What is Anxiety: Definition and 51 Discussions

Anxiety is an emotion characterized by an unpleasant state of inner turmoil, often accompanied by nervous behavior such as pacing back and forth, somatic complaints, and rumination. It includes subjectively unpleasant feelings of dread over anticipated events.Anxiety is a feeling of uneasiness and worry, usually generalized and unfocused as an overreaction to a situation that is only subjectively seen as menacing. It is often accompanied by muscular tension, restlessness, fatigue, inability to catch one's breath, tightness in the abdominal region, and problems in concentration. Anxiety is closely related to fear, which is a response to a real or perceived immediate threat; anxiety involves the expectation of future threat including dread. People facing anxiety may withdraw from situations which have provoked anxiety in the past.Though anxiety may be considered a normal human response, when excessive or persisting beyond developmentally appropriate periods it may be diagnosed as an anxiety disorder. There are multiple forms of anxiety disorder (such as Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) with specific clinical definitions. Part of the definition of an anxiety disorder, which distinquishes it from every day anxiety, is that it is persistent, typically lasting 6 months or more, although the criterion for duration is intended as a general guide with allowance for some degree of flexibility and is sometimes of shorter duration in children.

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  1. EclogiteFacies

    I Special Relativity philosophy and anxiety

    Hello all you clever people, I was wondering if you guys could answer a question for me regarding special relativity and the none existence of time. At least in the sense that the block universe people believe. So I'm writing as if the block universe is the correct interpretation What does...
  2. W

    Can chronic anxiety disorder be cured?

    I'm sorry for posting this thread. I know that this is not the right site to ask but my curiosity is really bothering me and I need an answer about this serious illness that I'm having right now. In these past few days, I noticed that I have this anxiety called " Chronic anxiety" and honestly I...
  3. jim mcnamara

    (Mice) Interleukin 17a and anxiety

    From the abstract: The abstract notes that IL-17a is "highly" conserved in vertebrates. When IL-17a sensing was turned off in the brain, no changes were noted - with the exception of anxiety induced behavior. Knockout mice (I assume -- cannot get through a paywall) did walk boldly out in...
  4. qspeechc

    Discussing Anxiety in Interview

    Hello everyone. So I'm going through a lot of interviews right now. For a long time I've been painfully awkward and shy, and now, at the ripe old age of 28, I'm trying to get over it. Of course, as far as the interviewer is concerned, they have no way of verifying that, so you're just hoping...
  5. M

    MHB What is Math Anxiety?

    https://www.oxfordlearning.com/what-is-math-anxiety/
  6. B

    Engineering Is "real" job anxiety normal (fresh graduate)?

    I am a fresh graduate on my way to get a permanent placement as a Design Engineer. I've been interning and working temporally before but this "real" job offer invites all sorts of ideas about settling down. I just can't see myself going there every day sitting by the pc just to wake up and...
  7. Cjosh

    Taking physics and dealing with depression/anxiety

    I suffer from serious bouts of depression/anxiety that come and go for no obvious reason. I started physics this year and its hit me half way through the semester. I made a doc appointment to fix this and I am afraid it will hurt me academically if its not fixed and I won't be able to do awesome...
  8. AlanTur1ng

    Schools Someone very close to me is struggling with university grades

    Hi everyone, this is my first time on this website and I really need help. Anyway, there is someone who is very close to me, who only achieved a third in second year of university and is about to go into her final year and she's having a crisis and I'm honestly really worried about her. She...
  9. J

    Other Anxiety and avoidance of programming?

    I don't really know what the problem here is, but it's been dogging me for a long time. Basically, despite that I really love computers and working with computers, and I actually very much enjoy programming when I get into it, whenever I'm faced with a programming assignment for class or...
  10. C

    Come back from medical leave or not?

    First off, I am a first-semester physics PhD student at Minnesota. I had latent anxiety issues for years but never did it get to the point where I could give up on that aspiration because of my mental health. The issues became too severe for me to ignore when the midterm grades were returned to...
  11. ujjwal3097

    Overcoming Social Anxiety: My Story

    I have written a common app essay about my social anxiety disorder and how I overcame it and how it made me stronger but I am bit confused that whether this topic will be apt for college essay.I am thinking it might have a negative impact on my profile but I also want to write about it because...
  12. T

    Improving Test Performance: The Impact of Medication on Test Anxiety

    Hello, has anyone here had anxiety issues when taking tests before and noticed a difference in performance after taking medication? I have pretty bad anxiety before my exams, and find myself making very little mistakes that still show I understand the material. For example, when asked to...
  13. Ganesh Ujwal

    Why does anxiety cause diarrhea or constipation?

    Anxiety sometimes cause diarrhea, sometimes constipation, and sometimes both. It's interesting because it seems their underlying neurophysiology is somehow different. What are underlying physiological processes that lead to these two symptoms in anxious people? Particularly in terms of the...
  14. R

    Anxiety and Uncertainty about Pursuing Undergrad in Physics

    So for a little background, I'm an INTJ according to the Myers-brigs test and people often tell me I have an analytical mind. I'm not a genius or anything but I do above average in physics and math. I think it's mostly because I enjoy and engage more with the material than others. I think I have...
  15. I

    MHB Stressed for Calc 3 & Econ Tests? Tips for Exam Day Anxiety

    i have a calc 3 test on monday and i don't know why but I AM TERRIFIED. probably because i have an exam for econ the same day. any exam or pre-exam tips? how not to be afraid?
  16. M

    Overcoming Study Anxiety: Tips for Mastering Technical Courses

    I have trouble studying. I always find myself getting anxious, and looking at the end. Ideally, I would be happy to study an hour daily for a technical course (say, E&M or Linear Algebra), and then keep going at this pace everyday. But I just get anxious. I am already behind, and I feel a...
  17. F

    Schools Adjusting to college life and test anxiety

    So Thursday we had our first big test in class. I had managed to ace everything in the homework leading up to the test. I got cocky, and then I ended up bombing the test. I rushed through the test and completed it in about half the time I should have. The teacher offers a review with each...
  18. H

    Navigating the Future: Exploring Engineering Options for 20-Year-Olds

    I am 20 years old, I am probably going to enter a engineering program not next fall but the one after it. As I understand it, biomedical, computer science and pretty well any engineering degree will be good for the future. What do you guys think about being 20-21 and entering a program? What...
  19. L

    Social Phobia and Anxiety: Is This Survey Accurate?

    I came across this: http://www.socialanxietysupport.com/disorder/liebowitz/ A simple test that tries to identify social phobia or social anxiety disorder. I am curious to know what fellow forumers are scoring on it and whether you think it is accurate. Is this pseudoscience? I scored 99...
  20. DiracPool

    Applying to Universities: Dealing with GRE Anxiety

    I'm applying to two different universities, each of which has a top-notch department doing the type of research I'm interested in, neural network modeling. One is a DARPA funded program in an applied math department, and the other is a program in an electrical and computer engineering...
  21. N

    Medical Dealing with Anxiety and Phobias: A Personal Journey

    A couple years ago I developed a slight phobia to throwing up. For a couple of months it was pretty bad and i would think about it constantly. Especially when i ate. I saw a therapist that helped me learn to deal with panic attacks and such, and once i could function better, i stopped seeing...
  22. Z

    Medical Struggles With Hypochondria and Anxiety

    Hello General Discussion, I am a graduate student in physics in a very good US program. I have maintained perfect grades and begun what i consider rewarding research in an exciting new field. I have an excellent relationship with a loving girlfriend and enjoyable hobbies on the side. In...
  23. F

    32yr old, 1st time student, school choices anxiety

    Hi, I hope someone can chime in and offer some advice. I'm 32 and made the decision to go to college for the first time and earn a Physics degree and then to ultimately pursue a doctorate in a specialty to be decided later. (as of now, from what I can learn on my own, I'm up in the air...
  24. G

    Engineering Possible Jobs for Someone with an Engineering Degree and Immense Anxiety

    Here's some background info: I just graduated with a B.S. in M.E. with a decent GPA (3.7/4.0), I have about a year of internship experience, and I passed the F.E. exam. I imagine there are tons of recent graduates with similar or better credentials than me, and I'm just looking for internships...
  25. wukunlin

    Dealing With Group Work Anxiety: My Experiences

    These things just happen to me (to a lot of others I'm sure) every once in a while The class has group projects, everyone assigned to groups either random because I know absolutely no one in a new class or to someone I know. I hate it when one of the following happens: 1) I seem to be...
  26. E

    How to deal with preexam anxiety?

    How you guys deal when you feel nervous before an exam?
  27. H

    Post Exam Anxiety: How Often Do You Have it?

    How often do you have post exam anxiety? I have most often. After I give my exam , i keep on guessing the marks that i will score. If the guess oscillates around pass marks, then it makes me more anxious and that harms other exam I give.
  28. R

    Dealing with anxiety from midterms

    I am a female rising sophomore majoring in Physics and probably math as well. I attend an Ivy League university and hope to eventually become a physics professor in condensed matter theory. While I love my major and thoroughly enjoy doing my math and physics homework (and usually get good grades...
  29. D

    Mathematics, Creativity, and Anxiety

    I am currently a university sophomore pursuing a degree in computer science. During the 2010 fall semester, my linear algebra professor approached me after class and suggested that I consider getting a concurrent degree in mathematics. I have always been very passionate about mathematics and...
  30. G

    Dealing with Test Anxiety in Graduate Physics Programs

    I'm starting my grad program (Physics) this fall (September 2011); the following August (2012), I'll have to take the two day long comprehensive/qualifying exams... Even though the comps are more than a year away, I'm already incredibly anxious thinking about them. I picked up copies of some...
  31. G

    Re: Choaking, Panicking, Test Anxiety

    I read this in a Malcolm Gladwell essay: And: http://www.gladwell.com/2000/2000_08_21_a_choking.html"
  32. F

    Help Cure High Schooler's Anxiety: Solve 12 Energy Questions!

    Help me do this assignment. My grade depends on it! *Cure a high schooler's anxiety* 1.I am stuck on these 12 questions. The given data and equations are provided in each question. 2. 1. A bowling ball hangs from a 2-meter rope attached to the ceiling. Keeping the rope taut, you pull the ball...
  33. E

    Overcoming Anxiety while Studying for Stastics Exam

    I was wondering if anyone had any tips, on studying for a statics exam. The only problem I have is that, I understand how to do it, but i become anxious and loose my train of though. I tend to rush into the problem instead of breaking it down into its simplest parts. Tips or links on how...
  34. P

    Anxiety about ME grad school from a BS in Physics. Help greatly appreciated

    Anxiety about ME grad school from a BS in Physics. Help greatly appreciated! Hey all, so it is that time of the year to apply to grad schools and I am having some serious anxiety about it. I am applying to Phd programs in ME from a BS in physics and am very unsure about where to apply. I have...
  35. W

    Overcoming Test Anxiety: How to Relax and Ace Tests in College

    How do I not make them. It's a reoccurring problem I've been having on tests in college. I try to always read the problems carefully, check my work etc, but every time I make some kind of mistake. These range from algebra errors, to misreading the questions, to actually coming up with the right...
  36. M

    Test Anxiety: How To Conquer It Before Exams

    Test Anxiety... I know I am not the only one who goes through this phenomenon, how do you guys cope when (if) you get all worked up before an exam? Specifically, I tend to get very anxious before my calculus exams, even though I study constantly, ask questions, go to group study, and work...
  37. H

    Medical Is depression and/or anxiety genetic?

    I'm not talking about your chances of having it if it runs in your family, because I can see depression and/or anxiety being contagious if you were raised in it. I'm talking about actual, they've isolated the gene, genetics. I've often heard people say "it's a leak in the brain", as though...
  38. ZapperZ

    Female Teachers’ Math Anxiety Affects Girls’ Math Achievement

    Did anyone manage to read http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100126/ap_on_sc/us_sci_fear_of_figures" [Broken]? It seems that a new study has shown that if a female math teach is unsure of her own math skills, her female students tend to be more susceptible to accept that boys are better at math than...
  39. U

    Overcoming Test Anxiety: Failing Tests Despite Understanding the Material

    Failing tests... So far in my honors pre-calc class we have taken 3 tests. My grades on these tests have been 57%, 73%, and 63%. i understand all the material in class and have no problem on the homework, but when i take the tests i get so nervous i rush through the test and i make stupid...
  40. S

    Medical Anxiety clinical studies need support

    I am conducting clinical studies on anxiety treatment but would like to look into a clinical support service. Would anybody happen to know of any good ones? I was referred by a friend to link deleted but I would like to get some more feedback on other services. Would anybody care to help? I...
  41. wolram

    Journey. Through Depression and Anxiety

    For all who gave support and understanding, i guess a few of you know what depression and anxiety is like, its worse than a cold for sure, but the main aid to a cure is support, all though not cured i feel a heck of a lot better when i can drive the bad thoughts away with the good ones some of...
  42. F

    MCAT/UKCAT: Overcoming Test Anxiety & Preparing for Success

    So I am terrified to write my MCAT and keep putting it off. I have been looking at schools in England and Scotland and was planning to apply but they require a UKCAT. Has anyone written the MCAT who feels inclined to make me feel better? and does anyone know about the UKCAT and how I go about...
  43. W

    Crippling Anxiety Over Finals: Calc-Physics

    Ok so finals are over for me. I know I got an A in macro-econ, A in Calulus, and an A in Chem II. There is just one class I am worried about, calc-physics. I always did my homework, got a B on the first test, and an A on the second exam. The problem was I think I choked on the final. I have...
  44. Ivan Seeking

    Unlock Pet Separation Anxiety with "Puppy Prozac"

    http://www.abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=3063558&page=1 http://snltranscripts.jt.org/76/76gpuppyuppers.phtml Saturday Night Live Transcripts Season 2: Episode 7 76g: Dick Cavett / Ry Cooder Puppy Uppers/Doggie Downers Joy...Gilda Radner Jill...Laraine Newman
  45. J

    Medical Anxiety: Causes & How to Help a Friend

    I have a friend who suffers from severe anxiety, her mind tells her that bad things are going to happen, like sicknesses, or other things, and she sees actual pictures in her mind of bad things that she is afraid of happening. She knows that this is unrealistic, but is so afraid that if she...
  46. Galileo

    Gotta Release the Emotions Releasing Emotions: A Journey Through Love and Anxiety

    Gotta get this outta my system. Never mind me. Oh daaammnn! I`m sick to the stomach. What the hell is happening!? I can't sleep. I can't think about anything but her. She is at the moment my whole universe! My productivity is down to zero and I have so much to do (she'll pay for this). I...
  47. L

    Conquering Exam Anxiety: Tips for Optimal Performance

    I had a midterm today, and I think I did bad on it even though I studied hard for it. When I first glanced at the paper, I knew how to every problem. But when I started to each problem, my neck started to go stiff, and I couldn't think properly. It seems as if though everything I studied...
  48. M

    Medical Dealing with Anxiety Disorder: 19 YO's Story

    I'm not sure if this is the appropriate place to post this, but I noticed someone else posted a topic on dyslexia in here. I'm kind of a newb here and mostly lurk the relativity, and brain teasers forums, so I apologize if this is the wrong place. Anyways, I've been having problems with panic...
  49. A

    Overcoming Exam Anxiety: What Can I Do?

    Well i have this problem not related physics but overall physcology well i am able to solve most of difficult problems easily at home but whenever i am put in exam like conditions,tests i falter there is some kind of mindblock which sets in and i am not able to get ideas which are central to...
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