Understanding Anxiety One Step At A Time

“Think of anxiety as a normal reaction to a situation where people feel pressured and, to some degree, fearful because there’s an unknown factor or a perceived danger,” says Michelle Alejandra Silva, PsyD, assistant professor of psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine and director of the Connecticut Latino Behavioral Health System.

“But it becomes clinically concerning when the feeling persists even when the threat is not there, and when it begins to interfere with day-to-day functioning and relationships.” 

Any single cause or the combined weight of numerous factors can lead to an anxiety disorder. Anxiety triggers can be obvious, like losing a job or house, or more difficult to pin down, such as traumatic events from one’s past.

“Understanding context is key,” Silva says. “I try to do a thorough assessment of patients’ current environment and circumstances to understand their feelings and experiences within their reality. For instance, many of my clients are dealing with poverty or immigration-related stressors.”