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Anxiety is a feeling of worry, nervousness, or fear about an event or situation. It is a normal reaction to stress. It helps you stay alert for a challenging situation at work, study harder for an exam, or remain focused on an important speech.
Some degree of anxiety and fear are normal responses to life. âHealthy anxiety is part of our fight-or-flight response system,â says Jonathan Abramowitz, PhD, director of the Anxiety and Stress Disorder Clinic at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. âAs a basic emotion, it is helpful.