Do you think that anxiety disorders are more common now than they used to be? There’s a common perception that anxiety disorders are more prevalent today than they used to be, but it’s not clear that that’s actually true. What does seem to be true is that there is less of a stigma attached to seeking treatment for anxiety disorders than there used to be and that more people who suffer from anxiety are willing to get help.

There are many symptoms of stress. There are physical symptoms, like difficulty sleeping or loss of appetite, and there are more psychological symptoms, such as excessive worry or feeling overwhelmed.

Over time, anxiety can erode your sense of self-confidence. If you’re always worried that something bad is about to happen to you, it can be difficult to have the confidence to move forward because you’re already convinced that things aren’t going to work out for you.

What is self-esteem? Self-esteem is a feeling of self-worth. If you have a robust sense of self-esteem, you value the particular qualities you have—your sense of humor, your kindness, your intelligence—that matter to you. You feel you deserve to be treated with respect because you value yourself.

How are shyness, introversion, and anxiety related? Shyness and introversion are often mistaken for one another, but they’re actually quite distinct. You can be an outgoing introvert, or a shy extrovert.Introversion and extroversion have to do with how you recharge your energy batteries when you’re running low.

Anxiety and procrastination are related in a number of ways; two really stand out for me. Procrastination is often caused by anxiety about failure, or by anxiety about success.

What does normal anxiety look like? Normal anxiety is connected to the fight-or-flight response. In order to respond effectively in a dangerous situation, you need some kind of danger signal that gives you a few seconds to prepare to fight or flee.Having this kind of anxiety is good; evolution gave it to you for a reason.

What is relationship anxiety? Relationship anxiety can take many forms. Maybe you’re anxious about getting into a relationship because you’re afraid you’ll be hurt. Maybe you’re anxious about not being in a relationship because you’re afraid of being alone. Of course, many anxieties come up in relationships themselves.

Can you overcome anxiety?“Overcome” might be too strong a word, at least in some cases. Some people are naturally more anxious than others. Some children are more cautious or worried than others, or they have a harder time being calmed and soothed.

What is performance anxiety? Performance anxiety often comes up when you literally have to perform—when you’re acting, singing, or giving a presentation. But you can also experience performance anxiety in many everyday situations, from having sex to having to write a term paper.

I think stress is something you feel in specific situations. It tends to dissipate when you’re no longer in the situation causing the stress. You can become stressed if you have too much going on at work, or if your kids are having trouble at school.

Have you ever met someone either at work or at school who seemed overly shy or maybe a little bit stuck up? It’s easy to think that they are snobs and that they consider themselves better than everyone else, but this may be a misperception. People that exhibit behavior like this may have symptoms of generalized social anxiety disorder.

Joseph E. Ledoux, professor of neuroscience and psychology at New York University, concedes that people tend to avoid events that they know or think will cause them stress. This is especially true after a particularly traumatic event such as the 9/11 attacks in 2001 or the recent bombings at the Boston Marathon.

Growing older can be a relief to those of us who are surrounded by a sea of choices like a kid in a really big candy store. One day, you realize that not only are you not going to be able to do or be anything you want to, you no longer want to.

Over 20% of the children in this country suffer from anxiety disorders that often go undiagnosed and untreated. Children today are faced with a barrage of instant information, some of which is horrifying, such as the Newtown massacre.

Making large and important life decisions produces anxiety in almost everyone. Anxiety-ridden decisions may also create the need to seek advice from friends and family. Francesca Gino recently published a study contending that the more anxious an individual feels, the less likely he is to trust himself.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Americans are, by far, the most anxiety-ridden people on earth. Nearly a third of us are likely to suffer from an anxiety problem in our lifetime. Americans appear to be on a rather grim march to find that elusive Fountain of Perpetual Happiness.

In an opinion piece, Ruth Whippman delves into the American obsession with happiness and how, in the end, the search for it may have the opposite effect. As Whippman explains, happiness has become the new trophy for over-achievers. It has become a sign post that you have really made it.