Anxiety

Anxiety is apprehension about possible future threats, ranging from a normal response to a persistent state that causes distress or impairs daily functioning.

Amygdala: A group of brain nuclei involved in processing threat, emotion, and emotional learning. Threat-related activity can heighten vigilance and bodily responses during anxiety.
Fear: An emotional response to an immediate or clearly perceived threat. Fear is usually tied to present danger, while anxiety centers on anticipated threats.
Cognitive behavioral therapy: A psychotherapy that changes unhelpful patterns of thought and behavior through structured practice. It helps identify anxious predictions and test them against experience.
Depression: A mood disorder characterized by persistent low mood or loss of interest, alongside other symptoms. Depression centers on low mood or diminished interest, though it often co-occurs with anxiety.
Insomnia: Persistent difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or obtaining restorative sleep despite adequate opportunity. Anxious thoughts and arousal can interfere with sleep, which may then worsen anxiety.
Hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis: A hormonal system that coordinates the body's response to stress. Its activation can sustain physical arousal when a threat feels imminent.
Worry: Repeated thinking about possible negative outcomes and how to prevent them. Persistent worry is a common cognitive feature of anxiety.
Exposure therapy: A treatment that repeatedly and safely brings a person into contact with feared cues or situations. Exposure reduces avoidance and supports new learning about feared outcomes.
Obsessive–compulsive disorder: A disorder involving intrusive obsessions and repetitive compulsions performed to reduce distress or prevent feared outcomes. Its repetitive rituals distinguish it from anxiety disorders, despite overlapping fear and distress.
Social isolation: A lack of social contact or meaningful connection with other people. Avoiding feared interactions can reduce opportunities for support and connection.

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