Understanding Anxiety: How It Differs from Fear and When to Seek Help

Anxiety is a problem that most people often face. People often interpret fear as anxiety. They both are related but not the same. Fear is an immediate emotional response to a real or perceived threat. For example, if you suddenly encounter a snake, you experience fear. Your body reacts quickly with increased heart rate, sweating, and heightened alertness to help you deal with the danger. Once the threat is gone, your fear usually fades away.

Anxiety, on the other hand, is more about anticipating future threats or dangers. It involves worrying about something that might happen and experiencing similar physical and emotional responses even when the threat isn’t present. For instance, if you’re anxious about the possibility of encountering a snake while leaving your house, you might feel nervous or uneasy, even though there’s no immediate danger.

While feeling anxious occasionally is normal, if anxiety becomes overwhelming, uncontrollable, or leads to avoiding everyday situations, it could be a sign of an anxiety disorder. In such cases, seeking help from a mental health professional can be beneficial.

-Anjali