Understanding the difference: Anxiety vs Anxiety Disorder

• Is a normal temporary response to stress or threat.  

• It usually goes away once the stressor is gone.

• Persistent, excessive, and disproportionate fear or worry.
• Difficult to control compared to normal anxiety.
• Persist even without a clear trigger.

What It Is: GAD involves constant, overwhelming worry about many parts of life, such as work, health, or daily activities.

How It Feels: People with GAD might feel restless, tired, have trouble focusing, or experience muscle tension and sleep problems. This worry can be hard to control and lasts for a long time.

What It Is: It is marked by sudden and intense panic attacks. These are brief episodes where a person feels extreme fear or discomfort.

How It Feels: During a panic attack, you might experience rapid heart rate, sweating, shaking, shortness of breath, chest pain, or feel like you’re choking. There may also be a fear of losing control or dying. People often start avoiding places where they fear another attack might happen.

Social Anxiety Disorder 

(Social Phobia)

What It Is: This is a fear of social situations where one might be judged or embarrassed. It can make everyday interactions stressful.

How It Feels: People with social anxiety might worry about speaking in public, meeting new people, or eating in front of others. They often avoid social events to escape these feelings.

What It Is: This involves an intense fear of a specific object or situation, like heights, flying, or animals.

How It Feels: The fear is much stronger than the actual danger. Individuals might go out of their way to avoid whatever scares them, even if it seems irrational to others.

What It Is: Agoraphobia is the fear of places or situations where escaping might be hard or where help might not be available if needed.

How It Feels: People with agoraphobia might avoid crowded places, public transportation, or being alone outside their home because they worry they won’t be able to escape or get help if they have a panic attack.