The Normal And Pathological Processes Of Anxiety
Fear is an evolutionary emotion that enables individuals to survive and contains a protective instinct against threats. It represents the mechanism and cognitive response developed in the presence of actual or perceived danger. Anxiety, on the other hand, functions as a mechanism that facilitates adaptation to potential future uncertainties. When examined closely, fear appears to lie at the core of anxiety. Therefore, understanding fear helps clarify the underlying causes and developmental processes of anxiety.
Unlike fear, anxiety is more persistent and enduring. When it becomes uncontrollable, it may disrupt an individual’s psychological balance and lead to difficulties in psychological, social, physiological, and behavioral domains of daily functioning. Indeed, daily stressors increase the risk of anxiety transforming into a pathological condition. For this reason, examining the process through which everyday anxiety evolves into pathological anxiety is crucial for psychological well-being.
According to research conducted in 2019, approximately 4% of the global population—around 301 million people—have been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. While prevalence rates vary worldwide, in Türkiye this rate is estimated to be between 5% and 6%, corresponding to approximately 4–5 million individuals. The high prevalence of anxiety disorders is associated with economic and social uncertainties, cultural pressures, individual and genetic vulnerabilities, and limited access to mental health services. Additionally, childhood trauma, neglectful or overprotective parenting, stigmatization, and lack of awareness may contribute to vulnerability.
The accumulation of such experiences can lead to functional impairments across psychological and social domains, ultimately decreasing quality of life and negatively affecting societal productivity and overall mental health. Therefore, anxiety-related behavioral disturbances should be examined from a multidimensional perspective.
The Theoretical Foundations Of Anxiety And Its Dual Functional Nature
Fear and anxiety are interrelated yet functionally distinct constructs within psychological literature. While fear is an immediate response to a present threat, anxiety is associated with the mental generation of possible future danger scenarios. At normal levels, anxiety supports adaptation by preparing individuals for potential risks. From an evolutionary perspective, both emotions activate the fight-or-flight response, strengthening survival mechanisms. Neurobiological research highlights the critical roles of the amygdala and prefrontal cortex in regulating fear and anxiety responses.
Anxiety has been conceptualized as a multidimensional construct within various theoretical frameworks. The psychodynamic approach explains anxiety as the result of unconscious conflicts, whereas the behavioral perspective conceptualizes it as a learned response. Cognitive theories emphasize exaggerated threat perception and cognitive distortions, while stress and coping theories underline its adaptive functions. However, when anxiety intensifies and becomes chronic, it may result in cognitive impairments, increased physiological stress responses, and deterioration in social functioning, eventually evolving into pathological anxiety. This demonstrates the dual nature of anxiety as both a protective and a potentially dysfunctional process.
2. Daily Anxieties
Daily anxieties can be defined as natural responses to stressors encountered in everyday life. Factors such as work, social relationships, economic concerns, and education may generate normal levels of anxiety.
According to Lazarus and Folkman’s (1984) stress and coping theory, daily anxiety activates cognitive appraisal processes, enabling individuals to develop appropriate coping strategies. However, for daily anxiety to remain functional, it must stay within certain limits. When mild and short-term, it is adaptive; yet when it intensifies or becomes chronic, it may turn maladaptive and create a foundation for pathological anxiety.
Thus, daily anxieties can be viewed as natural processes that regulate attention toward potential threats and enhance coping capacity. Nevertheless, when they become uncontrollable, they may transform into risk factors that threaten psychological stability.