What is Anxiety, and What is An Anxiety Disorder?

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines anxiety as follows:

1 a : painful or apprehensive uneasiness of mind usually over an impending or anticipated ill; b : fearful concern or interest; c : a cause of anxiety

2 : an abnormal and overwhelming sense of apprehension and fear often marked by physiological signs (as sweating, tension, and increased pulse), by doubt concerning the reality and nature of the threat, and by self-doubt about one's capacity to cope with it

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Anxiety is certainly a speedbump, smack-dab in the middle of the road to happiness. It is built-up adrenaline that more or less has no where to go. When a feeling like this, or the definitions above occur, it is generally thought of as anxiety. Sometimes anxiety is quite easy to ignore- just count to ten! Other times, it can be an extremely intrusive disorder that seems like it can control your life. www.kitchentablemedicine.com/what-is-anxiety/

How can someone tell the difference between an anxiety "event" and an anxiety disorder?

What I call and anxiety "event" is something that can be brushed off without having to take drastic measures to do so. It can be uncomfortable, annoying and even cause anger, but it will most likely be somewhat easy to extinguish. For example, what if you have an exam in twenty minutes that you haven't even studied for? What chapter is it on again? You may start to sweat, feel flushed, or even feel your heart flutter in an uncomfortable way, and sometimes it is hard to breathe- this is because you realize that you really need to pass the test, and there is just no way that is going to be possible.

On the contrary, and anxiety disorder is much more prominent, and seems to control your life. Everything makes you feel as described above, but you feel this way a majority of the time for no reason at all. These disorders could be caused by many things, whether you have generalized anxiety, or have had something traumatic happen in your life (a disorder which can also be diagnosed as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder).

Both kinds of anxiety are irritating, and there are many, many things that someone could do to help or even prevent them.