Anxiety
Short definition
Anxiety is an emotion of apprehension or worry about an anticipated threat, accompanied by tension and physical signs; it becomes an anxiety disorder when it is excessive, persistent and interferes with daily life.
In plain language
Feeling anxious is normal and even useful in some situations. It becomes a clinical problem when it is disproportionate or hard to control. In healthcare it often arises in connection with tests, surgery, hospital admission or serious illness, and it can be addressed with information, relaxation techniques, psychotherapy and, when indicated, medication.