The holidays are underway, and for many people that means anxiety. But for some, anxiety is a year-round guest — and an unwelcome one. According to the National Institutes of Health, 31 percent of U.S. adults will suffer from some kind of anxiety disorder at some point in their lives, with females and people under 40 at a slightly higher risk.
Most of us feel some anxiety from time to time — and that’s perfectly normal. In fact, it’s probably adaptive. Some evolutionary biologists have suggested that a certain amount of anxiety can sharpen your sensitivity to potential danger, making it more likely that you’ll take steps to prepare for trouble.
The problem is that the system can go haywire, causing more anxiety than is beneficial. That’s especially troublesome in today’s world, where we seem to face potential threats every time we check our news feeds.
