Is anxiety harmful?

Anxiety is a physiological, psychological, and emotional state that results when we behave apprehensively (worry that something bad or harmful may happen). Behaving apprehensively stresses the body, and a body that becomes overly stressed can become symptomatic. We call them anxiety symptoms because behaving overly apprehensively is the main source of the stress that causes the body to exhibit symptoms. You can read more about the many symptoms of anxiety in our Anxiety Symptoms section.
Recovery Support members can access a more comprehensive Symptoms section (Chapter 9) in the Recovery Support area. Chapter 9 lists, describes, fully explains, and provides remedies for each anxiety symptom.
While anxiety itself isn't harmful, the stress it creates can be. Short episodes of high stress are relatively harmless, but persistently elevated stress can harm the body. In fact, it's commonly thought that 94 percent of all illness is caused or aggravated by stress. So persistently elevated stress isn't something to be taken lightly.
Those who claim that anxiety isn't harmful don't understand anxiety at the disorder level. Sure, mild anxiety is harmless, but anxiety at a disorder level can cause great hardship and lifestyle impairment.
Since all of us at anxietycentre.com have experienced anxiety disorder, we know how devastating it can be. But we also know it can be successfully overcome.
If you are experiencing problematic anxiety, we encourage you to successfully address it so that it doesn't negatively affect your health. Addressing your problematic anxiety can help you return to normal and lasting health...and for good!
The combination of good self-help information and personal coaching/counseling/therapy is the most effective way to overcome anxiety disorder, including anxiety attacks.
Anxietycentre.com was developed for this purpose. The member's area of our website contains a wealth of exceptional self-help information and our personal coaches/counselors/therapists are well qualified to help you conquer your anxiety disorder.
Links for more information:
- Anxiety symptoms
- Anxiety tests
- Anxiety attacks
- How anxietycentre.com can help
- Two levels of anxiety disorder recovery
The combination of good self-help information and working with an experienced anxiety disorder therapist is the most effective way to address anxiety disorder and its many symptoms. Until the core causes of anxiety are addressed - the underlying factors that motivate apprehensive behavior - a struggle with anxiety disorder can return again and again. Identifying and successfully addressing anxiety's underlying factors is the best way to overcome problematic anxiety.
Additional Resources:
- For a comprehensive understanding of: Anxiety Disorders Symptoms & Signs, Types, Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment.
- Anxiety and panic attacks symptoms can be powerful experiences. Find out what they are and how to stop them.
- How to stop an anxiety attack and panic.
- Free online anxiety tests to screen for anxiety. Two minute tests with instant results. Such as:
- Anxiety 101 is a summarized description of anxiety, anxiety disorder, and how to overcome it.
Return to our Anxiety Frequent Questions page.