While feeling uneasy during stressful times is a natural human response, constant and uncontrollable worry may indicate a more serious underlying condition.
The difference between natural reaction and disorder
Anxiety serves a protective function by helping the body mobilize resources and increase concentration during uncertain or dangerous situations. However, according to Aliya Ashchi, a psychiatrist at the Republican Center for Psychiatry and Narcology, anxiety becomes a disorder when it turns excessive and disproportionate to the actual circumstances.
Anxiety disorder is a group of mental disorders in which anxiety, fear, and worry become excessive, persistent, or poorly controlled, significantly affecting a person's emotional state, behavior, well-being, and daily life.
Signs of pathological anxiety
A person suffering from an anxiety disorder may experience intense worry even in calm environments. Common indicators that the condition has moved beyond normal stress include:
- Inability to sleep due to racing, anxious thoughts
- Constant worrying about health, work, or the future
- Persistent tension even in safe or peaceful settings
- Anxiety that interferes with daily functioning and behavior
