Anxiety

Excerpt

Anxiety may be defined as apprehension, tension, or uneasiness that stems from the anticipation of danger, which may be internal or external (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 1980). Although some definitions distinguish between fear as being an emotional reaction to a real and consciously recognized threat and anxiety as being a fear response when reality does not justify such a response, it is important to remember that the manifestations of anxiety and fear in the body are the same. Since 2 to 4% of the general population has been estimated to experience sufficient symptoms of anxiety to be classified as having an anxiety disorder, it is extremely important that careful inquiry for the presence of anxiety be made.