Anxiety

Anxiety is a symptom that is associated with most mental disorders; collectively, anxiety disorders are the most common disorders (Morrison, 1996). However, it is important to note that a certain level of anxiety is not only normal, it is adaptive (Kaplan & Sadock, 1996).

An individual experiencing intense anxiety may have feelings of dread and impending doom. These symptoms are often seen in anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, and mood disorders. It is a pathological state characterized by a feeling of dread accompanied by somatic signs that indicate a hyperactive autonomic nervous system. It is differentiated from fear, which is a response to a know cause (Kaplan & Sadock, 1996).

General characteristics of anxiety (Generalized anxiety disorder) include:

Excessive anxiety and worry, difficulty controlling the worry, restlessness or feeling keyed up or on edge, irritability, muscle tension, being easily fatigued, difficulty concentrating or mind going blank, sleep disturbances (Kaplan & Sadock, 1996).