Everybody feels anxious occasionally. But if the anxiety remains after the stress has disappeared, it becomes pathological. This does not usually persist but when it fails to go away, and begins to affect peoples' lives, they usually need help. Anxiety is a normal response to stress, producing a state of fearfulness and distressing physical symptoms. When it continues to affect a person after the external stress has gone and is disproportionate to the severity of the stress, it becomes pathological.
Some people suffer from an anxiety disorder and depression together.
Others develop depression first and an anxiety disorder later. They mainly affect young adults, and occur equally in men and women. Heredity is a contributing factor. Accurate diagnosis is important since treatment varies. Depending on the disorder, anxiety can be treated with behavioural therapy, psychotherapy or drugs.