Short answers, pulled from the story.
Anxiety is future-oriented while fear is a response to a present, immediate threat. Psychologist David Barlow defines anxiety as "a future-oriented mood state in which one is not ready or prepared to attempt to cope with upcoming negative events." Fear is short-lived and specific; anxiety is long-acting and directed toward a diffuse, not-yet-defined threat.
About 12% of people are affected by an anxiety disorder in any given year, and between 12% and 30% experience one at some point in their lives. Anxiety disorders occur about twice as often in women as in men, generally begin before age 25, and are most prevalent among people aged 15 to 35.
Anxiety produces symptoms across multiple organ systems, including palpitations, tachycardia, chest pain, shortness of breath, abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, headache, vertigo, muscle fatigue, tremors, perspiration, and frequent urination. Stress hormones released during anxious states can also worsen irritable bowel syndrome.
Anxiety disorders arise from a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Twin studies suggest genetics accounts for 30-40% of individual differences in anxiety. Social risk factors include trauma, bullying, poverty, food insecurity, harsh parenting, and certain parental behaviors. A 2019 review found food-insecure individuals had nearly a threefold increased risk of testing positive for anxiety.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is a first-line treatment and is equally effective when delivered via the internet. Medications including SSRIs, SNRIs, and serotonin agonists such as azapirones are also used. Benzodiazepines are effective short-term but are generally not recommended for longer than 2-4 weeks due to tolerance and dependence. A 2023 review found regular physical activity is also effective for reducing anxiety.
In The Concept of Anxiety, published in 1844, Kierkegaard described anxiety as the "dizziness of freedom" and suggested it could be resolved through self-conscious responsibility and choosing. Paul Tillich defined existential anxiety as "the state in which a being is aware of its possible nonbeing" and identified three forms: ontic (fate and death), moral (guilt and condemnation), and spiritual (emptiness and meaninglessness), arguing that the spiritual form predominates in modern times.