The odd attack of anxiety is normal and healthy because it is part of the body's natural response to defend itself from dangerous or stressful conditions.
Wendy Suzuki, a professor of brain science and psychology at New York University and author of "Good Anxiety.
Harnessing the Power of the Most Misunderstood Emotion," argues that "if we use it well, anxiety can provide us with valuable information.
The Anxiety and Depression Association of America estimates that 19.1% of U.S. adults aged 18 and above suffer from some form of clinical anxiety.
"Anxiety attacks" and "panic attacks" are often used interchangeably, however they refer to different medical diseases.
They have some overlap in symptoms but are otherwise distinct medical conditions.
A panic episode and panic disorder are both classified as anxiety illnesses, which can lead to miscommunication.
Although the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, only panic attacks are recognized as a diagnosis in the DSM-5, the American Psychiatric Association's.