Anxious, anxiety, worry, nervous, stress. People use these terms often and may not realize that an anxiety disorder does not feel the same as the unease that most people experience occasionally. ⁠

If you have an anxiety disorder you know that you are not having occasional nagging worries. If you are anxious, it’s not a one time every few weeks kind of a thing. ⁠

Anxiety disorders can take over thoughts, impacts your feelings, and affect how you behave. Here are a few examples: ⁠

Thoughts: difficulty concentrating and racing thoughts⁠
Feelings: irritability, feeling overwhelmed, physical aches, nausea ⁠
Behaviors: avoidance, isolating from others, neglecting responsibilities ⁠

Even though some people may not understand how intense anxiety is, know there are many people who resonate with you and empathize with your challenges. ⁠

Dr. Davis