Stress affects everyone, up to a certain extent—and it’s actually a natural and normal response to a trigger. Have you ever experienced shortness of breath, your heart pounding, sweating, a fear that you will faint or even die? If yes, then you are not alone. Millions of people suffer from some kind of anxiety. If we faced a tiger which happened to be in front of us then automatically the fight or flight or freeze response would be activated. That is a primitive response and has to do with evolution. Our body is preparing itself for survival. However, if we were walking on the street and suddenly our body started having the same physiological responses with no actual danger in sight, then something else must be going on. Let’s take for example Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). GAD will affect about 3-5% of the general population at some point in their life. Generalized Anxiety Disorder is characterized by constant and immoderate anxiety and uncontrollable worry in different domains, accompanied by various psychological and physical symptoms (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). GAD is now considered one of the most chronic, costly, and impairing mental disorders and is affiliated with social, occupational and economic burden (Tyrer & Baldwin, 2006). In general, the most consistent physiological finding in patients with anxiety disorders seems to be increased muscle tension which may be associated with trembling, twitching, feeling shaky, muscle aches or soreness, sweating, nausea or diarrhea and excessive reactions to sudden sounds.

That is just one type of anxiety. There is also social anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder, phobias, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and more. No matter where it comes from it can create great distress and make many areas of our daily life dysfunctional. Some people have the fear of speaking or eating in front of other people in formal or informal occasions, which could be limited to a situation, like a social phobia. Some people cannot perform when it matters. Just the thought of criticism or rejection can freeze them. It’s frustrating to have the skills or knowledge or the ability to be good at something and let anxiety be a barrier. Whatever the causes many people struggle to work, socialize, or be functional. The feeling of anxiety can overwhelm us and make life seem unbearable.