What is anxiety?
Anxiety is the feeling of worry, unease or fear that comes with pressure, uncertainty or threat. The NHS describes it as usually a natural response, and feeling anxious before an exam, an interview or a hard conversation is part of ordinary life.
An anxiety disorder is different. The WHO describes the fear and worry in anxiety disorders as intense and excessive, lasting longer and showing up across many situations. The NIMH puts it simply: anxiety disorders involve more than occasional worry or fear.
Anxiety disorders are the most common group of mental disorders worldwide. The WHO estimates that 470 million people had one in 2023, and that girls and women are more likely to be affected.
What can anxiety feel like?
Anxiety shows up in both the mind and the body. The WHO and NHS describe experiences such as:
- Worry that is hard to switch off, or a sense that something bad is about to happen
- Trouble concentrating or making decisions
- Feeling restless, tense or irritable
- A racing or pounding heart, sweating, trembling or feeling dizzy
- An upset stomach or nausea
- Trouble sleeping and getting tired easily
How can anxiety affect daily life?
According to the WHO, anxiety disorders can interfere with daily activities and strain family, social, study and working life. Many people start avoiding the places, people or tasks that set their anxiety off. The NHS notes that avoidance, and relying on habits that feel safe, can make anxiety worse over time, because the fear never gets the chance to fade.
Anxiety often appears alongside low mood. If both feel familiar, our page on depression may also help.
What makes anxiety more likely?
There is rarely a single cause. The WHO describes anxiety as the result of social, psychological and biological factors working together. The NHS lists factors that raise the risk of generalised anxiety, including:
- Stressful or traumatic experiences, now or in the past
- Close relatives with anxiety or depression
- A painful long-term health condition
- Past drug or alcohol misuse
What kinds of support help with anxiety?
The WHO calls psychological interventions essential treatments for anxiety disorders, and says the talking therapies with the strongest evidence are based on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). CBT helps you notice the thoughts and habits that keep anxiety going and gradually face what you have been avoiding. Guided self-help based on CBT is often offered first, and mindfulness-based approaches are also used.
Some people are also offered medicine. That is a decision for a psychiatrist or doctor, who may discuss whether medication is suitable alongside therapy. Self-care such as regular exercise, steady sleep and breathing or relaxation practice can support treatment but is not a substitute for it when anxiety is severe.
For a deeper look at treatment options and costs in Pakistan, read our guide to anxiety treatment in Pakistan. If sudden waves of intense fear are the main problem, the panic attacks guide covers those in detail.
Common misconceptions about anxiety
- "All worry is a disorder." It is not. Most people feel anxious sometimes; it becomes a concern when it is constant, hard to control and affects daily life (NHS).
- "Avoiding the trigger is the safest option." Avoidance brings short-term relief but can keep anxiety going; gradually facing situations tends to help (NHS).
- "Anxiety is rare." Anxiety disorders are the most common mental disorders worldwide (WHO).
- "Only medicine works." Talking therapies such as CBT are first-line, evidence-based treatments (WHO, NHS).
When to seek professional support
- Worry or fear feels constant and you cannot switch it off for most of the day
- Anxiety is affecting your work, studies, relationships or sleep
- You are avoiding places, people or tasks you used to manage
- Self-help such as breathing exercises or routine has not been enough
- You are using alcohol or other substances to cope
- You feel unable to cope or keep yourself safe: get urgent help now
