# What is anxiety, and when does it become an anxiety disorder?

URL: https://tymirahealth.com/resources/faqs/what-is-anxiety
For: Patients | Mental health care | Last reviewed 23 July 2026

**Answer:** Anxiety is a natural response to threat or uncertainty, involving worry, fear, tension and physical signs such as a racing heart. Some anxiety is normal and even helpful, for example before an exam. It may point to an anxiety disorder when the worry is excessive, persistent, hard to control, leads to repeated avoidance or disrupts sleep, work, relationships or self-care. Only a professional assessment can diagnose it, but you can seek help without a diagnosis.

### Common signs of anxiety

- Persistent worry, fear, restlessness or irritability.
- Muscle tension, poor sleep, stomach discomfort, a racing heart or breathlessness.
- Avoiding situations, or repeatedly seeking reassurance.

### When to seek an assessment

Concern grows when anxiety continues without a clear threat, spreads across situations or causes you to avoid important parts of life. An assessment also considers physical illness, medicines, substance use, trauma and sleep, because sudden severe symptoms should not automatically be assumed to be anxiety. Many people improve with psychological therapy, practical changes and, when appropriate, medication prescribed by a qualified clinician.

> **Important:** New chest pain, collapse, severe breathing difficulty or other acute physical symptoms require medical assessment rather than assuming anxiety.

> **Important:** If there is immediate danger or a medical emergency, contact emergency services now. In Kenya, call 999, 112 or 911. Outside Kenya, use the emergency number for your location.

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**About Tymira Health:** Tymira Health is a healthcare technology company based in Nairobi, Kenya. It builds Tymira360, a practice management and EHR platform for mental health, physiotherapy and dental providers, clinics, hospitals, NGOs and insurers across Africa.

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