CINXE.COM
Anxiety | Psychology Today Singapore
<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en-SG" dir="ltr" prefix="og: https://ogp.me/ns#" itemscope="" itemtype="https://schema.org/FAQPage"> <head> <title>Anxiety | Psychology Today Singapore</title> <meta charset="utf-8" http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html" /> <script>window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; window.dataLayer.push({"":"Psychology Today","entityLangcode":"en","page_type":"node","drupal_node_type":"reference","drupal_node_nid":"41827","drupal_node_title":"Anxiety ","userUid":0,"event":"drupal_node_view","ContentWeb":"Basics"});</script> <meta name="description" content="Anxiety is both a mental and physical state of negative expectation. Mentally it is characterized by increased arousal and apprehension tortured into distressing worry, and physically by unpleasant activation of multiple body systems—all to facilitate response to an unknown danger, whether real or imagined." /> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/basics/anxiety" /> <meta property="og:site_name" content="Psychology Today" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/basics/anxiety" /> <meta property="og:title" content="Anxiety" /> <meta property="og:description" content="Anxiety is both a mental and physical state of negative expectation. Mentally it is characterized by increased arousal and apprehension tortured into distressing worry, and physically by unpleasant activation of multiple body systems—all to facilitate response to an unknown danger, whether real or imagined." /> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn2.psychologytoday.com/assets/styles/magazine_384x504/public/magazine/2024-10/2024-11.png.jpg?itok=MK2t-Nce" /> <meta property="fb:app_id" content="220580041311284" /> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0, maximum-scale=1.0, user-scalable=0" /> <meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge,chrome=1" /> <meta http-equiv="x-dns-prefetch-control" content="on" /> <meta name="theme-color" content="#191C1F" media="(prefers-color-scheme: dark)" /> <meta name="theme-color" content="#F2F2F2" media="(prefers-color-scheme: light)" /> <meta name="alexaVerifyID" content="ruuD3Gzrr-EaY185APFbxF69Va4" /> <meta name="google-site-verification" content="G-wasBQCXXJoehIaVW5BsO9VYKt4oqmWGo155wSSakQ" /> <meta name="y_key" content="0f29d521db0a2863" /> <meta name="msvalidate.01" content="9AD6650A37790044983CFB6B27D77607" /> <meta name="apple-mobile-web-app-capable" content="yes" /> <meta name="apple-mobile-web-app-title" content="Psych Today" /> <meta name="robots" content="index,follow" /> <script type="application/ld+json">{ "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "dateCreated": "2010-04-28T15:43:43-0400", "dateModified": "2024-10-11T17:01:39-0400", "mainEntityOfPage": "https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/basics/anxiety", "url": "https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/basics/anxiety", "name": "Anxiety ", "alternateName": [ "Panic", "Worry" ], "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Anxiety " }, "mainEntity": { "@type": "DefinedTerm", "inDefinedTermSet": "https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/basics", "name": "Anxiety ", "url": "https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/basics/anxiety" }, "mainContentOfPage": { "@type": "WebPageElement", "name": "What Is Anxiety? ", "text": "Anxiety is both a mental and physical state of negative expectation. Mentally it is characterized by increased arousal and apprehension tortured into distressing worry, and physically by unpleasant activation of multiple body systems—all to facilitate response to an unknown danger, whether real or imagined. \r\n\r\nThe cognitive feelings of dread in anticipation of some bad outcome, and physical sensations such as jitteriness and a racing heart are designed for discomfort. Anxiety is meant to capture attention and stimulate you to make necessary changes to protect what you care about. Occasional bouts of anxiety are natural and can even be productive. Anxiety can be considered the price we humans pay for having the ability to imagine the future.\r\n\r\nWhen anxiety becomes a disorder\r\n\r\nBut persistent, pervasive, or outsize anxiety can disrupt daily life, whether at school, work, or with friends—the mark of an anxiety disorder. Nearly one-third of adults in the U.S. will grapple with out-of-control anxiety at some point in their life.\r\n\r\nAnxiety is often accompanied by depression, and the two share many symptoms and involve many of the same brain pathways. Biology can contribute to vulnerability to anxiety, as can childhood experiences such as early trauma and parenting practices such as overprotection.\r\n\r\nIt is neither possible nor desirable to eliminate anxiety entirely, as it plays a crucial role in keeping us alert and alive. Treatment is geared to keeping anxiety at manageable levels. Anxiety can be treated successfully using therapy, medication, or both. Lifestyle measures, such as regular exercise and deep-breathing, are also extremely important in controlling anxiety. \r\n\r\nFor more on causes, symptoms, and treatments of anxiety disorders, see our Diagnosis Dictionary.\r\n" }, "relatedLink": [ "https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/basics/ocd", "https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/basics/stress", "https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/basics/depression", "https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/basics/post-traumatic-stress-disorder", "https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/basics/vagus-nerve", "https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/conditions/generalized-anxiety-disorder", "https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/conditions/social-anxiety-disorder-social-phobia", "https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/conditions/panic-disorder", "https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/conditions/depressive-disorders", "https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/conditions/post-traumatic-stress-disorder", "https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/conditions/obsessive-compulsive-disorder", "https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/conditions/obsessive-compulsive-personality-disorder" ], "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Psychology Today", "url": "https://www.psychologytoday.com", "logo": "https://cdn.psychologytoday.com/sites/default/files/psychology-today-logo-blue-AMP-left-cropped_0.png", "publishingPrinciples": "https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/docs/editorial-process" } } ] }</script><link rel="preload" as="image" href="https://cdn2.psychologytoday.com/assets/styles/max_800/public/center/2020-09/KieferPixShutterstock_713983021.jpg?itok=DXP6fAOx" /> <link rel="preconnect" href="//cdn.psychologytoday.com" crossorigin /> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="//cdn.psychologytoday.com" /> <link rel="preconnect" href="//cdn2.psychologytoday.com" crossorigin /> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="//cdn2.psychologytoday.com" /> <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/ar/fundamentos/ansiedad" hreflang="es-AR" /> <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/cl/fundamentos/ansiedad" hreflang="es-CL" /> <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/es/fundamentos/ansiedad" hreflang="es-ES" /> <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/mx/fundamentos/ansiedad" hreflang="es-MX" /> <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/co/fundamentos/ansiedad" hreflang="es-CO" /> <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/gt/fundamentos/ansiedad" hreflang="es-GT" /> <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/cr/fundamentos/ansiedad" hreflang="es-CR" /> <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/pa/fundamentos/ansiedad" hreflang="es-PA" /> <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/pr/fundamentos/ansiedad" hreflang="es-PR" /> <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/pe/fundamentos/ansiedad" hreflang="es-PE" /> <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/uy/fundamentos/ansiedad" hreflang="es-UY" /> <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/basics/anxiety" hreflang="en-AU" /> <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/basics/anxiety" hreflang="en-CA" /> <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/basics/anxiety" hreflang="en-GB" /> <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/ie/basics/anxiety" hreflang="en-IE" /> <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/basics/anxiety" hreflang="x-default" /> <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/nz/basics/anxiety" hreflang="en-NZ" /> <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/basics/anxiety" hreflang="en-SG" /> <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/anxiety" hreflang="en-US" /> <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/za/basics/anxiety" hreflang="en-ZA" /> <link rel="icon" href="https://cdn2.psychologytoday.com/assets/favicon.ico" type="image/vnd.microsoft.icon" /> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="/theme-assets/touch-icons/apple-touch-icon.png" /> <link rel="amphtml" href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/basics/anxiety?amp" /> <!-- Font preload --> <link rel="preload" href="https://cdn2.psychologytoday.com/themes/custom/pt/fonts/proxima-nova/proxima-nova-regular.woff2" as="font" type="font/woff2" crossorigin> <link rel="preload" href="https://cdn2.psychologytoday.com/themes/custom/pt/fonts/proxima-nova/proxima-nova-semibold.woff2" as="font" type="font/woff2" crossorigin> <link rel="preload" href="https://cdn2.psychologytoday.com/themes/custom/pt/fonts/proxima-nova/proxima-nova-bold.woff2" as="font" type="font/woff2" crossorigin> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://cdn2.psychologytoday.com/assets/css/css_IHNiFVOKIP26dViTFVF3N3-JzWbT8AN07JEN_95kHSg.css" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://cdn2.psychologytoday.com/assets/css/css_hqjNdn7FpKz8mKYErQ_ccOHc6DCdD5ZLcHslRj8eyn4.css" /> <!-- Add dns preconnect/prefetch/preload for high priority third party resources --> <link rel="preconnect" href="//securepubads.g.doubleclick.net" crossorigin /> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="//securepubads.g.doubleclick.net" /> <link rel="preload" as="script" href="https://securepubads.g.doubleclick.net/tag/js/gpt.js" /> <link rel="preconnect" href="//www.googletagmanager.com" crossorigin /> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="//www.googletagmanager.com" /> <link rel="preload" as="script" href="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id=GTM-NW5PKS" /> <link rel="preload" as="script" href="https://resources.psychologytoday.com/directory/search-components/v1.0.14/search-suggestions.min.js" /> <!--[if IE 9]> <link rel="prefetch" href="//cdn.psychologytoday.com" /> <![endif]--> <!-- Add dns prefetch for third party resources --> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="//www.google-analytics.com" /> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="//www.google.com" /> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="//fonts.googleapis.com" /> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="//fonts.gstatic.com" /> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="//tpc.googlesyndication.com" /> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="//page2.googlesyndication.com" /> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="//cdn.ampproject.org" /> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="//consent.cookiebot.com" /> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="//consentcdn.cookiebot.com" /> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="//sb.scorecard.research.com" /> <!-- Google Tag Manager Data Layer --> <script> dataLayer = dataLayer || []; </script> <!-- End Google Tag Manager Data Layer --> <!-- Begin comScore Tag --> <script> var _comscore = _comscore || []; _comscore.push({ c1: "2", c2: "38584006" }); (function() { var s = document.createElement("script"), el = document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0]; s.async = true; s.src = "https://sb.scorecardresearch.com/cs/38584006/beacon.js"; el.parentNode.insertBefore(s, el); })(); </script> <noscript> <img src=https://sb.scorecardresearch.com/p?c1=2&c2=38584006&cv=3.6.0&cj=1> </noscript> <!-- End comScore Tag --> </head> <body class="language-en not-logged-in not-front node--reference"> <!-- Google Tag Manager --> <noscript><iframe src="//www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-NW5PKS" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript> <script>(function(w,d,s,l,i){ if (typeof w[l] == 'undefined') { w[l] = [] }; w[l].push({'gtm.start': new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.defer=true;j.src= '//www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;j.addEventListener('load', function() { var _ge = new CustomEvent('gtm_loaded', { bubbles: true }); d.dispatchEvent(_ge); });f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f); })(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-NW5PKS'); </script> <!-- End Google Tag Manager --> <div class="backdrop-screen"></div> <a href="#block-pt-content" class="visually-hidden focusable" rel="nofollow"> Skip to main content </a> <div class="dialog-off-canvas-main-canvas" data-off-canvas-main-canvas> <header class="header"> <div> <div id="block-mainnavbarblock" class="block"> <div class="main-nav-wrapper"> <div class="container"> <button id="enabled-mobile-nav-control" class="mobile-nav-control" data-target="#navbarNavDropdown"><span class="visually-hidden">Mobile Navigation</span></button> <nav class="main-nav" role="navigation"> <div class="h1 main-nav--logo logo logo-en"><a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg">Psychology Today</a></div> <ul class="main-nav--toggles list-style-none d-none d-lg-flex"> <li class="main-nav--toggle"> <a href="#" class="main-nav--toggle-link">Find Counselling</a> <div class="main-nav--panel d-none"> <div class="container"> <div class="navigation--therapist-directory"> <div class="navigation--therapist-directory__search"> <div class="h1"><a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/counselling">Find Counselling</a></div> <div class="navigation--therapist-directory__search-form"> <form action="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/counselling" method="GET" target="_top" autocomplete="off" autocorrect="off" autocapitalize="off" data-event-category="OutboundLink" data-event-action="Click" data-event-label="TopB" id="td_search_form"> <div class="container-fat__callout_form" data-search-suggest="sussex" data-placeholder="City or Postcode" data-section-icons="false" data-mobile-fullscreen="true" data-size="large" data-menu="true" data-menu-items="[{"label":"Therapists","suggestionsUrl":"https:\/\/www.psychologytoday.com\/intl\/search\/suggestions?query={query}&context=therapists&country-code=sg","searchUrl":"https:\/\/www.psychologytoday.com\/sg\/counselling?search={query}","title":""}]" data-input-aria-label="Search input text" data-button-aria-label="Search button"> <button type="submit" value="Search" title="" class="search-btn default large d-none" aria-label="Search button"></button> <div class="search td-search d-flex"> <div class="menu large d-none d-sm-inline-block"> <div> <button class="td-search--menu-button large">Therapists</button> </div> <ul class="td-search--menu list-style-none"> <li class="selected"> <a href="#" data-selector-option-text="Therapists" data-selector-option-value="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/counselling" title="">Therapists</a> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="large search-suggest-modal has-menu td-search--input"> <div class="close-suggestions d-none"><button>x</button></div> <div class="search-field-container search-suggest-modal large"> <input type="text" id="searchField" class="large search-suggest-modal has-menu" name="search" placeholder="City or Postcode" size="25" aria-label="Search input text"> <button type="submit" value="Search" title="" class="search-btn default large d-none" aria-label="Search button"></button> </div> </div> </div> </div> </form> </div> <div class="navigation--therapist-directory__existing"> <div class="flag-icon"><img src="https://cdn2.psychologytoday.com/assets/flags/flag-lg-sg.svg" alt="Singapore" /><strong> Counsellors :</strong> <a href="https://member.psychologytoday.com/sg/login" data-event-category="OutboundLink" data-event-action="Click" data-event-label="PT_TopNav_TherapistLogIn">Login</a> <span class="expert-spacer d-inline-block">|</span> <a href="https://join.psychologytoday.com/sg/signup" data-event-category="OutboundLink" data-event-action="Click" data-event-label="PT_TopNav_SignupN">Sign Up</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="navigation--therapist-directory__cities"> <div class="h3">Singapore</div> <ul class="list-style-none"> <li><a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/counselling/sg/singapore/ang-mo-kio" title="Find Counselling in Ang Mo Kio" data-event-label="PT_TopNavF_Therapist1" data-event-category="OutboundLink" data-event-action="Click" class="td-city-link">Ang Mo Kio</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/counselling/sg/singapore/bedok" title="Find Counselling in Bedok" data-event-label="PT_TopNavF_Therapist1" data-event-category="OutboundLink" data-event-action="Click" class="td-city-link">Bedok</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/counselling/sg/singapore/bukit-merah" title="Find Counselling in Bukit Merah" data-event-label="PT_TopNavF_Therapist1" data-event-category="OutboundLink" data-event-action="Click" class="td-city-link">Bukit Merah</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/counselling/sg/singapore/choa-chu-kang" title="Find Counselling in Choa Chu Kang" data-event-label="PT_TopNavF_Therapist1" data-event-category="OutboundLink" data-event-action="Click" class="td-city-link">Choa Chu Kang</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/counselling/sg/singapore/downtown-core" title="Find Counselling in Downtown Core" data-event-label="PT_TopNavF_Therapist1" data-event-category="OutboundLink" data-event-action="Click" class="td-city-link">Downtown Core</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/counselling/sg/singapore/hougang" title="Find Counselling in Hougang" data-event-label="PT_TopNavF_Therapist1" data-event-category="OutboundLink" data-event-action="Click" class="td-city-link">Hougang</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/counselling/sg/singapore/jurong-west" title="Find Counselling in Jurong West" data-event-label="PT_TopNavF_Therapist1" data-event-category="OutboundLink" data-event-action="Click" class="td-city-link">Jurong West</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/counselling/sg/singapore/punggol" title="Find Counselling in Punggol" data-event-label="PT_TopNavF_Therapist1" data-event-category="OutboundLink" data-event-action="Click" class="td-city-link">Punggol</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/counselling/sg/singapore/sengkang" title="Find Counselling in Sengkang" data-event-label="PT_TopNavF_Therapist1" data-event-category="OutboundLink" data-event-action="Click" class="td-city-link">Sengkang</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/counselling/sg/singapore/tampines" title="Find Counselling in Tampines" data-event-label="PT_TopNavF_Therapist1" data-event-category="OutboundLink" data-event-action="Click" class="td-city-link">Tampines</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/counselling/sg/singapore/woodlands" title="Find Counselling in Woodlands" data-event-label="PT_TopNavF_Therapist1" data-event-category="OutboundLink" data-event-action="Click" class="td-city-link">Woodlands</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/counselling/sg/singapore/yishun" title="Find Counselling in Yishun" data-event-label="PT_TopNavF_Therapist1" data-event-category="OutboundLink" data-event-action="Click" class="td-city-link">Yishun</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </li> <li class="main-nav--toggle"> <a href="#" class="main-nav--toggle-link">Get Help</a> <div class="main-nav--panel d-none"> <div class="container"> <div class="d-grid main-nav--basics"> <div class="main-nav--basics--column-1 d-grid"> <div class="main-nav--basics--column-first"> <div id="block-basicslinkmenublock-mental-health"> <div class="h3 main-nav--basics-link-title">Mental Health</div> <div> <ul class="list-style-none main-nav--basics-links"> <li class="main-nav--basics-link"><a href="/sg/basics/addiction" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/50109">Addiction</a></li> <li class="main-nav--basics-link"><a href="/sg/basics/anxiety" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/41827" class="is-active">Anxiety</a></li> <li class="main-nav--basics-link"><a href="/sg/basics/adhd" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/41094">ADHD</a></li> <li class="main-nav--basics-link"><a href="/sg/basics/aspergers-syndrome" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/41798">Asperger's</a></li> <li class="main-nav--basics-link"><a href="/sg/basics/autism" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/40997">Autism</a></li> <li class="main-nav--basics-link"><a href="/sg/basics/bipolar-disorder" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/41105">Bipolar Disorder</a></li> <li class="main-nav--basics-link"><a href="/sg/basics/chronic-pain" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/53685">Chronic Pain</a></li> <li class="main-nav--basics-link"><a href="/sg/basics/depression" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/40725">Depression</a></li> <li class="main-nav--basics-link"><a href="/sg/basics/eating-disorders" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/41459">Eating Disorders</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="main-nav--basics--column-second"> <div id="block-basicslinkmenublock-personality"> <div class="h3 main-nav--basics-link-title">Personality</div> <div> <ul class="list-style-none main-nav--basics-links"> <li class="main-nav--basics-link"><a href="/sg/basics/passive-aggression" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/53837">Passive Aggression</a></li> <li class="main-nav--basics-link"><a href="/sg/basics/personality" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/53843">Personality</a></li> <li class="main-nav--basics-link"><a href="/sg/basics/shyness" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/53941">Shyness</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="block-basicslinkmenublock-personal-growth"> <div class="h3 main-nav--basics-link-title">Personal Growth</div> <div> <ul class="list-style-none main-nav--basics-links"> <li class="main-nav--basics-link"><a href="/sg/basics/motivation" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/53823">Goal Setting</a></li> <li class="main-nav--basics-link"><a href="/sg/basics/happiness" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/53757">Happiness</a></li> <li class="main-nav--basics-link"><a href="/sg/basics/positive-psychology" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/53862">Positive Psychology</a></li> <li class="main-nav--basics-link"><a href="/sg/basics/smoking" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/53954">Stopping Smoking</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="main-nav--basics--column-third"> <div id="block-basicslinkmenublock-relationships"> <div class="h3 main-nav--basics-link-title">Relationships</div> <div> <ul class="list-style-none main-nav--basics-links"> <li class="main-nav--basics-link"><a href="/sg/basics/low-sexual-desire" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/69085">Low Sexual Desire</a></li> <li class="main-nav--basics-link"><a href="/sg/basics/relationships" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/53894">Relationships</a></li> <li class="main-nav--basics-link"><a href="/sg/basics/sex" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/53931">Sex</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="block-basicslinkmenublock-family-life"> <div class="h3 main-nav--basics-link-title">Family Life</div> <div> <ul class="list-style-none main-nav--basics-links"> <li class="main-nav--basics-link"><a href="/sg/basics/child-development" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/53683">Child Development</a></li> <li class="main-nav--basics-link"><a href="/sg/basics/parenting" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/53833">Parenting</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="h3"><a href="/sg/basics" class="right-chevron-after">View Help Index</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="main-nav--basics main-nav--basics--column-2"> <div class="main-nav--basics--column-fourth"> <div id="block-gethelpindexlinksblock" class="block"> <div class="h3 main-nav--basics-link-title">Do I Need Help?</div> <ul class="list-style-none main-nav--basics-links"> <li class="main-nav--basics-link"> <a href="/sg/tests" title="Self Tests" hreflang="en-sg"> Self Tests <div class="result-tag">NEW</div> </a> </li> <li class="main-nav--basics-link"> <a href="/sg/basics/therapy" title="Therapy Center" hreflang="en-sg">Therapy Center</a> </li> </ul> <div class="h3 main-nav--basics-link-title">Recently Diagnosed?</div> <ul class="list-style-none main-nav--basics-links"> <li class="main-nav--basics-link"> <a href="/sg/conditions" title="Diagnosis Dictionary" hreflang="en-sg"> Diagnosis Dictionary </a> </li> <li class="main-nav--basics-link"> <a href="/sg/types-of-therapy" title="Types of Therapy" hreflang="en-sg"> Types of Therapy </a> </li> </ul> </div> <div id="block-countrymenufindlinksblock" class="block"> <div class="h3 main-nav--basics-link-title">Talk to Someone</div> <ul class="list-style-none main-nav--basics-links"> <li class="main-nav--basics-link"> <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/counselling" title="Find Counselling">Find Counselling</a> </li> <li class="main-nav--basics-link"> <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/counselling?category=online-counselling" title="Find Online Therapy">Find Online Therapy</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </li> <li class="main-nav--toggle"> <a href="#" class="main-nav--toggle-link">Magazine</a> <div class="main-nav--panel d-none"> <div class="container"> <div class="main-nav--magazine d-grid"> <div class="views-element-container block" id="block-views-block-magazine-block-1"> <div><div class="js-view-dom-id-8fb7b95e9960bc7b90ee1a1367ce669fa0390bbea1b3620baf1e42a70b14f6c9"> <div class="h3 main-nav--section-title">Current</div> <div> <div class="magazine-issue magazine-cover-feature"> <div class="magazine-cover-feature__cover magazine-thumbnail"> <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/magazine/archive/2024/11" title="November 2024"> <img src="https://cdn2.psychologytoday.com/assets/styles/magazine_384x504/public/magazine/2024-10/2024-11.png.jpg?itok=MK2t-Nce" width="384" height="504" alt="November 2024 magazine cover" title="Ditch Perfection & Rebalance Your Life" loading="lazy" /> </a> </div> <div class="magazine-cover-feature__text"> <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/magazine/archive/2024/11" title="November 2024"> <div class="h3 magazine-cover-feature__date"> November 2024 </div> <div class="h3 magazine-cover-feature__headline"> The Perfectionism Trap </div> </a> <div class="magazine-cover-feature__highlight"><p> When we fall prey to perfectionism, we think we’re honorably aspiring to be our very best, but often we’re really just setting ourselves up for failure, as perfection is impossible and its pursuit inevitably backfires. </p></div> </div> </div> </div> <a href="https://subscribe.psychologytoday.com" class="btn btn-info btn-md-cta" title="Subscribe to Psychology Today Magazine">Subscribe</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="views-element-container block" id="block-views-block-magazine-block-2"> <div> <div class="js-view-dom-id-7a7bd4e60254f9037936784ba9e034f6e06b398e10d180930503d7bcd460a222"> <div class="h3 main-nav--section-title">Recent</div> <div class="magazine-row"> <div class="views-row"><div class="magazine-issue magazine-issue--magazine-cover"> <div class="magazine-cover__cover magazine-thumbnail"> <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/magazine/archive/2024/09" title="September 2024"> <img src="https://cdn2.psychologytoday.com/assets/styles/magazine_384x504/public/magazine/2024-08/2024-09.png.jpg?itok=f_Oawcrq" width="384" height="504" alt="September 2024 magazine cover" title="Diagnosed in Adulthood" loading="lazy" /> </a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="views-row"><div class="magazine-issue magazine-issue--magazine-cover"> <div class="magazine-cover__cover magazine-thumbnail"> <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/magazine/archive/2024/07" title="July 2024"> <img src="https://cdn2.psychologytoday.com/assets/styles/magazine_384x504/public/magazine/2024-06/2024-07.png.jpg?itok=pCeLoQbs" width="384" height="504" alt="July 2024 magazine cover" title="Stand Up For Yourself" loading="lazy" /> </a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="views-row"><div class="magazine-issue magazine-issue--magazine-cover"> <div class="magazine-cover__cover magazine-thumbnail"> <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/magazine/archive/2024/05" title="May 2024"> <img src="https://cdn2.psychologytoday.com/assets/styles/magazine_384x504/public/magazine/2024-04/2024-05.png.jpg?itok=3uPTD2oA" width="384" height="504" alt="May 2024 magazine cover" title="Everyday Triggers" loading="lazy" /> </a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="views-row"><div class="magazine-issue magazine-issue--magazine-cover"> <div class="magazine-cover__cover magazine-thumbnail"> <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/magazine/archive/2024/03" title="March 2024"> <img src="https://cdn2.psychologytoday.com/assets/styles/magazine_384x504/public/magazine/2024-02/2024-03.png.jpg?itok=UyoZyp1R" width="384" height="504" alt="March 2024 magazine cover" title="Emotional Intelligence" loading="lazy" /> </a> </div> </div> </div> </div> <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/magazine/archive" class="btn btn-secondary btn-md-cta" title="Psychology Today Issue Archive">Issue Archive</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </li> <li class="main-nav--toggle"> <a href="#" class="main-nav--toggle-link">Today</a> <div class="main-nav--panel d-none"> <div class="container"> <div class="main-nav--today d-grid"> <div class="views-element-container block" id="block-views-block-news-today-menu-block-1"> <div class="h3 main-nav--basics-link-title">News</div> <div class="news-today-menu-block-1-content"></div> </div> <div class="views-element-container block" id="block-views-block-menu-blog-entry-essentials-block-1"> <div class="h3 main-nav--basics-link-title">Essential Reads</div> <div class="menu-blog-entry-essentials-block-1-content"></div> </div> <div id="block-menutrendingtopics" class="block"> <div class="h3 main-nav--basics-link-title">Trending Topics in Singapore</div> <ul class="list-style-none main-nav--basics-links"> <li class="main-nav--basics-link"><a href="/sg/basics/emotional-intelligence" hreflang="en-sg" title="Emotional Intelligence">Emotional Intelligence</a> </li> <li class="main-nav--basics-link"><a href="/sg/basics/narcissism" hreflang="en-sg" title="Narcissism">Narcissism</a> </li> <li class="main-nav--basics-link"><a href="/sg/basics/gaslighting" hreflang="en-sg" title="Gaslighting">Gaslighting</a> </li> <li class="main-nav--basics-link"><a href="/sg/basics/bias" hreflang="en-sg" title="Bias">Bias</a> </li> <li class="main-nav--basics-link"><a href="/sg/basics/affective-forecasting" hreflang="en-sg" title="Affective Forecasting">Affective Forecasting</a> </li> <li class="main-nav--basics-link"><a href="/sg/basics/neuroscience" hreflang="en-sg" title="Neuroscience">Neuroscience</a> </li> </ul> <div class="h3 main-nav--basics-link-title main-nav--basics-index-link"><a href="/sg/basics" class="right-chevron-after">See All</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </li> </ul> <div class="main-nav--location-switch location-switch"> <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/counsellors?domain=content&cc=sg&cl=en" class="location-switch--link">sg</a> </div> <div class="main-nav--toggle main-nav--toggle--search"> <a href="#" class="main-nav--toggle-link">Search</a> <div class="main-nav--panel d-none"> <div class="container"> <div class="main-nav--search"> <div id="block-navsearchblock" class="block"> <div class="h1 main-nav--search-block-form__header">Search</div> <form class="form--search-block-form" action="/sg/archive" method="get" id="search-block-form" accept-charset="UTF-8"> <div> <div class="search form-group"> <div class="form-item form-type-textfield form-item-search-block-form"> <label for="edit-search-block-form--2">Search</label> <input title="Enter the terms you wish to search for." placeholder="Search Archives" type="text" id="edit-search-block-form--2" name="search" value="" size="15" maxlength="128" class="form-text main-nav--search-block-form__input" /> </div> <div class="form-actions form-wrapper" id="edit-actions"> <div class="btn-text icon search"></div> <input class="main-nav--search-block-form__submit btn-info btn btn-default form-submit" type="submit" id="edit-submit" name="op" value="Search" /> </div> </div> </div> </form> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </div> </div> <div class="find-therapist-subheader-block block" id="block-findtherapistsubheaderblock-2"> <div class="td_fat_subheader"> <div class="container"> <div class="td_fat_subheader__content"> <form name="prof_search" method="POST" action="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/counselling" id="SubHeader_TherpistForm" data-event-category="OutboundLink" data-event-action="Click" data-event-label="PT_BalTopB_find" class="td_fat_subheader_form fat__callout_form find-therapist--form"> <div class="container-fat__callout_form" data-search-suggest="sussex" data-placeholder="Find Counselling (City or Postcode)" data-seamless="true" data-button="text" data-suggestions-url="https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/search/suggestions?query={query}&country-code=sg" data-search-url="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/counselling?search={query}" data-input-aria-label="Search input text" data-button-aria-label="Search button"> <div class="td_fat_subheader__magnifying-glass"></div> <input class="td_fat_subheader__search" type="text" name="search" placeholder="Find Counselling (City or Postcode)" aria-label="Search input text"> <button type="submit" name="Submit" value="Search" title="" class="td_fat_subheader_submit" aria-label="Search button"></button> <div class="td_fat_subheader__underline"></div> </div> </form> <div class="td_fat_subheader__verified"> <p><img width="18" height="18" loading="lazy" alt="" src="https://cdn2.psychologytoday.com/theme-assets/icons/icon-check-circle-gray.svg"/> Verified by <span class="font-weight-semi-bold">Psychology Today</span></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </header> <div class="outer-layout-container"> <main class="layout-content layout-container" > <div class="layout-content-full"> <div> <div data-drupal-messages-fallback class="hidden"></div> </div> </div> <div class="layout-container--grid layout-container--primary-left-rail"> <div class="layout-content-main"> <div> <div id="block-pt-content" class="block"> <!-- is_first_page: 1 --> <!-- recent_posts_offset: 0 --> <!-- recent_posts_items_per_page: 10 --> <!-- recent_posts: 1 --> <!-- recent_posts_argument: 5027492+5027345+5027328+5026816 --> <!-- recent_posts_argument: 41827 --> <article data-history-node-id="41827" role="article" class="center--basic--full center-page"> <div class="content-header d-flex reference-header"> <div class="content-header--text"> <h1 class="reference__title section-title">What Is Anxiety? </h1> <p class="reference__review-info fine-print"> <a href="/sg/docs/editorial-process" class="reference__review-info-link"> <span class="reference__review-info-icon"></span> <span class="reference__review-info-text">Reviewed by Psychology Today Staff</span> </a> </p> </div> </div> <div> <div class="reference__body"> <div class="field-name-body"> <p><span><span>Anxiety is both a mental and physical state of negative expectation. Mentally it is characterized by increased arousal and apprehension tortured into distressing worry, and physically by unpleasant activation of multiple body systems—all to facilitate response to an unknown danger, whether real or imagined. </span></span></p> <p><span><span>The cognitive feelings of dread in anticipation of some bad outcome, and physical sensations such as jitteriness and a racing heart are designed for discomfort. Anxiety is meant to capture <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/basics/attention" hreflang="en" title="Psychology Today looks at attention">attention</a> and stimulate you to make necessary changes to protect what you care about. Occasional bouts of anxiety are natural and can even be productive. Anxiety can be considered the price we humans pay for having the ability to imagine the future.</span></span></p> <p><strong><span><span><em>When anxiety becomes a disorder</em></span></span></strong></p> <p><span><span>But persistent, pervasive, or outsize anxiety can disrupt daily life, whether at school, work, or with friends—the mark of an anxiety disorder. Nearly <a href="https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/any-anxiety-disorder.shtml">one-third</a> of adults in the U.S. will grapple with out-of-control anxiety at some point in their life.</span></span></p> <p><span><span>Anxiety is often accompanied by <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/basics/depression" title="Psychology Today looks at depression">depression</a>, and the two share many symptoms and involve many of the same brain pathways. Biology can contribute to vulnerability to anxiety, as can <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/basics/child-development" title="Psychology Today looks at childhood">childhood</a> experiences such as early <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/basics/trauma" hreflang="en" title="Psychology Today looks at trauma">trauma</a> and <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/basics/parenting" title="Psychology Today looks at parenting" class="basics-link" hreflang="en-SG">parenting</a> practices such as overprotection.</span></span></p> <p><span><span>It is neither possible nor desirable to eliminate anxiety entirely, as it plays a crucial role in keeping us alert and alive. Treatment is geared to keeping anxiety at manageable levels. Anxiety can be treated successfully using <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/basics/therapy" hreflang="en" title="Psychology Today looks at therapy">therapy</a>, <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/basics/psychopharmacology" hreflang="en" title="Psychology Today looks at medication">medication</a>, or both. Lifestyle measures, such as regular exercise and deep-breathing, are also extremely important in controlling anxiety. </span></span></p> <p>For more on causes, symptoms, and treatments of anxiety disorders, see our <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/conditions/generalized-anxiety-disorder">Diagnosis Dictionary.</a></p> </div> </div> <div class="reference__sections"> <div> <div> <div class="section section--separator"> <div class="h2 section-title"> Why Anxiety Is On the Rise </div> <div class="section__body"> <article> <img src="https://cdn2.psychologytoday.com/assets/styles/manual_crop_1_1_180x180/public/2020-10/shutterstock_1419584867_0_small.jpg?itok=zecBzGTX" width="180" height="180" alt="fizkes/Shutterstock" title="fizkes/Shutterstock" loading="lazy" /> </article> <p><span><span><span><span>Anxiety is now the leading mental health problem around the world, and the incidence of anxiety is still rising, especially among youth. Increasing numbers of children and adolescents are being diagnosed with the disorder.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>One often-cited reason for the general rise in anxiety is the burden of uncertainty in almost every domain of modern life, in response to an array of economic and cultural shifts. Uncertainty doesn’t cause anxiety, but it provides breeding grounds for it.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>Two important factors contributing to anxiety among the young are <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/basics/parenting" title="Psychology Today looks at parenting" class="basics-link" hreflang="en-SG">parenting</a> practices that overprotect children and the rise of <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/basics/social-media" title="Psychology Today looks at social media" class="basics-link" hreflang="en-SG">social media</a>. Technology provides new opportunities for connecting people, but it also leads to new experiences of negative social comparison and new pathways for social exclusion.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>For more see <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/basics/anxiety/children-and-anxiety">Children and Anxiety</a></span></span></span></span></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="pt-ad pt-ad--300x250 d-block d-none d-md-block d-lg-none block" id="block-ad-subpage-300x250-programmatically-rendered"> <div class="pt-ad--container pt-ad-show-text"> <div class="pt-ad--text"> <span>article continues after advertisement</span> </div> <div id="div-gpt-ad-1404853927369-9" class="pt-ad--content"> <script type="text/javascript"> if (window.googletag && googletag.apiReady) { googletag.cmd.push(function () { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1404853927369-9'); }); } </script> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div class="section section--separator"> <div class="h2 section-title"> How to Recognize the Signs of Anxiety </div> <div class="section__body"> <article> <img src="https://cdn2.psychologytoday.com/assets/styles/manual_crop_1_1_180x180/public/2020-08/fizkesShutterstock_1196187577.jpg?itok=_5Rt9qwY" width="180" height="180" alt="fizkes/ Shutterstock" title="fizkes/ Shutterstock" loading="lazy" /> </article> <p><span><span>Anxiety declares itself not just with endless loops of worry in the mind but with heart-pounding discomfort in the body, from general jumpiness and trembling to ringing in the ears and shortness of breath. </span></span></p> <p><span><span>The body symptoms of anxiety can be highly misleading. Not only are they often misinterpreted as signs of a heart attack and impending doom—a cardinal feature of panic attacks—but they often lead to odysseys of medical misdiagnosis. Physical symptoms may be assumed to be the result of physical causes, and in a misdirected search for them, the true source of the problem can continue undiscovered and unaddressed.</span></span></p> <p>For more see <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/basics/anxiety/signs-anxiety">Signs of Anxiety</a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div class="section section--separator"> <div class="h2 section-title"> How to Treat Anxiety </div> <div class="section__body"> <article> <img src="https://cdn2.psychologytoday.com/assets/styles/manual_crop_1_1_180x180/public/2020-09/shutterstock_1351652228.jpg?itok=smUP1KJd" width="180" height="180" alt="Anamaria Mejia/shutterstock" title="Anamaria Mejia/shutterstock" loading="lazy" /> </article> <p><span><span>Anxiety disorders can often be addressed successfully with <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/basics/therapy" title="Psychology Today looks at psychotherapy" class="basics-link" hreflang="en-SG">psychotherapy</a>, alone or in combination with <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/basics/psychopharmacology" title="Psychology Today looks at medication" class="basics-link" hreflang="en-SG">medication</a>, and with lifestyle shifts. <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/basics/cognitive-behavioral-therapy" title="Psychology Today looks at Cognitive behavioral" class="basics-link" hreflang="en-SG">Cognitive behavioral</a> therapy (CBT), tailored to an individual’s specific anxieties, is one of the most effective options. Patients learn to challenge distorted thought patterns that create so much distress. </span></span></p> <p><span><span>Exposure therapy, in which patients are safely and gradually exposed to their fears so they no longer avoid them, is an essential part of most behavioral treatments for anxiety. Medication is often used to help patients control symptoms enough to focus on talk therapy.</span></span></p> <p><span><span>Lifestyle changes play an important role in the long-term <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/basics/leadership" title="Psychology Today looks at management" class="basics-link" hreflang="en-SG">management</a> of anxiety. Exercising, deep-breathing, and programs of <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/basics/meditation" title="Psychology Today looks at meditation" class="basics-link" hreflang="en-SG">meditation</a> all target very specific facets of the disorder.</span></span></p> <p><span><span>For more see <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/basics/anxiety/treatment-anxiety">Treatment of Anxiety</a></span></span></p> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div class="section section--separator"> <div class="h2 section-title"> When Is Anxiety an Illness? </div> <div class="section__body"> <article> </article> <p><span><span>Occasional bouts of anxiety are entirely normal and one of the unavoidable costs of being—and staying—alive. However, sometimes worries get out of control. </span></span></p> <p><span><span>They may arise for no discernible reason, or be disproportionate to the situation, or last beyond moves to solve any possible problem. Or the worry or physical symptoms prompt you to avoid situations that may trigger discomfort. Anxiety becomes a disorder when it consumes too much mental activity or interferes with activities and performance.</span></span></p> <p><span><span>For more see <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/basics/anxiety/anxiety-is-it-illness">Anxiety: Is It an Illness?</a></span></span></p> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div class="section section--separator"> <div class="h2 section-title"> What Are the Types of Anxiety? </div> <div class="section__body"> <article> </article> <p><span><span>Anxiety displays itself in a few diagnostically distinct ways. Generalized Anxiety disorder, in which concerns reflect any of the major domains of life—work, love, money, health—is most common among older adults. <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/basics/shyness" title="Psychology Today looks at Social Anxiety" class="basics-link" hreflang="en-SG">Social Anxiety</a> Disorder, more narrowly focused on <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/basics/fear" title="Psychology Today looks at fear" class="basics-link" hreflang="en-SG">fear</a> of negative evaluation by others, is on the rise among younger adults. </span></span></p> <p><span><span>Phobias generally target specific objects or experiences. Sometimes anxiety roars onto the scene in a sudden, intense burst and builds to a terrifying crescendo in minutes. Panic attacks can strike seemingly randomly, out of the blue, or they may occur with incapacitating frequency. Anxiety in all its forms is amenable to treatment.</span></span></p> <p>For more see <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/basics/anxiety/types-anxiety">Types of Anxiety</a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div class="section section--separator"> <div class="h2 section-title"> What Causes Anxiety? </div> <div class="section__body"> <article> </article> <p><span><span>The real cause of anxiety is being human with the capacity to imagine a future. It finds fertile ground in uncertainty, and there is much uncertainty in the world these days. </span></span></p> <p><span><span>Anxiety is unique in that it can be triggered by events in the real world—an upcoming doctor’s visit, relationship conflict, a rent increase—or it can be generated wholly internally, through thoughts of real or imagined threats (not knowing what to say when the boss calls on you in a meeting).</span></span></p> <p><span><span>For more see <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/basics/anxiety/the-causes-anxiety">The Causes of Anxiety</a></span></span></p> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div class="section section--separator"> <div class="h2 section-title"> What Is the Best Therapy for Anxiety? </div> <div class="section__body"> <article> </article> <p><span><span>The first-line treatment for anxiety is some form of cognitive behavioral therapy. Practical and present-oriented, therapy helps people recognize the cognitive distortion that anxiety forces on them, helps them confront their fears safely, and provides techniques for reversing reactivity. </span></span></p> <p><span><span>Like all treatment, the goal is to restore calm. But it does much more. It helps people regain control over themselves when worry threatens to overtake them.</span></span></p> <p><span><span>Therapy has the added value of taking place in the presence of a real human being. As social creatures, we have nervous systems exquisitely attuned to the influence of others. The presence of a helpful person constitutes a powerful signal of safety, directly and deeply countermanding the (mistaken) alarms of threat that define the disorder of anxiety.</span></span></p> <p><span><span>For more see <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/basics/anxiety/therapy-anxiety">Therapy for Anxiety</a></span></span></p> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div class="section section--separator"> <div class="h2 section-title"> Natural Approaches to Anxiety </div> <div class="section__body"> <article> </article> <p><span><span>Anxiety requires active treatment; otherwise it constricts life and tends to become a chronic condition. But that doesn’t mean it requires a prescription or medical intervention. Some of the most effective ways to control anxiety involve lifestyle or behavior changes.</span></span></p> <p><span><span>Calming the mind through meditation is an Eastern technique finding favor in Western cultures. Regular activity such as running or walking helps release the muscle tension that creates so much distress. It also changes the brain. One of the most effective measures of all may be deep (also call diaphragmatic) breathing. It has a direct effect on the <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/basics/neuroscience" title="Psychology Today looks at nervous system" class="basics-link" hreflang="en-SG">nervous system</a>, inducing a state of calm and curbing feelings of threat.</span></span></p> <p><span><span>For more see <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/basics/anxiety/natural-approaches-anxiety">Natural Approaches to Anxiety</a></span></span></p> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div class="section section--separator"> <div class="h2 section-title"> What Is the Biology of Anxiety? </div> <div class="section__body"> <article> </article> <p><span><span>Regardless how real or imagined the threat you’re reacting to, anxiety is both a mental and physical state. It’s orchestrated by a cascade of <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/basics/hormones" title="Psychology Today looks at hormones" class="basics-link" hreflang="en-SG">hormones</a> that affect almost every system of your body, from <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/basics/attention" title="Psychology Today looks at attention" class="basics-link" hreflang="en-SG">attention</a> to energy metabolism.</span></span></p> <p><span><span>Overwhelmed by negative feelings, your mind is activated to be on the lookout for danger. The increased physical arousal —all that jitteriness and muscle tension—is preparing your body to respond to a possibly adverse situation. It’s essentially well-meaning, intended to keep you alive.</span></span></p> <p><span><span>For more see <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/basics/anxiety/the-biology-anxiety">The Biology of Anxiety</a></span></span></p> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div class="section section--separator"> <div class="h2 section-title"> What Makes People Vulnerable to Anxiety? </div> <div class="section__body"> <article> </article> <p><span><span>Anybody can experience a bout of debilitating anxiety. But some people seem to be inclined to anxiety: Because of <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/basics/genetics" title="Psychology Today looks at genes" class="basics-link" hreflang="en-SG">genes</a> or temperament, possibly as a result of early experience, possibly through over- or underactivity of some area of the brain, they interpret neutral situations as threatening or overreact to threatening situations.</span></span></p> <p><span><span><a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/basics/stress" title="Psychology Today looks at Stress" class="basics-link" hreflang="en-SG">Stress</a> is a major contributor to anxiety, and the two conditions overlap in many ways. Stress can both set off anxiety and be a response to it.</span></span></p> <p><span><span>For more see <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/basics/anxiety/vulnerability-anxiety">What Makes People Vulnerable to Anxiety?</a></span></span></p> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div class="section section--separator"> <div class="h2 section-title"> Panic Attacks </div> <div class="section__body"> <article> </article> <p><span><span>Panic attacks are abrupt bursts of acute anxiety that can make you feel that you are about to die—but they are not life-threatening. The body sensations of anxiety become extremely intense—pounding heart, racing pulse, the feeling of difficulty getting enough air—and trigger even more anxiety, intensifying the panic.</span></span></p> <p><span><span>Panic attacks can occur out of the blue, even during sleep, and the feeling of loss of control magnifies the terror. As dire and overwhelming as such attacks feel, they nevertheless can be controlled—even while they’re happening.</span></span></p> <p><span><span>For more see <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/basics/anxiety/panic-attacks">Panic Attacks</a></span></span></p> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div class="section section--separator"> <div class="h2 section-title"> Children and Anxiety </div> <div class="section__body"> <article> </article> <p><span><span>As many as one in eight children may experience significant anxiety. Their first worries are about being separated from parents. But they worry about many things, from fires and disasters they can’t control to arguments between their parents might mean <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/basics/divorce" title="Psychology Today looks at divorce" class="basics-link" hreflang="en-SG">divorce</a>. They worry about the larger world, too, including terrorists and the effects of <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/basics/environment" title="Psychology Today looks at climate change" class="basics-link" hreflang="en-SG">climate change</a>. </span></span></p> <p><span><span>Normal worries become problematic when they interfere with sleep, going to school or paying attention in school, or engaging in activities with others. One major factor influencing the prevalence of <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/basics/child-development" title="Psychology Today looks at childhood" class="basics-link" hreflang="en-SG">childhood</a> anxiety—the rise of helicopter parenting. </span></span></p> <p><span><span>For more see <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/basics/anxiety/children-and-anxiety">Children and Anxiety</a></span></span></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="center--next_page_link d-flex"> <a href="/sg/basics/anxiety/anxiety-is-it-an-illness" title="Anxiety: Is It an Illness?">Next: Anxiety: Is It an Illness?</a> <div class="center--next_page_arrow"></div> </div> <div class="views-element-container"><div class="js-view-dom-id-0b6ccec1d3510ab6ff2308922d2609c8fdff9f996ba301ddc78fabcccf4496c9"> <section class="basics--essential-reads"> <div class="h2 page-section-header">Essential Reads</div> <div class="teaser--card-inset-details--row"> <article class="teaser--card-inset-details blog_entry--teaser--card-inset-details" data-nid="5027492"> <div class="card-inset-details__image"> <a href="/sg/blog/matters-of-the-mind/202411/how-to-worry-less"><img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn2.psychologytoday.com/assets/styles/manual_crop_3_2_600x400/public/teaser_image/blog_entry/2024-11/shutterstock_2478141047.jpg?itok=D2ruSBIz" width="600" height="400" alt="" title="LightField Studios/Shutterstock" /> </a> </div> <div class="card-inset-details__body"> <div class="card-inset-details__title"> <a href="/sg/blog/matters-of-the-mind/202411/how-to-worry-less" title="How to Worry Less"> How to Worry Less </a> </div> <div class="card-inset-details__teaser-text"> Reducing worry can be difficult, especially if worry has become habitual, but there are ways to chip away at it and replace it with problem solving. </div> </div> </article> <article class="teaser--card-inset-details blog_entry--teaser--card-inset-details" data-nid="5027345"> <div class="card-inset-details__image"> <a href="/sg/blog/am-i-dying/202411/3-ways-anxiety-affects-intimacy"><img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn2.psychologytoday.com/assets/styles/manual_crop_3_2_600x400/public/teaser_image/blog_entry/2024-11/sinitta-leunen-D-Dh6yUy8-M-unsplash.jpg?itok=pgn-yKWT" width="600" height="400" alt="" title="Sinitta Leunen / Unsplash" /> </a> </div> <div class="card-inset-details__body"> <div class="card-inset-details__title"> <a href="/sg/blog/am-i-dying/202411/3-ways-anxiety-affects-intimacy" title="3 Ways Anxiety Affects Intimacy "> 3 Ways Anxiety Affects Intimacy </a> </div> <div class="card-inset-details__teaser-text"> Learning to feel safe in our relationships can restore an ability to experience true intimacy. </div> </div> </article> </div> <div class="teaser--card-inset-details--row"> <article class="teaser--card-inset-details blog_entry--teaser--card-inset-details" data-nid="5027328"> <div class="card-inset-details__image"> <a href="/sg/blog/on-your-way-with-adhd/202411/5-quick-tips-to-reduce-anxiety-with-adhd"><img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn2.psychologytoday.com/assets/styles/manual_crop_3_2_600x400/public/field_blog_entry_images/2024-11/iStock-1511326622.jpg?itok=9BB4ZZlX" width="600" height="400" alt="" title="People Images - Yuri A / Shutterstock" /> </a> </div> <div class="card-inset-details__body"> <div class="card-inset-details__title"> <a href="/sg/blog/on-your-way-with-adhd/202411/5-quick-tips-to-reduce-anxiety-with-adhd" title="5 Quick Tips to Reduce Anxiety With ADHD"> 5 Quick Tips to Reduce Anxiety With ADHD </a> </div> <div class="card-inset-details__teaser-text"> If you are somebody who lives with ADHD and anxiety, then you understand the persistent and often self-defeating cycle of catastrophizing, what-ifs, and negative self-talk. </div> </div> </article> <article class="teaser--card-inset-details blog_entry--teaser--card-inset-details" data-nid="5026816"> <div class="card-inset-details__image"> <a href="/sg/blog/navigating-cancer/202411/cancer-treatment-is-over-now-what"><img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn2.psychologytoday.com/assets/styles/manual_crop_3_2_600x400/public/teaser_image/blog_entry/2024-11/iStock-1607410905%281%29.jpg?itok=Kkf47OEU" width="600" height="400" alt="" title="arcady_31 / istock" /> </a> </div> <div class="card-inset-details__body"> <div class="card-inset-details__title"> <a href="/sg/blog/navigating-cancer/202411/cancer-treatment-is-over-now-what" title="Cancer Treatment Is Over. Now What?"> Cancer Treatment Is Over. Now What? </a> </div> <div class="card-inset-details__teaser-text"> Fear of cancer recurrence is common after cancer. If you're asking yourself, "What now?" after cancer treatment, this post may help. </div> </div> </article> </div> </section> </div> </div> </div> <div class="h2 page-section-header page-section-header--with-divider">Recent Posts</div> <div class="views-element-container"><div class="js-view-dom-id-d71dca633cb654a49cd7aa384a519854333aab6372889a1281b6ab671ddec172 layout-container--grid--content-main-additional basics--recent-posts"> <div class="layout-content-main"> <div class="teaser-listing-item"> <article class="teaser teaser-lg blog-entry--teaser" data-nid="5027583"> <div class="teaser-lg--main"> <div class="teaser-lg__image"> <a href="/sg/blog/nudging-ahead/202411/6-strategies-for-college-students-to-reduce-anxiety"><img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn2.psychologytoday.com/assets/styles/manual_crop_1_1_288x288/public/field_blog_entry_images/2024-11/jeshoots-com--2vD8lIhdnw-unsplash.jpg?itok=rMUWE3BM" width="288" height="288" alt="" title="JESHOOTS/Unsplash" /> </a> </div> <div class="teaser-lg__details"> <div class="h2 teaser-lg__title"> <a href="/sg/blog/nudging-ahead/202411/6-strategies-for-college-students-to-reduce-anxiety" rel="bookmark">6 Strategies for College Students to Reduce Anxiety</a> </div> <p class="teaser-lg__summary teaser-lg__teaser--desktop"> Anxious about an upcoming stressful event? These behavioral science strategies can help ease that anxiety, boost your performance, and maintain your mental health. </p> </div> </div> <p class="teaser-lg__summary teaser-lg__teaser--mobile"> Anxious about an upcoming stressful event? These behavioral science strategies can help ease that anxiety, boost your performance, and maintain your mental health. </p> </article> </div> <div class="teaser-listing-item"> <article class="teaser teaser-lg blog-entry--teaser" data-nid="5027785"> <div class="teaser-lg--main"> <div class="teaser-lg__image"> <a href="/sg/blog/meditation-for-modern-life/202412/learning-from-others-mistakes-a-shortcut-to-a-better-life"><img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn2.psychologytoday.com/assets/styles/manual_crop_1_1_288x288/public/teaser_image/blog_entry/2024-12/woman-7261398_1280.jpg?h=b667bf37&itok=s48ud5yv" width="288" height="288" alt="" title="Mircea Iancu / Pixabay" /> </a> </div> <div class="teaser-lg__details"> <div class="h2 teaser-lg__title"> <a href="/sg/blog/meditation-for-modern-life/202412/learning-from-others-mistakes-a-shortcut-to-a-better-life" rel="bookmark">Learning From Others’ Mistakes: A Shortcut to a Better Life</a> </div> <p class="teaser-lg__summary teaser-lg__teaser--desktop"> Observing the consequences of others' choices provides valuable insights that can prevent unnecessary pain and suffering in your own life. </p> </div> </div> <p class="teaser-lg__summary teaser-lg__teaser--mobile"> Observing the consequences of others' choices provides valuable insights that can prevent unnecessary pain and suffering in your own life. </p> </article> </div> <div class="teaser-listing-item"> <article class="teaser teaser-lg blog-entry--teaser" data-nid="5027783"> <div class="teaser-lg--main"> <div class="teaser-lg__image"> <a href="/sg/blog/live-in-concert/202412/when-music-making-goes-from-playful-to-fearful"><img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn2.psychologytoday.com/assets/styles/manual_crop_1_1_288x288/public/teaser_image/blog_entry/2024-12/MusicalKids.png.jpg?itok=H9wSWhSk" width="288" height="288" alt="" title="Elmer Cañas / Unsplash" /> </a> </div> <div class="teaser-lg__details"> <div class="h2 teaser-lg__title"> <a href="/sg/blog/live-in-concert/202412/when-music-making-goes-from-playful-to-fearful" rel="bookmark">When Music-Making Goes From Playful to Fearful</a> </div> <p class="teaser-lg__summary teaser-lg__teaser--desktop"> As musical kids grow up, performance anxiety can change their music-making from an activity of joyous personal expression to one of intense dread. </p> </div> </div> <p class="teaser-lg__summary teaser-lg__teaser--mobile"> As musical kids grow up, performance anxiety can change their music-making from an activity of joyous personal expression to one of intense dread. </p> </article> </div> <div class="teaser-listing-item"> <article class="teaser teaser-lg blog-entry--teaser" data-nid="5011013"> <div class="teaser-lg--main"> <div class="teaser-lg__image"> <a href="/sg/blog/click-here-for-happiness/202309/3-tips-to-center-or-ground-yourself"><img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn2.psychologytoday.com/assets/styles/manual_crop_1_1_288x288/public/teaser_image/blog_entry/2023-09/kevin-turcios-0aaazXbjRJ8-unsplash.jpg?h=3df338e2&itok=VyKzxfgd" width="288" height="288" alt="" title="Photo by kevin turcios on Unsplash" /> </a> </div> <div class="teaser-lg__details"> <div class="h2 teaser-lg__title"> <a href="/sg/blog/click-here-for-happiness/202309/3-tips-to-center-or-ground-yourself" rel="bookmark">3 Tips to Center or Ground Yourself</a> </div> <p class="teaser-lg__summary teaser-lg__teaser--desktop"> What centering is and how it can help relieve stress. </p> </div> </div> <p class="teaser-lg__summary teaser-lg__teaser--mobile"> What centering is and how it can help relieve stress. </p> </article> </div> <div class="teaser-listing-item"> <article class="teaser teaser-lg blog-entry--teaser" data-nid="5027262"> <div class="teaser-lg--main"> <div class="teaser-lg__image"> <a href="/sg/blog/mental-wealth/202411/managing-social-anxiety-during-the-holidays"><img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn2.psychologytoday.com/assets/styles/manual_crop_1_1_288x288/public/teaser_image/blog_entry/2024-11/Happier%20Holidays%20Are%20Possible%20for%20Perfectionists%20%282%29.png.jpg?itok=GoKPjgPO" width="288" height="288" alt="" title="Canva" /> </a> </div> <div class="teaser-lg__details"> <div class="h2 teaser-lg__title"> <a href="/sg/blog/mental-wealth/202411/managing-social-anxiety-during-the-holidays" rel="bookmark">Managing Social Anxiety During the Holidays</a> </div> <p class="teaser-lg__summary teaser-lg__teaser--desktop"> The holidays can amplify social anxiety. Here's how to manage expectations, stay grounded, and find joy in meaningful moments, all while embracing your true self. </p> </div> </div> <p class="teaser-lg__summary teaser-lg__teaser--mobile"> The holidays can amplify social anxiety. Here's how to manage expectations, stay grounded, and find joy in meaningful moments, all while embracing your true self. </p> </article> </div> <div class="teaser-listing-item"> <article class="teaser teaser-lg blog-entry--teaser" data-nid="5027769"> <div class="teaser-lg--main"> <div class="teaser-lg__image"> <a href="/sg/blog/highly-functioning-is-highly-dangerous/202412/when-gratitude-turns-into-guilt"><img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn2.psychologytoday.com/assets/styles/manual_crop_1_1_288x288/public/teaser_image/blog_entry/2024-12/IMG_2300.jpg?itok=1igjQA3T" width="288" height="288" alt="" title="Dana Bowman" /> </a> </div> <div class="teaser-lg__details"> <div class="h2 teaser-lg__title"> <a href="/sg/blog/highly-functioning-is-highly-dangerous/202412/when-gratitude-turns-into-guilt" rel="bookmark">When Gratitude Turns Into Guilt</a> </div> <p class="teaser-lg__summary teaser-lg__teaser--desktop"> A Personal Perspective: Gratitude is good for us—but that doesn't always mean it's easy to practice. </p> </div> </div> <p class="teaser-lg__summary teaser-lg__teaser--mobile"> A Personal Perspective: Gratitude is good for us—but that doesn't always mean it's easy to practice. </p> </article> </div> <div class="teaser-listing-item"> <article class="teaser teaser-lg blog-entry--teaser" data-nid="5027766"> <div class="teaser-lg--main"> <div class="teaser-lg__image"> <a href="/sg/blog/passion/202412/understanding-your-inner-control-freak"><img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn2.psychologytoday.com/assets/styles/manual_crop_1_1_288x288/public/field_blog_entry_images/2024-12/man-6853954_960_720.png.jpg?itok=oWmIwUS8" width="288" height="288" alt="" title="Mohamed hassan / Pixabay " /> </a> </div> <div class="teaser-lg__details"> <div class="h2 teaser-lg__title"> <a href="/sg/blog/passion/202412/understanding-your-inner-control-freak" rel="bookmark">Understanding Your Inner Control-Freak </a> </div> <p class="teaser-lg__summary teaser-lg__teaser--desktop"> Personal Perspective: Control is, by definition, exerting authority over, curbing, and constraining, and when allowed to go unchecked, it exerts a throttling effect on life.<br /> </p> </div> </div> <p class="teaser-lg__summary teaser-lg__teaser--mobile"> Personal Perspective: Control is, by definition, exerting authority over, curbing, and constraining, and when allowed to go unchecked, it exerts a throttling effect on life.<br /> </p> </article> </div> <div class="teaser-listing-item"> <article class="teaser teaser-lg blog-entry--teaser" data-nid="5026714"> <div class="teaser-lg--main"> <div class="teaser-lg__image"> <a href="/sg/blog/hack-your-anxiety/202411/understanding-high-functioning-anxiety-and-when-to-seek-help"><img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn2.psychologytoday.com/assets/styles/manual_crop_1_1_288x288/public/teaser_image/blog_entry/2024-11/AdobeStock_879881527.jpg?itok=QnntjZZv" width="288" height="288" alt="" title="Kateryna / Adobe Stock" /> </a> </div> <div class="teaser-lg__details"> <div class="h2 teaser-lg__title"> <a href="/sg/blog/hack-your-anxiety/202411/understanding-high-functioning-anxiety-and-when-to-seek-help" rel="bookmark">Understanding High-Functioning Anxiety and When To Seek Help</a> </div> <p class="teaser-lg__summary teaser-lg__teaser--desktop"> Are you someone who excels outwardly while inwardly battling anxiety? This may be a sign of high-functioning anxiety. </p> </div> </div> <p class="teaser-lg__summary teaser-lg__teaser--mobile"> Are you someone who excels outwardly while inwardly battling anxiety? This may be a sign of high-functioning anxiety. </p> </article> </div> <div class="teaser-listing-item"> <article class="teaser teaser-lg blog-entry--teaser" data-nid="5027750"> <div class="teaser-lg--main"> <div class="teaser-lg__image"> <a href="/sg/blog/side-effects/202412/the-costs-of-mistaking-antidepressant-withdrawal-for-relapse"><img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn2.psychologytoday.com/assets/styles/manual_crop_1_1_288x288/public/teaser_image/blog_entry/2024-12/shutterstock_2460183471.png.jpg?itok=_lY8j4iO" width="288" height="288" alt="" title="Orawan Pattarawimonchai / Shutterstock" /> </a> </div> <div class="teaser-lg__details"> <div class="h2 teaser-lg__title"> <a href="/sg/blog/side-effects/202412/the-costs-of-mistaking-antidepressant-withdrawal-for-relapse" rel="bookmark">The Costs of Mistaking Antidepressant Withdrawal for Relapse</a> </div> <p class="teaser-lg__summary teaser-lg__teaser--desktop"> Recent gold-standard studies of antidepressant withdrawal flag misdiagnosis, confounding, and rushed tapering as ongoing concerns. </p> </div> </div> <p class="teaser-lg__summary teaser-lg__teaser--mobile"> Recent gold-standard studies of antidepressant withdrawal flag misdiagnosis, confounding, and rushed tapering as ongoing concerns. </p> </article> </div> <div class="teaser-listing-item"> <article class="teaser teaser-lg blog-entry--teaser" data-nid="5027313"> <div class="teaser-lg--main"> <div class="teaser-lg__image"> <a href="/sg/blog/consciously-creating-your-soul-life/202411/how-airports-are-integrating-wellness-initiatives"><img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn2.psychologytoday.com/assets/styles/manual_crop_1_1_288x288/public/teaser_image/blog_entry/2024-12/plane-7013022_1280.jpg?itok=0mVVYdzJ" width="288" height="288" alt="" title="Johannes Kirchherr / Pixabay" /> </a> </div> <div class="teaser-lg__details"> <div class="h2 teaser-lg__title"> <a href="/sg/blog/consciously-creating-your-soul-life/202411/how-airports-are-integrating-wellness-initiatives" rel="bookmark">How Airports Are Integrating Wellness Initiatives</a> </div> <p class="teaser-lg__summary teaser-lg__teaser--desktop"> Public spaces can institute measures to help ease stress and improve mood. Some airports are transforming and redefining travel with creative and meaningful wellness initiatives. </p> </div> </div> <p class="teaser-lg__summary teaser-lg__teaser--mobile"> Public spaces can institute measures to help ease stress and improve mood. Some airports are transforming and redefining travel with creative and meaningful wellness initiatives. </p> </article> </div> <nav role="navigation" aria-label="Pagination"> <ul class="js-pager__items pagination"> <li class="page-item active"> <span class="page-link">1</span> </li> <li class="page-item"> <a class="page-link" href="/sg/basics/anxiety?page=2" title="Go to next page" rel="next"> 2 </a> </li> <li class="page-item"> <a class="page-link next" href="/sg/basics/anxiety?page=2" title="Go to next page" rel="next"> <span>Next</span> </a> </li> </ul> </nav> </div> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> </div> <aside class="layout-content-left-rail--first" role="complementary"> <div> <div id="block-navigationblock" class="block"> <div class="center--navigation block-border"> <div class="center--navigation--header"> <article data-history-node-id="5000218" role="article"> <div class="h3 center--navigation--title">Anxiety Center</div> <div class="center--navigation--image"> <img src="https://cdn2.psychologytoday.com/assets/styles/max_800/public/center/2020-09/KieferPixShutterstock_713983021.jpg?itok=DXP6fAOx" width="500" height="330" alt="Kiefer Pix Shutterstock" title="Kiefer Pix Shutterstock" loading="lazy" /> </div> </article> </div> <ul class="center--navigation--links"> <li class="center--navigation--link"> <a href="/sg/basics/anxiety" class="active" hreflang="en">What Is Anxiety? </a> </li> <li class="center--navigation--link"> <a href="/sg/basics/anxiety/anxiety-is-it-an-illness" hreflang="en">Anxiety: Is It an Illness?</a> </li> <li class="center--navigation--link"> <a href="/sg/basics/anxiety/signs-of-anxiety" hreflang="en">Signs and Symptoms of Anxiety</a> </li> <li class="center--navigation--link"> <a href="/sg/basics/anxiety/types-of-anxiety" hreflang="en">Types of Anxiety</a> </li> <li class="center--navigation--link"> <a href="/sg/basics/anxiety/the-causes-of-anxiety" hreflang="en">The Causes of Anxiety</a> </li> <li class="center--navigation--link"> <a href="/sg/basics/anxiety/treatment-of-anxiety" hreflang="en">The Treatment of Anxiety</a> </li> <li class="center--navigation--link"> <a href="/sg/basics/anxiety/therapy-for-anxiety" hreflang="en">Therapy for Anxiety</a> </li> <li class="center--navigation--link"> <a href="/sg/basics/anxiety/natural-approaches-to-anxiety" hreflang="en">Natural Approaches to Anxiety</a> </li> <li class="center--navigation--link"> <a href="/sg/basics/anxiety/the-biology-of-anxiety" hreflang="en">The Biology of Anxiety</a> </li> <li class="center--navigation--link"> <a href="/sg/basics/anxiety/vulnerability-to-anxiety" hreflang="en">Vulnerability to Anxiety</a> </li> <li class="center--navigation--link"> <a href="/sg/basics/anxiety/panic-attacks" hreflang="en">Panic Attacks</a> </li> <li class="center--navigation--link"> <a href="/sg/basics/anxiety/children-and-anxiety" hreflang="en">Children and Anxiety</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </aside> <aside class="layout-content-left-rail--second" role="complementary"> <div> <div class="pt-ad pt-ad--300x250 d-none d-lg-block d-xl-block block" id="block-adblock"> <div class="pt-ad--container pt-ad-show-text"> <div class="pt-ad--text"> <span>advertisement</span> </div> <div id="div-gpt-ad-1391201642419-0" class="pt-ad--content"> <script type="text/javascript"> if (window.googletag && googletag.apiReady) { googletag.cmd.push(function () { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1391201642419-0'); }); } </script> </div> </div> </div> <div id="block-resourcesblock-2" class="block"> <article data-history-node-id="41827" role="article" class="resources block-border"> <div class="resources--header"> <div class="h2 resources--title"> Anxiety Resources </div> </div> <div class="resources--section resources--section--get-help"> <div class="h3"> <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/counselling?category=anxiety" title=""> Get Help </a> </div> <p class="resources--cta">Find counselling to overcome anxiety</p> <div class="country country--resources-search"> <form action="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/counselling?category=anxiety" method="GET" class="find-therapist--resources-form" target="_top"> <div class="container-fat__callout_form" data-search-suggest="sussex" data-placeholder="City or Postcode" data-size="medium" data-section-icons="false" data-mobile-fullscreen="true" data-suggestions-url="https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/search/suggestions?query={query}&attributes[0]=3&country-code=sg" data-search-url="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/counselling?category=anxiety&search={query}" data-input-aria-label="Search input text" data-button-aria-label="Search button"> <div class="search td-search d-flex"> <div class="td-search--input"> <div class="search-field-container"> <label for="find_therapist_search" class="d-none"> City or Postcode </label> <input id="find_therapist_search" type="text" name="search" placeholder="City or Postcode" aria-label="Search input text"> <button type="submit" value="Search" title="" class="search-btn default" aria-label="Search button"></button> </div> </div> </div> </div> </form> </div> </div> <div class="resources--section"> <div class="h3">Connected Topics</div> <ul class="list-style-none"> <li class="list-style-none--item"> <a href="/sg/basics/ocd" title="Psychology Today looks at ocd">OCD</a> </li> <li class="list-style-none--item"> <a href="/sg/basics/stress" title="Psychology Today looks at stress">Stress</a> </li> <li class="list-style-none--item"> <a href="/sg/basics/depression" title="Psychology Today looks at depression">Depression</a> </li> <li class="list-style-none--item"> <a href="/sg/basics/post-traumatic-stress-disorder" title="Psychology Today looks at post-traumatic stress disorder">Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder</a> </li> <li class="list-style-none--item"> <a href="/sg/basics/vagus-nerve" title="Psychology Today looks at vagus nerve">Vagus Nerve</a> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="resources--section"> <div class="h3">Diagnosis</div> <ul class="list-style-none"> <li class="list-style-none--item"> <a href="/sg/conditions/generalized-anxiety-disorder" title="Diagnosis: Generalized Anxiety Disorder">Generalized Anxiety Disorder</a> </li> <li class="list-style-none--item"> <a href="/sg/conditions/social-anxiety-disorder-social-phobia" title="Diagnosis: Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia)">Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia)</a> </li> <li class="list-style-none--item"> <a href="/sg/conditions/panic-disorder" title="Diagnosis: Panic Disorder">Panic Disorder</a> </li> <li class="list-style-none--item"> <a href="/sg/conditions/depressive-disorders" title="Diagnosis: Depressive Disorders">Depressive Disorders</a> </li> <li class="list-style-none--item"> <a href="/sg/conditions/post-traumatic-stress-disorder" title="Diagnosis: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder">Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder</a> </li> <li class="list-style-none--item"> <a href="/sg/conditions/obsessive-compulsive-disorder" title="Diagnosis: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder">Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder</a> </li> <li class="list-style-none--item"> <a href="/sg/conditions/obsessive-compulsive-personality-disorder" title="Diagnosis: Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder">Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder</a> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="resources--section"> <div class="h3">Test Yourself</div> <ul class="list-style-none"> <li class="list-style-none--item"> <a href="/sg/tests/health/anxiety-test" title="Take Test: Generalized Anxiety Disorder Test">Generalized Anxiety Disorder Test</a> </li> <li class="list-style-none--item"> <a href="/sg/tests/health/social-anxiety-test" title="Take Test: Social Anxiety Test">Social Anxiety Test</a> </li> <li class="list-style-none--item"> <a href="/sg/tests/health/depression-test" title="Take Test: Depression Test">Depression Test</a> </li> <li class="list-style-none--item"> <a href="/sg/tests/health/mental-health-assessment" title="Take Test: Your Mental Health Today Test">Your Mental Health Today Test</a> </li> <li class="list-style-none--item"> <a href="/sg/tests/health/do-i-need-therapy" title="Take Test: Do I Need Therapy?">Do I Need Therapy?</a> </li> <li class="list-style-none--item"> <a href="/sg/tests/personality/perfectionism-test" title="Take Test: Perfectionism Test">Perfectionism Test</a> </li> <li class="list-style-none--item"> <a href="/sg/tests/health/neuroticism-test" title="Take Test: Neuroticism Test">Neuroticism Test</a> </li> <li class="list-style-none--item"> <a href="/sg/tests/relationships/helicopter-parent-test" title="Take Test: Helicopter Parenting Test">Helicopter Parenting Test</a> </li> </ul> </div> </article> </div> <div class="pt-ad pt-ad--300x600 d-none d-lg-block d-xl-block block" id="block-adblock-2"> <div class="pt-ad--container pt-ad-show-text"> <div class="pt-ad--text"> <span>advertisement</span> </div> <div id="div-gpt-ad-1390414551849-0" class="pt-ad--content"> <script type="text/javascript"> if (window.googletag && googletag.apiReady) { googletag.cmd.push(function () { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1390414551849-0'); }); } </script> </div> </div> </div> <div id="block-findatherapistreferenceblock-2" class="block"> <div class="country find-therapist"> <div class="find-therapist--main"> <div class="h2 find-therapist--title"><a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/counselling?category=anxiety" title="Find Anxiety Counselling">Find Anxiety Counselling</a></div> <p class="find-therapist--copy"> Get the help you need from a therapist near you–a FREE service from Psychology Today. </p> <form action="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/counselling?category=anxiety" method="GET" class="find-therapist--form"> <div class="container-fat__callout_form" data-search-suggest="sussex" data-placeholder="City or Postcode" data-size="medium" data-section-icons="false" data-mobile-fullscreen="true" data-suggestions-url="https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/search/suggestions?query={query}&attributes[0]=3&country-code=sg" data-search-url="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/counselling?category=anxiety&search={query}" data-input-aria-label="Search input text" data-button-aria-label="Search button"> <div class="search td-search d-flex"> <div class="td-search--input"> <div class="search-field-container"> <label for="find_therapist_search" class="d-none"> City or Postcode </label> <input id="find_therapist_search" type="text" name="search" placeholder="City or Postcode" aria-label="Search input text"> <button type="submit" value="Search" title="" class="search-btn default" aria-label="Search button"></button> </div> </div> </div> </div> </form> <div class="find-therapist--image d-flex"> <img src="https://cdn2.psychologytoday.com/assets/default_images/counseling.jpg" width="310" height="300" alt="Counselling" title="Counselling" loading="lazy" /> </div> <div class="h3 find-therapist--cities-title">Cities:</div> <ul class="find-therapist--cities list-style-none"> <li><a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/counselling/sg/singapore/ang-mo-kio?category=anxiety" title="Find Anxiety Counselling in Ang Mo Kio" data-event-label="PT_City" data-event-category="OutboundLink" data-event-action="Click" class="td-city-link">Ang Mo Kio</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/counselling/sg/singapore/bedok?category=anxiety" title="Find Anxiety Counselling in Bedok" data-event-label="PT_City" data-event-category="OutboundLink" data-event-action="Click" class="td-city-link">Bedok</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/counselling/sg/singapore/bukit-merah?category=anxiety" title="Find Anxiety Counselling in Bukit Merah" data-event-label="PT_City" data-event-category="OutboundLink" data-event-action="Click" class="td-city-link">Bukit Merah</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/counselling/sg/singapore/choa-chu-kang?category=anxiety" title="Find Anxiety Counselling in Choa Chu Kang" data-event-label="PT_City" data-event-category="OutboundLink" data-event-action="Click" class="td-city-link">Choa Chu Kang</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/counselling/sg/singapore/downtown-core?category=anxiety" title="Find Anxiety Counselling in Downtown Core" data-event-label="PT_City" data-event-category="OutboundLink" data-event-action="Click" class="td-city-link">Downtown Core</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/counselling/sg/singapore/hougang?category=anxiety" title="Find Anxiety Counselling in Hougang" data-event-label="PT_City" data-event-category="OutboundLink" data-event-action="Click" class="td-city-link">Hougang</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/counselling/sg/singapore/jurong-west?category=anxiety" title="Find Anxiety Counselling in Jurong West" data-event-label="PT_City" data-event-category="OutboundLink" data-event-action="Click" class="td-city-link">Jurong West</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/counselling/sg/singapore/punggol?category=anxiety" title="Find Anxiety Counselling in Punggol" data-event-label="PT_City" data-event-category="OutboundLink" data-event-action="Click" class="td-city-link">Punggol</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/counselling/sg/singapore/sengkang?category=anxiety" title="Find Anxiety Counselling in Sengkang" data-event-label="PT_City" data-event-category="OutboundLink" data-event-action="Click" class="td-city-link">Sengkang</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/counselling/sg/singapore/tampines?category=anxiety" title="Find Anxiety Counselling in Tampines" data-event-label="PT_City" data-event-category="OutboundLink" data-event-action="Click" class="td-city-link">Tampines</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/counselling/sg/singapore/woodlands?category=anxiety" title="Find Anxiety Counselling in Woodlands" data-event-label="PT_City" data-event-category="OutboundLink" data-event-action="Click" class="td-city-link">Woodlands</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/counselling/sg/singapore/yishun?category=anxiety" title="Find Anxiety Counselling in Yishun" data-event-label="PT_City" data-event-category="OutboundLink" data-event-action="Click" class="td-city-link">Yishun</a></li> </ul> </div> <footer> <div class="find-therapist--footer"> <span class="find-therapist--footer-cta">Are you a Therapist?</span> <a href="https://join.psychologytoday.com/sg/signup?src=WWWCIT" class="find-therapist--footer-link">Get Listed Today</a> </div> </footer> </div> </div> </div> </aside> </div> </main> <footer role="contentinfo" class="footer"> <div> <div id="block-footerblock" class="block"> <section class="footer--section-first footer--section"> <div class="container"> <div class="footer--social-media d-flex"> <div class="main-nav--logo logo logo-en"> <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg" title="Psychology Today">Psychology Today</a> </div> <div class="footer--social-media--links d-flex"> <div class="footer--social-media--links--icon"> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/psychologytoday" title="Psychology Today en Facebook"> <img width="30" height="29" loading="lazy" class="svg" alt="Facebook" src="https://cdn2.psychologytoday.com/theme-assets/logo/logo-facebook.svg"> </a> </div> <div class="footer--social-media--links--icon"> <a href="https://twitter.com/psychtoday" title="Psychology Today en Twitter"> <img width="30" height="29" loading="lazy" class="svg" alt="Twitter" src="https://cdn2.psychologytoday.com/theme-assets/logo/logo-twitter.svg"> </a> </div> <div class="footer--social-media--links--icon"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/psych_today/" title="Psychology Today en Instagram"> <img width="30" height="30" loading="lazy" class="svg" alt="Instagram" src="https://cdn2.psychologytoday.com/theme-assets/logo/logo-instagram.svg"> </a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="footer--section-second footer--section"> <div class="container"> <div class="footer--navigation d-flex"> <div class="views-element-container"> <div class="js-view-dom-id-99a466a5f643ff3330e7f43bd38248364a56f5d6786825b51c748450e8148b88 magazine-footer-block"> <div class="h2 magazine-footer-block__title">Recent Issues</div> <div class="magazine-footer-block__container"> <div class="magazine-row"> <div class="views-row"><div class="magazine-issue magazine-issue--magazine-cover"> <div class="magazine-cover__cover magazine-thumbnail"> <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/magazine/archive/2024/11" title="November 2024"> <img src="https://cdn2.psychologytoday.com/assets/styles/magazine_384x504/public/magazine/2024-10/2024-11.png.jpg?itok=MK2t-Nce" width="384" height="504" alt="November 2024 magazine cover" title="Ditch Perfection & Rebalance Your Life" loading="lazy" /> </a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="views-row"><div class="magazine-issue magazine-issue--magazine-cover"> <div class="magazine-cover__cover magazine-thumbnail"> <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/magazine/archive/2024/09" title="September 2024"> <img src="https://cdn2.psychologytoday.com/assets/styles/magazine_384x504/public/magazine/2024-08/2024-09.png.jpg?itok=f_Oawcrq" width="384" height="504" alt="September 2024 magazine cover" title="Diagnosed in Adulthood" loading="lazy" /> </a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="views-row"><div class="magazine-issue magazine-issue--magazine-cover"> <div class="magazine-cover__cover magazine-thumbnail"> <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/magazine/archive/2024/07" title="July 2024"> <img src="https://cdn2.psychologytoday.com/assets/styles/magazine_384x504/public/magazine/2024-06/2024-07.png.jpg?itok=pCeLoQbs" width="384" height="504" alt="July 2024 magazine cover" title="Stand Up For Yourself" loading="lazy" /> </a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="views-row"><div class="magazine-issue magazine-issue--magazine-cover"> <div class="magazine-cover__cover magazine-thumbnail"> <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/magazine/archive/2024/05" title="May 2024"> <img src="https://cdn2.psychologytoday.com/assets/styles/magazine_384x504/public/magazine/2024-04/2024-05.png.jpg?itok=3uPTD2oA" width="384" height="504" alt="May 2024 magazine cover" title="Everyday Triggers" loading="lazy" /> </a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="views-row"><div class="magazine-issue magazine-issue--magazine-cover"> <div class="magazine-cover__cover magazine-thumbnail"> <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/magazine/archive/2024/03" title="March 2024"> <img src="https://cdn2.psychologytoday.com/assets/styles/magazine_384x504/public/magazine/2024-02/2024-03.png.jpg?itok=UyoZyp1R" width="384" height="504" alt="March 2024 magazine cover" title="Emotional Intelligence" loading="lazy" /> </a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="views-row"><div class="magazine-issue magazine-issue--magazine-cover"> <div class="magazine-cover__cover magazine-thumbnail"> <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/magazine/archive/2024/01" title="January 2024"> <img src="https://cdn2.psychologytoday.com/assets/styles/magazine_384x504/public/magazine/2023-12/2024-01.png.jpg?itok=B11lkLSj" width="384" height="504" alt="January 2024 magazine cover" title="Burnout" loading="lazy" /> </a> </div> </div> </div> </div> <a href="https://subscribe.psychologytoday.com" class="btn btn-info btn-md-cta" title="Subscribe to Psychology Today Magazine">Subscribe Today</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="footer--navigation d-flex"> <ul class="list-style-none list-inline"> <li class="copy-opacity-70 font-weight-semi-bold"> <a href="/sg/docs/about-psychology-today" hreflang="en-sg" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/5000407">About</a> </li> <li class="copy-opacity-70 font-weight-semi-bold"> <a href="/sg/docs/editorial-process" hreflang="en-sg" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/5000410">Editorial Process</a> </li> <li class="copy-opacity-70 font-weight-semi-bold"> <a href="/sg/docs/privacy-policy" hreflang="en-sg" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/5000083">Privacy</a> </li> <li class="copy-opacity-70 font-weight-semi-bold"> <a href="/sg/docs/terms-and-conditions" hreflang="en-sg" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/5000084">Terms</a> </li> <li class="copy-opacity-70 font-weight-semi-bold"> <a href="/sg/docs/accessibility" hreflang="en-sg" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/5000099">Accessibility</a> </li> <li class="copy-opacity-70 font-weight-semi-bold pt-footer-consent-link"> <a href="javascript:revisitCkyConsent();">Do Not Sell Or Share My Personal Information</a> </li> </ul> <div class="country--flag-name"> <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/counsellors?domain=content&cc=sg&cl=en"> <img loading="lazy" width="29" height="20" src="https://cdn2.psychologytoday.com/assets/flags/flag-lg-sg.svg" alt="Singapore" /> <span class="copy-opacity-70">Singapore</span> </a> </div> </div> <div class="footer--copyright d-flex"> <p class="copy-opacity-70">Psychology Today © 2024 Sussex Publishers, LLC</p> </div> </div> </section> </div> </div> </footer> </div> <div id="mobile-menu-container"> <div id="block-mobilenavtoplevelmenu" class="block"> <div class="sidebar sidebar-main" data-sidebar-location="main"> <div class="sidebar__header"> <a class="sidebar-back-arrow" data-sidebar-parent="main">Back</a> <div class="sidebar__logo"> <div class="h1 logo logo-en"><a href="/sg">Psychology Today</a></div> </div> </div> <ul class="sidenav"> <li> <a href="/sg"> Home </a> </li> <li> <a href="#" data-sidebar-target="find-a-therapist"> Find Counselling </a> </li> <li> <a href="#" data-sidebar-target="get-help"> Get Help </a> </li> <li> <a href="#" data-sidebar-target="magazine"> Magazine </a> </li> <li> <a href="#" data-sidebar-target="today"> Today </a> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="sidebar" data-sidebar-location="find-a-therapist"> <div class="sidebar__header"> <a class="sidebar-back-arrow" data-sidebar-parent="main">Back</a> <div class="sidebar-title">Find a Therapist</div> </div> <div id="block-countrymobilenavigationfindtherapistblock" class="block"> <div> <ul> <li class="menu-list-category"><span>Get Help</span></li> <li class="main-nav--basics-link"> <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/counselling" title="Find Counselling">Find Counselling</a> </li> <li class="main-nav--basics-link"> <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/counselling?category=online-counselling" title="Find Online Therapy">Find Online Therapy</a> </li> </ul> <ul> <li class="menu-list-category"><span>Members</span></li> <li><a href="https://member.psychologytoday.com/sg/login" data-event-category="OutboundLink" data-event-action="Click" data-event-label="PT_TopNav_TherapistLogIn">Login</a></li> <li><a href="https://join.psychologytoday.com/sg/signup" data-event-category="OutboundLink" data-event-action="Click" data-event-label="PT_TopNav_SignupN">Sign Up</a></li> </ul> <ul> <li class="menu-list-category"><span> Singapore </span></li> <li><a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/counselling/sg/singapore/ang-mo-kio" title="Find Counselling in Ang Mo Kio" data-event-label="PT_TopNavF_Therapist1" data-event-category="OutboundLink" data-event-action="Click" class="td-city-link">Ang Mo Kio</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/counselling/sg/singapore/bedok" title="Find Counselling in Bedok" data-event-label="PT_TopNavF_Therapist1" data-event-category="OutboundLink" data-event-action="Click" class="td-city-link">Bedok</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/counselling/sg/singapore/bukit-merah" title="Find Counselling in Bukit Merah" data-event-label="PT_TopNavF_Therapist1" data-event-category="OutboundLink" data-event-action="Click" class="td-city-link">Bukit Merah</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/counselling/sg/singapore/choa-chu-kang" title="Find Counselling in Choa Chu Kang" data-event-label="PT_TopNavF_Therapist1" data-event-category="OutboundLink" data-event-action="Click" class="td-city-link">Choa Chu Kang</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/counselling/sg/singapore/downtown-core" title="Find Counselling in Downtown Core" data-event-label="PT_TopNavF_Therapist1" data-event-category="OutboundLink" data-event-action="Click" class="td-city-link">Downtown Core</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/counselling/sg/singapore/hougang" title="Find Counselling in Hougang" data-event-label="PT_TopNavF_Therapist1" data-event-category="OutboundLink" data-event-action="Click" class="td-city-link">Hougang</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/counselling/sg/singapore/jurong-west" title="Find Counselling in Jurong West" data-event-label="PT_TopNavF_Therapist1" data-event-category="OutboundLink" data-event-action="Click" class="td-city-link">Jurong West</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/counselling/sg/singapore/punggol" title="Find Counselling in Punggol" data-event-label="PT_TopNavF_Therapist1" data-event-category="OutboundLink" data-event-action="Click" class="td-city-link">Punggol</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/counselling/sg/singapore/sengkang" title="Find Counselling in Sengkang" data-event-label="PT_TopNavF_Therapist1" data-event-category="OutboundLink" data-event-action="Click" class="td-city-link">Sengkang</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/counselling/sg/singapore/tampines" title="Find Counselling in Tampines" data-event-label="PT_TopNavF_Therapist1" data-event-category="OutboundLink" data-event-action="Click" class="td-city-link">Tampines</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/counselling/sg/singapore/woodlands" title="Find Counselling in Woodlands" data-event-label="PT_TopNavF_Therapist1" data-event-category="OutboundLink" data-event-action="Click" class="td-city-link">Woodlands</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/counselling/sg/singapore/yishun" title="Find Counselling in Yishun" data-event-label="PT_TopNavF_Therapist1" data-event-category="OutboundLink" data-event-action="Click" class="td-city-link">Yishun</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="sidebar" data-sidebar-location="get-help"> <div class="sidebar__header"> <a class="sidebar-back-arrow" data-sidebar-parent="main">Back</a> <div class="sidebar-title">Get Help</div> </div> <div id="block-basicslinkmenublock-mental-health-mobile"> <div class="h3 main-nav--basics-link-title">Mental Health</div> <div> <ul class="list-style-none main-nav--basics-links"> <li class="main-nav--basics-link"><a href="/sg/basics/addiction" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/50109">Addiction</a></li> <li class="main-nav--basics-link"><a href="/sg/basics/anxiety" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/41827" class="is-active">Anxiety</a></li> <li class="main-nav--basics-link"><a href="/sg/basics/adhd" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/41094">ADHD</a></li> <li class="main-nav--basics-link"><a href="/sg/basics/aspergers-syndrome" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/41798">Asperger's</a></li> <li class="main-nav--basics-link"><a href="/sg/basics/autism" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/40997">Autism</a></li> <li class="main-nav--basics-link"><a href="/sg/basics/bipolar-disorder" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/41105">Bipolar Disorder</a></li> <li class="main-nav--basics-link"><a href="/sg/basics/chronic-pain" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/53685">Chronic Pain</a></li> <li class="main-nav--basics-link"><a href="/sg/basics/depression" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/40725">Depression</a></li> <li class="main-nav--basics-link"><a href="/sg/basics/eating-disorders" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/41459">Eating Disorders</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="block-basicslinkmenublock-personality-mobile"> <div class="h3 main-nav--basics-link-title">Personality</div> <div> <ul class="list-style-none main-nav--basics-links"> <li class="main-nav--basics-link"><a href="/sg/basics/passive-aggression" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/53837">Passive Aggression</a></li> <li class="main-nav--basics-link"><a href="/sg/basics/personality" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/53843">Personality</a></li> <li class="main-nav--basics-link"><a href="/sg/basics/shyness" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/53941">Shyness</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="block-basicslinkmenublock-personal-growth-mobile"> <div class="h3 main-nav--basics-link-title">Personal Growth</div> <div> <ul class="list-style-none main-nav--basics-links"> <li class="main-nav--basics-link"><a href="/sg/basics/motivation" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/53823">Goal Setting</a></li> <li class="main-nav--basics-link"><a href="/sg/basics/happiness" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/53757">Happiness</a></li> <li class="main-nav--basics-link"><a href="/sg/basics/positive-psychology" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/53862">Positive Psychology</a></li> <li class="main-nav--basics-link"><a href="/sg/basics/smoking" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/53954">Stopping Smoking</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="block-basicslinkmenublock-relationships-mobile"> <div class="h3 main-nav--basics-link-title">Relationships</div> <div> <ul class="list-style-none main-nav--basics-links"> <li class="main-nav--basics-link"><a href="/sg/basics/low-sexual-desire" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/69085">Low Sexual Desire</a></li> <li class="main-nav--basics-link"><a href="/sg/basics/relationships" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/53894">Relationships</a></li> <li class="main-nav--basics-link"><a href="/sg/basics/sex" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/53931">Sex</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="block-basicslinkmenublock-family-life-mobile"> <div class="h3 main-nav--basics-link-title">Family Life</div> <div> <ul class="list-style-none main-nav--basics-links"> <li class="main-nav--basics-link"><a href="/sg/basics/child-development" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/53683">Child Development</a></li> <li class="main-nav--basics-link"><a href="/sg/basics/parenting" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/53833">Parenting</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="block-gethelpbasicsindexblock" class="block"> <div class="h3 main-nav--basics-link-title basics-link-title__view-help-index"><a href="/sg/basics" class="right-chevron-after">View Help Index</a></div> </div> <div id="block-gethelpindexlinksblock-2" class="block"> <div class="h3 main-nav--basics-link-title">Do I Need Help?</div> <ul class="list-style-none main-nav--basics-links"> <li class="main-nav--basics-link"> <a href="/sg/tests" title="Self Tests" hreflang="en-sg"> Self Tests <div class="result-tag">NEW</div> </a> </li> <li class="main-nav--basics-link"> <a href="/sg/basics/therapy" title="Therapy Center" hreflang="en-sg">Therapy Center</a> </li> </ul> <div class="h3 main-nav--basics-link-title">Recently Diagnosed?</div> <ul class="list-style-none main-nav--basics-links"> <li class="main-nav--basics-link"> <a href="/sg/conditions" title="Diagnosis Dictionary" hreflang="en-sg"> Diagnosis Dictionary </a> </li> <li class="main-nav--basics-link"> <a href="/sg/types-of-therapy" title="Types of Therapy" hreflang="en-sg"> Types of Therapy </a> </li> </ul> </div> <div id="block-countrymenufindlinksblock-2" class="block"> <div class="h3 main-nav--basics-link-title">Talk to Someone</div> <ul class="list-style-none main-nav--basics-links"> <li class="main-nav--basics-link"> <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/counselling" title="Find Counselling">Find Counselling</a> </li> <li class="main-nav--basics-link"> <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/counselling?category=online-counselling" title="Find Online Therapy">Find Online Therapy</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="sidebar" data-sidebar-location="magazine"> <div class="sidebar__header"> <a class="sidebar-back-arrow" data-sidebar-parent="main">Back</a> <div class="sidebar-title">Magazine</div> </div> <div class="views-element-container block" id="block-views-block-magazine-block-3"> <div> <div class="js-view-dom-id-0314e8ce9ed2bef0f39e916b22b5c916aa96ba8b3e912235dd91270e0e2048ed sidebar__content"> <div> <div class="magazine-issue magazine-cover-feature"> <div class="magazine-cover-feature__cover magazine-thumbnail"> <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/magazine/archive/2024/11" title="November 2024"> <img src="https://cdn2.psychologytoday.com/assets/styles/magazine_384x504/public/magazine/2024-10/2024-11.png.jpg?itok=MK2t-Nce" width="384" height="504" alt="November 2024 magazine cover" title="Ditch Perfection & Rebalance Your Life" loading="lazy" /> </a> </div> <div class="magazine-cover-feature__text"> <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/magazine/archive/2024/11" title="November 2024"> <div class="h3 magazine-cover-feature__date"> November 2024 </div> <div class="h3 magazine-cover-feature__headline"> The Perfectionism Trap </div> </a> <div class="magazine-cover-feature__highlight"><p> When we fall prey to perfectionism, we think we’re honorably aspiring to be our very best, but often we’re really just setting ourselves up for failure, as perfection is impossible and its pursuit inevitably backfires. </p></div> </div> </div> </div> <a href="https://subscribe.psychologytoday.com" class="btn btn-info btn-md-cta" title="Subscribe to Psychology Today Magazine">Subscribe</a> <a href="/sg/magazine/archive" class="btn btn-secondary btn-md-cta" title="Psychology Today Issue Archive">Issue Archive</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="sidebar" data-sidebar-location="today"> <div class="sidebar__header"> <a class="sidebar-back-arrow" data-sidebar-parent="main">Back</a> <div class="sidebar-title">Today</div> </div> <div class="views-element-container block" id="block-views-block-news-today-menu-block-1-2"> <div class="h3 main-nav--basics-link-title">News</div> <div class="news-today-menu-block-1-content"></div> </div> <div class="views-element-container block" id="block-views-block-menu-blog-entry-essentials-block-1-2"> <div class="h3 main-nav--basics-link-title">Essential Reads</div> <div class="menu-blog-entry-essentials-block-1-content"></div> </div> <div id="block-menutrendingtopics-2" class="block"> <div class="h3 main-nav--basics-link-title">Trending Topics in Singapore</div> <ul class="list-style-none main-nav--basics-links"> <li class="main-nav--basics-link"><a href="/sg/basics/emotional-intelligence" hreflang="en-sg" title="Emotional Intelligence">Emotional Intelligence</a> </li> <li class="main-nav--basics-link"><a href="/sg/basics/narcissism" hreflang="en-sg" title="Narcissism">Narcissism</a> </li> <li class="main-nav--basics-link"><a href="/sg/basics/gaslighting" hreflang="en-sg" title="Gaslighting">Gaslighting</a> </li> <li class="main-nav--basics-link"><a href="/sg/basics/bias" hreflang="en-sg" title="Bias">Bias</a> </li> <li class="main-nav--basics-link"><a href="/sg/basics/affective-forecasting" hreflang="en-sg" title="Affective Forecasting">Affective Forecasting</a> </li> <li class="main-nav--basics-link"><a href="/sg/basics/neuroscience" hreflang="en-sg" title="Neuroscience">Neuroscience</a> </li> </ul> <div class="h3 main-nav--basics-link-title main-nav--basics-index-link"><a href="/sg/basics" class="right-chevron-after">See All</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <script type="application/json" data-drupal-selector="drupal-settings-json">{"path":{"baseUrl":"\/","scriptPath":null,"pathPrefix":"sg\/","currentPath":"node\/41827","currentPathIsAdmin":false,"isFront":false,"currentLanguage":"en"},"pluralDelimiter":"\u0003","suppressDeprecationErrors":true,"ckeditorheight":{"offset":1,"line_height":1.6,"unit":"em","disable_autogrow":false},"dataLayer":{"defaultLang":"en","languages":{"en":{"id":"en","name":"English","direction":"ltr","weight":0},"es":{"id":"es","name":"espa\u00f1ol","direction":"ltr","weight":1},"fr":{"id":"fr","name":"French","direction":"ltr","weight":2}}},"ptAd":{"slotPlacement":{"slots":{"300x600_Right2_www_site":{"name":"300x600_Right2_www_site","path":"\/1032688\/300x600_Right2_www_site_Ad_Slot","opt_div":"div-gpt-ad-1390414551849-0","show_ad_text":true,"ad_text":"advertisement","size":[[300,600]],"device_sizes":["large","extra_large"],"ad_theme_type":"pt_ad","display_small":"","display_medium":"","display_large":"1","display_extra_large":"1"},"300x_Right_www":{"name":"300x_Right_www","path":"\/1032688\/300x*_Right_www","opt_div":"div-gpt-ad-1391201642419-0","show_ad_text":true,"ad_text":"advertisement","size":[[300,250]],"device_sizes":["large","extra_large"],"ad_theme_type":"pt_ad","display_small":"","display_medium":"","display_large":"1","display_extra_large":"1"},"300x250_Mobile_Content1":{"name":"300x250_Mobile_Content1","path":"\/1032688\/300x250_Mobile_Content1","opt_div":"div-gpt-ad-1404853927369-9","show_ad_text":true,"ad_text":"article continues after advertisement","size":[[300,250]],"device_sizes":["small","medium"],"ad_theme_type":"pt_ad","display_small":"1","display_medium":"1","display_large":"","display_extra_large":""}},"targets":{"targeting":{"HealthCat":["404460"],"OtherCat":[],"SpecialCat":["basics"],"PageNid":["41827"],"BlogNid":[],"NodeType":["reference"]}},"exclusions":[]}},"user":{"uid":0,"permissionsHash":"fb59c7f08668396797328e5a12c26a8ebc6135153a08bd3230a668c9a943a717"}}</script> <script src="https://cdn2.psychologytoday.com/assets/js/js_21hE7lAt4Sz7KJlc3V8cOBTI0lLYB5ms5WeiQ2gN59c.js"></script> <script src="https://resources.psychologytoday.com/directory/search-components/v1.0.14/search-suggestions.min.js" type="text/javascript" defer="true"></script> <script src="https://cdn2.psychologytoday.com/assets/js/js_moFHDfh0ca0aMUPlqZ_OFHaR19ot6W-hEyfjqJhB9bg.js"></script> <script src="https://securepubads.g.doubleclick.net/tag/js/gpt.js" defer></script> <script src="https://cdn2.psychologytoday.com/modules/custom/pt_ad/js/gpt-process.js?v=1.x" defer></script> <script src="https://cdn2.psychologytoday.com/assets/js/js_kWjdfh4mG8hIloMY_vdpcjqhITFL-ZWiVvqPdmlyt8o.js"></script> </body> </html>