Pathological, Abnormal Anxiety

As noted in the previous section, normal anxiety is actually beneficial. However, anxiety becomes a problem when it overstays its welcome (duration), and/or is of an intensity or frequency which begins to interfere with a person's functioning and overall well-being. These three factors - duration, intensity, and frequency- distinguish normal, adaptive anxiety from abnormal, pathological anxiety. As such, abnormal anxiety is different from normal anxiety because it is disproportionate to the situation that elicited the anxious response. When the intensity, duration, and/or frequency of anxiety become distressful and chronic, such that it interferes with a person's functioning, it is often referred to as pathological anxiety. Anxiety disorders represent variant forms of this pathological anxiety.

Therefore, the difference between normal anxiety and abnormal anxiety is this: anxiety is considered normal and adaptive when it serves to improve peoples' functioning or to preserve their well-being; in contrast, abnormal anxiety is a chronic condition which impairs peoples' functioning and interferes with their well-being, thereby causing them significant distress. According to the American Psychiatric Association (DSM-IV-TR), in addition to specific symptoms that may accompany a particular anxiety disorder, the main criteria used to distinguish normal anxiety from an anxiety disorder is the impairment that results in a person's social, occupational, and/or academic functioning (2000). More information about the diagnosis and classification of anxiety disorders is provided in that section.

Anxiety experienced to this degree is not uncommon. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH, 2008), approximately 40 million American adults (i.e., 18.1 %) have an anxiety disorder in a given year, with their first episode occurring before the age of 21.5. This prevalence rate is really quite astonishing: roughly one person in five will have experienced an anxiety disorder during that year. Interestingly, these estimates are not exclusive to the United States, with similar prevalence rates being reported for the global population. Moreover, evidence suggests that women tend to experience anxiety disorders more frequently than men, especially Phobias.

There are several reasons it is important to make this distinction between anxiety as an adaptive emotion, and anxiety as a disorder. First, it would be incorrect to conclude someone is suffering from an anxiety disorder simply because they are experiencing some degree of anxiety. As explained above, anxiety as an emotion is a normal reaction to certain situations and even serves a useful purpose. Thus, it is neither necessary, nor beneficial, to attempt to rid ourselves of all anxiety.

Second, it is important for each of us to recognize that our own normal experiences of ordinary anxiety are qualitatively different from a person experiencing an anxiety disorder. Often, well-intentioned family and friends will offer advice to people attempting to recover from anxiety disorders. Unfortunately, these well-meaning friends and family cannot understand why the person-in-recovery reacts so negatively to their genuine efforts to help them "get over it" or to "just forget about it." These sorts of techniques may be useful for coping with ordinary anxiety, but are not effective once anxiety has reached a pathological level. Indeed, without proper information about anxiety disorders, people-in-recovery and their loved ones may find themselves becoming increasingly frustrated with each other, even though their goals are the same: to deal with anxiety in a constructive manner on a daily basis.

Authors Statement: Established in 1979, the Bio Behavioral Institute is a psychological and psychiatric clinic dedicated to the treatment and research of anxiety and mood disorders. Based in Long Island, NY, USA, the institute serves both a local and international clientele. Our staff have over 40 years of experience treating anxiety and mood disorders and have been at the forefront of scientifically supported treatments for anxiety disorders for many years. We offer a variety of programs provided by a multidisciplinary team of professionals. For more information, please visit us online at www.biobehavioralinstitute.com or view Bio Behavioral Institute and author biographical information on this website.