Anticipatory anxiety may occur in response to large events such as giving a presentation at work.
If you havepanic disorder, you may find yourself anticipating many life events.
Before you had panic attacks, you probably didnt give much thought to any of these common events.
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Normal vs. Problematic Anticipatory Anxiety
An infinite number of human experiences cause normal anticipatory anxiety.
Thistypeof anticipatory anxiety is normal.
In some cases, anticipatory anxiety surrounds any activity that involves leaving the safety of your own home.
How Your Thoughts Contribute to Anticipatory Anxiety
Anticipatory anxiety is closely associated with the way you think.
If you have panic disorder, you are probably very familiar with what if worries.
The anxiety may be so intense that it causes a condition calledagoraphobia.
How to Cope With Anticipatory Anxiety
Here are some ways to cope with anticipatory anxiety.
You may even be able to defuse a panic attack in the making.
For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
Updated January 25, 2018.
Sadock BJ, Sadock VA, Ruiz P.Kaplan and Sadock’s Synopsis of Psychiatry: Behavioral Sciences/Clinical Psychiatry.
Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer; 2014.
