People likely tend to think of anxiety as a temporary response to some specific stimulus. For example, a person may be described as anxious about getting some piece of news. The reality is however that anxiety can be an extensive condition in itself. Anxiety in this case then isn't some temporary response, but an entrenched and chronic condition. This sort of anxiety is actually quite common, and is thought to be behind only depression as a frequently occurring psychological problem.

Anxiety is actually a broad term that can potentially describe a series of conditions. There is certainly overlap between anxious conditions in terms of symptoms and even treatment. Essentially, anxiety as a chronic condition involves being in an agitated state. For some anxious conditions, this agitation is situation specific; while other anxious states, especially generalized anxiety disorder, involve near constant agitation.

Everyone has felt high levels of agitation at some point in their lives. It's an uncomfortable way of being, to say the least. The thought of being in a constant state of agitation can provide insight into how people with anxious conditions go through their lives. As a means of avoiding the pain and discomfort chronic anxiety brings, people come up with different means of coping. Self-medication is a common response in a person with an anxious condition. Self-medicating in this way can involve forms of sedation through intaking drugs or alcohol.

Eating is another typical form of self-medicating anxiety, and other emotional difficulties as well. Certain types of foods especially seem to be consumed during anxious states. Eating foods for emotional relief is often referred to as comfort eating, and the foods under such circumstances are often fattening, sweet, or both. The logic behind consuming high sugar, high calorie foods during anxiety or other distress is likely the immediate sense of physical satisfaction these foods provide. The obvious drawback to this form of coping is that these comfort foods, though the may temporarily bring satisfaction, cause bodily damage if consumed on a consistent basis.

Another frequent tactic for anxiety coping is avoidance. In essence, people avoid those situations that cause an anxious response. When the anxiety-causing stimulus is quite common or very broad, however, avoidance as a coping method can become especially problematic, and can alter the way a person goes through life in a dramatic way. The good news is methods for overcoming anxiety, that don't disrupt or damage one's outlook, are readily available. Because anxiety is a quite common condition, effective and safe treatment options are generally not difficult to find.