Anxiety
Anxiety disorders involve excessive fear or worry that interferes with daily functioning, defined per DSM-5-TR, affecting roughly a third of people at some point in their lives.
Symptoms
Persistent, excessive worry, restlessness, muscle tension, difficulty concentrating, sleep disturbance, and in some forms, panic attacks with a racing heart, sweating, and a sense of impending danger.
Causes and risk
A combination of genetics, temperament, and life stress; anxiety and depression commonly co-occur, per USPSTF screening guidance.
How it is evaluated
The GAD-7 questionnaire, recommended by the USPSTF for adults under 65, helps screen for and gauge anxiety severity; ruling out medical mimics (thyroid disease, arrhythmia, asthma) is an important step before attributing symptoms to anxiety alone.
Treatment
CBT and SSRIs/SNRIs are both first-line and comparably effective, per current JAMA review data; exercise, mindfulness-based stress reduction, and yoga have real supporting trial evidence and are reasonable adjuncts, while benzodiazepines are discouraged for routine or long-term use.
When to seek care
Chest pain, shortness of breath, or symptoms that could signal a cardiac event should be evaluated to rule out a medical cause first. Any thoughts of self-harm require immediate crisis support -- call 911 or the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.