Your Internet resource for information about the practice of psychology We have all experienced significant anxiety at one time or another, although perhaps not severe enough to warrant a diagnosis by a professional.
Anxiety is a danger or an alert signal.
The physiological arousal we experience as anxiety is directly related to fear of harm. When we are faced with a threat to our physical well-being that can result in either serious physical harm or death, we respond psychologically and physically. In a life threatening crisis, this fight or flight response can save our lives. Instead, we are faced with problems that complicate our lives. These problems do pose a threat, but usually it is not a physical threat.