What is "anxiety"?

What is "anxiety"?

Charles Sophy (Private Practice in Adult, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) gives expert video advice on: How prevalent are anxieties and phobias in children?; What is the professional treatment for a child with phobias and anxieties?; What can I do to prevent my child from developing an anxiety? and more...

Anxiety is a general feeling that all people feel. Things that trigger anxiety in everybody are different from me to you; it may be the weather for me, it may be the finances for you, it may be not sleeping well, but there are different variables that will trigger anxiety in an individual that will manifest itself in different ways. Some people have higher tolerances for their anxiety and it doesn't come out until it spills to another range; other people have lower tolerance and it comes out more often and more frequently. It commonly manifests itself as what people know as worry, and how that worry translates for everybody is different. A child doesn't know it's worry; it may come out as frustration, anger, rage, or a tantrum. An adult may know it's worry, and they may not eat for a day or so, they may ruminate and think about it, they may not want to leave their home, or they may not be able to fall asleep. So, how anxiety will be manifested depends on the individual, their age, and the kinds of coping skills they instil within themselves.