Differences in Anxiety and Normal Nervousness

Anxiety is a feeling or experience characterized by an unpleasant state of inner tension, often accompanied by nervous behavior. Common examples include excessive thoughts and worry about possible future events, such as the fear that something terrible will happen to oneself or someone else in the near future. The person with anxiety is typically on edge for much of the time and experiences difficulty thinking clearly because they are so focused on anticipating potential threats. Nervousness, meanwhile, occurs when people feel extreme concern over certain matters without experiencing intense distress.