Anx

Anx is an informal shorthand commonly used to refer to anxiety in clinical notes, patient records, and informal writing. In medical terms, anxiety describes a range of emotions marked by worry, nervousness, or fear, often in response to anticipated threats or stressors.

Anxiety can be a normal, adaptive reaction to challenging situations. When it is excessive, persistent, or out of proportion to the situation, it may constitute an anxiety disorder. The main types include generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and specific phobias, as well as agoraphobia and separation anxiety in appropriate age groups. Some individuals experience transient anxiety in response to stress, without meeting disorder criteria.

Common symptoms span cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and physical domains. Cognitive features include excessive worry and difficulty concentrating. Emotional symptoms involve apprehension and irritability. Behavioral signs may be avoidance and restlessness, while physical symptoms can include rapid heartbeat, sweating, trembling, muscle tension, and sleep disturbance.

Diagnosis typically relies on clinical evaluation, guided by criteria in diagnostic manuals and standardized screening tools such as the GAD-7. Evaluation also considers functional impairment, duration, and exclusion of other medical causes.

Management integrates psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy, and lifestyle strategies. Evidence-based therapies such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure-based therapies are common. Medications include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs); benzodiazepines are generally limited to short-term use, and buspirone may be employed for some patients. Education, sleep hygiene, stress management, and regular physical activity support treatment.

Note: the abbreviation Anx is not a formal medical term; in formal writing, the full term “anxiety” is preferred. See also anxiety disorders.