Anxiety is your body’s way of alerting you that some kind of action is needed in the face of a situation that is perceived to be threatening or dangerous, and it can be useful whenever it prompts you to take appropriate action in response to an anxiety-provoking situation. For example, anxiety can motivate you to study for an exam or organize a presentation or leave a situation that feels unsafe.

However, anxiety can also be detrimental—especially if it becomes overwhelming and prevents you from taking appropriate actions or prompts you to take actions that are counterproductive. 

Anxiety may be detrimental if you avoid studying for a major exam that worries you, or if you cope with worry about your relationship by getting unnecessarily suspicious and then yelling at your partner. This brochure will help you distinguish between normal or expected anxiety that everyone experiences and anxiety that  may require intervention.

Stress is defined as the body’s non-specific response to demands made upon it or to disturbing events in the environment. It is not just a stimulus or a response but rather, it is a process by which individuals perceive and cope with environmental threats and challenges. In small amounts, stress is normal and can help individuals to be more active and productive. However, very high levels of stress experienced over a prolonged period can cause significant mental and physical problems. Recently, Abdulghani et al¹ have found that stress prevalence among medical students has reached up to 63%, with 25% considered to be of severe type.