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We all know what it’s like to feel anxious. Most of us experience anxiety when we’re faced with stressful situations or traumatic events. Our heart may pound before a big presentation or a tough exam. We may get butterflies in our stomach during a blind date. We worry and fret over family problems or feel jittery at the prospect of asking our boss for a raise. Anxiety is part of our natural “fight-or-flight” response. It’s our body’s way of warning us of danger ahead. And for the most part, anxiety is adaptive. It gears us up for life’s challenges and spurs us to action when we’re faced with a threat. However, if anxiety is preventing you from living your life the way you’d like to, you may be suffering from an anxiety disorder.

What is an anxiety disorder?

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, anxiety disorders are the most common type of mental illness in the U.S., with approximately 40 million people over the age of 18 affected each year. Anxiety disorders can take many forms. You may experience free-floating anxiety without knowing exactly why you’re feeling that way. You may suffer from sudden, intense panic attacks that strike without warning. Your anxiety may come in the form of extreme social inhibition or in unwanted obsessions and compulsions. Or you may have a phobia of an object or situation that doesn’t seem to bother other people.

Despite their different forms, all anxiety disorders share one thing in common: persistent—and often overwhelming—fear or worry. The frequency and intensity of these fears can be immobilizing, distressing, and disruptive. Characteristics of an anxiety disorder include:

• Anxiety which is constant, unrelenting, and all-consuming
• Anxiety which causes self-imposed isolation or emotional withdrawal
• Anxiety which interferes with normal activities like going outside or interacting with other people

The toll an anxiety disorder takes on your life can lead to other problems as well, such as low self-esteem, depression, and alcoholism. Anxiety can also negatively impact your work and your personal relationships. But the good news is that anxiety disorders are highly treatable. With the help of a qualified mental health professional, you can get relief from your worries and lead the life that you want