A middle-aged woman wrote in an email, “I’m driving myself crazy. What I do every day is anxiety. For example, if someone has a cold, I’m afraid I’ll catch it too; if I hear that a celebrity has cancer, I start to worry again; but I’m afraid to go to the hospital for a checkup for fear of finding out many diseases. I also worry that my boss will fire me. I don’t want to become hysterical or feel vulnerable, I’m full of fear inside. I just wanted to be safe. The world was a huge and threatening place for me, and I didn’t fit in at all.” Anxiety is a common negative emotional state, manifested as an unpleasant emotional state of inner tension and anxiety, when it seems that some adverse situation is about to occur and is difficult to cope with. Although anxiety feels uncomfortable, a moderate amount of anxiety helps individuals better face threats and stimuli. From an evolutionary point of view, anxiety is a manifestation of the “fight-flight” response in animals. Anxiety has a signaling function, signaling to individuals that a threat exists and prompting them to take effective measures. When anxiety is present, there are also changes in the body, some organ systems are in a state of arousal, heart rate increases, breathing increases, blood circulation increases, alertness rises, muscles are tense, and the whole body is prepared for fight or flight. From this perspective, a moderate level of anxiety is beneficial for people to actively respond to external events or avoid possible risks. However, too much anxiety, for too long, can have many negative consequences for the body. In occupation and life, the body itself cannot distinguish between a boss and a tiger, nor can it distinguish whether the danger is real or imaginary. And in the face of stressful events in life, many times there is no escape, so under the effect of persistent anxiety, some somatic manifestations can occur, as well as psychological manifestations, including dry mouth, dizziness and headache, fatigue and insomnia, diarrhea and constipation. It is important to distinguish between normal anxiety and destructive anxiety. Normal anxiety is an appropriate response to the surrounding environment that is not exaggerated and has a limited duration. Anxiety can occur in the face of common life events such as illness of a loved one, impending job loss, exams, interviews, etc., but these anxieties usually diminish over time as the event passes. Disruptive anxiety is different and is caused by insecurities that do not match the environment. Often people with destructive anxiety will exaggerate and the duration of anxiety symptoms is longer. There is a type of anxiety known as state anxiety that arises at a particular time and situation, is an individual’s stress response to the environment, and often accompanies situations in which internal conflicts are difficult to resolve or involve self-evaluation. It is generally transient, and anxiety symptoms disappear with changes in the environment over time. Another type of anxiety is known as trait anxiety. These individuals show a tendency for anxiety from early childhood, which can persist throughout life and is individually variable. Individuals with trait anxiety tend to be overly sensitive to external stimuli and often experience threats from the external environment, even if they are sometimes neutral. Other factors that cause anxiety include a variety of medications, such as weight-reducing drugs, nasal sprays, hormonal drugs, and coffee and drugs. Some physical illnesses such as thyroid, adrenal, heart disease, respiratory disease, and hypoglycemia can cause anxiety reactions. If life is going on as usual and there is nothing causing anxiety in terms of stress or related external causes, a physical exam is necessary at this time. Anxiety management includes cognitive, behavioral, and physical approaches. A variety of relaxation techniques can be helpful, such as tai chi, yoga, meditation, massage, music therapy, physical exercise, biofeedback, and progressive muscle relaxation. If anxiety or panic and a considerable impact on work, social interaction and rest are present, then the use of medications such as selective 5-hydroxytryptamine reuptake inhibitors, tandolone, mood stabilizers, etc. may be a wise choice. Don’t just make your own judgments, consult a professional.