Is there a difference between feeling nervous or anxious and an anxiety disorder?
Of course. Everybody feels anxious or nervous some of the time, particularly if we have to perform or prepare for an unusual event, such as a speech or test. We may feel fear walking down a dark street at night or when we find ourselves lost in an unfamiliar city. These kind of fears are normal and can actually be beneficial by urging us to practice the speech, study for the test, or question whether we really need to be out at night all alone. When these fears become constant, chronic, and interfere with everyday functioning, however, they become an anxiety disorder and need treatment.
