometimes but this is not the same as having it. There is a difference between the kind of occasional anxious feelings that people experience and having an anxiety disorder.

Even though anxiety is the most common mental health disorder in the U.S., the reality is that not everyone has anxiety. Feeling nervous before a big interview or a first date does not qualify as it in the medical sense. When a person has an anxiety disorder they are often dealing with irrational fears that cause persistent symptoms for months, regardless of any particular situation.

Anxiety can be crippling and interfere with a person’s ability to carry out their daily tasks. When the average person feels anxious about something they can simply bear through it and cope with their nervousness the best that they can. Someone with it may find their symptoms are so severe that they have to completely avoid certain situations.

Symptoms of it also tend to occur at any period of time rather than being tied to a specific event. Someone with an anxiety disorder may feel anxious about more general things such as being judged by other people or having a feeling that there is something wrong with them. Their it is not temporary and not something that they can cope with without professional help.

The good news is that anxiety is treatable and people with the disorder can learn to manage their symptoms so that it doesn’t interfere with their daily life. Talking to a therapist about it can help patients learn to identify their triggers and develop strategies for them. Over time it will become more manageable.