Some people feel more anxiety than others. Anxiety can either be mild or so intense that you feel panic. Normally anxiety is temporary, but when it lasts a long time or occurs in the absence of a stress or threat, it is considered an illness. When anxiety is so extreme that a person is in a panic state, then the anxiety is a psychiatric disorder known as a panic disorder. The signs and symptoms of anxiety can be classified into two categories, psychological and physical.
Anxiety is diagnosed by interview.
Your doctor will try to identify symptoms associated with anxiety. He or she will ask you about life events, daily activities, and your view of how things are going. In addition, the doctor will examine you. Lab tests may be done to rule out the possibility of a physical problem as the underlying reason for your anxiety. Possible tests include a complete blood count, blood analysis, thyroid function tests, and urine analysis.