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Anxiety
Definition: Anxiety is a multisystem response to a perceived threat or danger. It reflects a combination of biochemical changes in the body, the patient's personal history and memory, and the social situation. As far as we know, anxiety is a uniquely human experience. Other animals clearly know fear, but human anxiety involves an ability, to use memory and imagination to move backward and forward in time, that animals do not appear to have. The anxiety that occurs in posttraumatic syndromes indicates that human memory is a much more complicated mental function than animal memory. Moreover, a large portion of human anxiety is produced by anticipation of future events. Without a sense of personal continuity over time, people would not have the "raw materials" of anxiety.
It is important to distinguish between anxiety as a feeling or experience, and an anxiety disorder as a psychiatric diagnosis. A person may feel anxious without having an anxiety disorder. In addition, a person facing a clear and present danger or a realistic fear is not usually considered to be in a state of anxiety. In addition, anxiety frequently occurs as a symptom in other categories of psychiatric disturbance.
© http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/anxiety
Recommended Reading
The following reading material is recommended by Vorpahl Psychology Associates, LLC
Additional Reading Material
Anxiety Disorder
Other Resources
Below are additional online resources that you may find helpful. By clicking any of these links you are leaving our site. The links are for informational purposes only. We do not guarantee the services or in any other way endorse any of the organizations listed.

Social Anxiety Support
Anxiety Disorders Association of America
WebMD
Anxiety Panic Attack Resource Site, LLC
ENcourage Connection
Anxiety and Depression Support
Mass General Hospital - Boston Social Anxiety
HelpGuide.org
National Institute of Mental Health
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