Anxiety

Definition: Anxiety can be a normal reaction to fearful situations in our lives -- an appropriate "fight or flight" response to a real source of peril. When anxiety becomes a constant presence, to the point that the individual can't function normally or needs elaborate rituals to get through the day, then it becomes a disorder. In addition to Generalized Anxiety Disorder, the following are considered to be anxiety disorders: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder, and specific phobias. For more information, visit the Anxiety Disorder Association of America.