Knowledge Library

Anxiety

Understand anxiety, excessive worry, fear responses, panic, avoidance and the kinds of support that may help.

Understanding This

Anxiety is part of the body's normal response to uncertainty, stress and danger. Anxiety disorders involve more than occasional worry or nervousness. The fear or worry may persist, occur across many situations, become difficult to control or interfere with school, work, relationships, sleep and everyday activities.

What Someone May Experience

Persistent or excessive worry

Feeling restless, tense or on edge

Difficulty concentrating

Irritability

Trouble falling asleep or staying asleep

Muscle tension or other physical stress responses

Panic or sudden intense fear

Avoiding situations because of fear or worry

What May Help

Talking with a qualified health or mental-health professional

Psychotherapy, including approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy

Medication when a clinician determines it is appropriate

Regular sleep, movement, social connection and stress-management practices

Learning to identify triggers and patterns

Peer, family or community support

When to Reach Out

Consider reaching out when anxiety is persistent, worsening, causing significant distress or interfering with everyday life. A health professional can help determine whether symptoms are connected to an anxiety disorder, another health condition or something else.

Immediate Support

If anxiety is part of an immediate crisis, or you are having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, call or text 988.

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Related SAGE Resources

Trusted Sources

These are the organizations SAGE used to build and verify this information. They are shown for transparency. SAGE does not send you away from this page automatically.

National Institute of Mental Health — Anxiety Disorders


                        https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/anxiety-disorders

National Institute of Mental Health — Psychotherapies


                        https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/psychotherapies

Information checked: 2026-09-28