General criteria. from normal anxiety to disorder

Anxiety, as an emotion, is a universal human experience and, in many contexts, adaptive.

However, there is a threshold beyond which this emotional response can become disproportionate, persistent, and significantly interfere with daily life, leading to what is known as an anxiety disorder.

Anxiety as a Clinical Problem

Anxiety becomes a clinical problem or a possible disorder when it meets certain general criteria that distinguish it from normal, transient anxious reactions.

These criteria often include:

• Disproportionate Intensity: The anxiety response is much more intense than would be expected given the actual situation or objective threat.

• Excessive Frequency and Duration: The anxiety episodes are very frequent or the anxiety state persists for prolonged periods, even in the absence of a clear trigger.

• Significant Distress: The experience of anxiety causes considerable emotional suffering for the person.

• Functional Interference: Anxiety and associated behaviors (such as avoidance) begin to markedly interfere with the person's functioning in important areas of their life, such as work, school, social relationships, or daily activities.

• Lack of Perceived Control: The person feels that they cannot control their worry or anxiety symptoms, despite their efforts.

The Diagnostic Threshold

There is no absolutely sharp dividing line between normal and pathological anxiety, but rather a continuum.

The decision as to whether a person's anxiety constitutes a clinical disorder is based on a health professional's evaluation of these criteria mental, using diagnostic manuals such as the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) or the ICD (International Classification of Diseases).

These manuals provide specific criteria for each anxiety disorder, which help professionals make an accurate diagnosis and differentiate between different types of disorders, which is essential for planning appropriate treatment.