Anxiety is different than fear. Fear happens in response to a present threat. Anxiety happens in response to a future threat.

Fear and anxiety can happen at the same time. Everyone experiences anxiety. So what makes typical anxiety different from an anxiety disorder?

For those with an anxiety disorder, the anxiety is excessive and persistent. It disrupts the person’s life and causes significant distress.

Another way of saying this is that the person feels really anxious most of the time and that the feeling doesn’t go away easily.

There are different types of anxiety disorders, depending on the specific object or situation that triggers the anxiety, fear or avoidance behavior.

As with all mental health concerns, medical or substance use causes must be considered first.

It is important to get help from your family doctor or a mental health professional to consider all the different reasons for your (or your child’s) symptoms.