All of us feel anxious at times. People worry about things that might happen. We may have a restless night of sleep. Inside is an uncomfortable sense of being threatened or losing control. The anxious person becomes preoccupied with his condition, thereby producing further anxiety. Even when anxiety is mild, it usually includes a threatening sense of the future. Anxiety and depression are often fused together as emotional experiences. People experiencing anxiety are oftentimes tremulous, have a worried look, increased perspiration and muscle tension, particularly in the muscles of the face, neck, and jaw. Also, a person experiencing anxiety often complains of increased body aches and pains, particularly headache and back discomfort. People with an anxiety disorder may also include restlessness, fatigue, problems with concentration, irritability, and insomnia. In addition, these individuals worry about a variety of events, such as health, financial problems, rejection, and performance, and they find it difficult to control. Many people with anxiety feel that they are “out of control." People who worry oftentimes think that worry will prevent them from being surprised, or that worrying prepares them for the worst possible outcome (e.g. what if …).
About 15% of the population will suffer from clinical anxiety. Women are twice as likely as men to have this condition. This is a chronic condition. Many people have been "worriers" their entire lives. Noteworthy, is that many people with an anxiety disorder have a variety of other problems, including phobias, depression, irritable bowel syndrome, and relationship problems.
People with an anxiety disorder typically report more recent life stressors (e.g. conflicts with other people, changes in their work, and additional demands placed on them) than those without an anxiety disorder. They may also not be as effective in solving problems in everyday life as they could be, they may have personal conflicts in which they may not be as assertive or effective as they could be.