Anxiety & Stress

Anxiety is a normal human response to stress, uncertainty, or perceived danger. Most people experience anxiety from time to time—before an important event, during a difficult period, or when facing something unfamiliar.

Anxiety can become a problem when worry or fear is difficult to control, occurs frequently, causes significant distress, or begins interfering with everyday life. Anxiety disorders can affect adults, teenagers, and children and may influence sleep, relationships, school, work, physical comfort, and daily activities.

Clinically Reviewed by Dr. Angel Corbin, DBH, LPC, LAC
Last reviewed: September 2026

Anxiety does not feel the same for everyone. Some people primarily experience worry or racing thoughts, while others notice physical sensations or changes in their behavior.

Common experiences can include:

• Excessive or persistent worry 
• Feeling nervous, restless, or “on edge” 
• Difficulty relaxing 
• Irritability 
• Difficulty concentrating 
• Trouble falling or staying asleep 
• Fatigue 
• Muscle tension 
• Headaches or stomach discomfort 
• Sweating, trembling, or feeling lightheaded 
• Shortness of breath 
• Avoiding situations that cause fear or anxiety 

Physical symptoms can sometimes be prominent enough that a person notices them before recognizing that anxiety may be contributing.

Stress and anxiety can feel similar, but they are not necessarily the same thing.

Stress is commonly associated with an identifiable challenge or demand, such as problems at work, financial concerns, relationship difficulties, caregiving responsibilities, or a major life change.

Anxiety may continue even when there is no immediate threat or when the amount of worry seems greater than the situation would ordinarily require.

Both can affect emotional and physical well-being, and persistent stress or anxiety may be reasons to talk with a healthcare or mental health professional.

Anxiety is a broad term rather than a single diagnosis. Anxiety disorders include several conditions with different patterns of symptoms.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) involves excessive or difficult-to-control worry about multiple areas of life. The worry may involve work, health, finances, family, school, responsibilities, or everyday events.

Panic Disorder involves recurrent panic attacks and concern or behavioral changes related to having additional attacks. Panic attacks can involve intense fear accompanied by physical sensations such as a racing heart, shortness of breath, dizziness, trembling, or chest discomfort.

Social Anxiety Disorder involves significant fear or anxiety related to social situations in which a person believes they may be watched, judged, embarrassed, or rejected.

Specific Phobias involve intense fear associated with a particular object or situation, such as animals, heights, flying, medical procedures, or other specific triggers.

Anxiety symptoms can also occur alongside other emotional or mental health concerns, including depression and trauma-related conditions.

There usually isn't one single cause.

Research suggests that anxiety disorders can develop through a combination of genetic, biological, psychological, and environmental factors. Stressful environments and traumatic experiences may also contribute to a person's risk of developing persistent anxiety.

For an individual person, understanding anxiety often means looking at the circumstances surrounding it rather than searching for one explanation.

Anxiety can influence much more than how someone feels.

Persistent worry may make concentrating at work or school difficult. Fear may lead someone to avoid social situations, driving, travel, medical appointments, unfamiliar places, or other activities. Anxiety can interfere with sleep and relationships or cause someone to repeatedly seek reassurance.

Children and teenagers may experience anxiety somewhat differently from adults. Their worries may involve school performance, friendships, activities, family members, or the future.

Treatment depends on the type and severity of anxiety, the individual experiencing it, and other health or life circumstances.

Common treatment options include psychotherapy, medication, or a combination of the two.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is one of the most extensively studied forms of psychotherapy for anxiety. CBT helps people identify patterns of thinking and behavior associated with anxiety and develop different ways of responding to them.

Exposure-based approaches may be used for some anxiety disorders. Exposure therapy involves gradually and safely confronting feared situations or sensations rather than continually avoiding them.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) uses approaches including acceptance, mindfulness, goal setting, and engagement in meaningful activities and may also be helpful for some people with anxiety.

Medication may also be appropriate for some people. Medication decisions should be made with a qualified medical professional based on the individual's symptoms, medical history, and circumstances.

There is no requirement that anxiety reach a particular level before someone talks with a counselor.

Professional help may be worth considering when anxiety is persistent, difficult to control, causing significant distress, leading to avoidance, or interfering with work, school, sleep, relationships, or everyday activities.

Counseling can also be useful for people who are functioning reasonably well but want to better understand their anxiety, manage stress, or develop healthier ways of responding to difficult situations.

Etheria Counseling provides counseling for anxiety and related concerns for children, adolescents, and adults.

Counseling is available in person in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and through telehealth throughout South Carolina. Treatment is individualized according to each client's concerns, goals, age, circumstances, and the clinical judgment of their therapist.

Accepting New Clients
In-Person: Myrtle Beach, SC
Telehealth: Available throughout South Carolina
Ages: 6+
Insurance: Medicare, Medicaid & major insurance plans
Self-Pay: Available

If anxiety, worry, panic, or stress is interfering with your life—or you simply want help understanding and managing what you're experiencing—you can contact Etheria Counseling to discuss available therapists and appointment options.

Call 843-868-6200
 

National Institute of Mental Health — Anxiety Disorders

National Institute of Mental Health — Generalized Anxiety Disorder

National Institute of Mental Health — Psychotherapies