Anxiety and anxiety disorders

Anxiety is an emotional state involving physical tension and worry about the future. Everyone experiences it at times, such as before exams or significant life events, though excessive anxiety can make thinking irrational and hinder decision-making.

Conditions once called neuroses are now known as anxiety disorders, including panic disorder, agoraphobia, generalised anxiety disorder, specific phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder, acute reactions to stress and post-traumatic stress disorder.