In a September 30 Harvard Gazette article by Liz Mineo, insights from clinical psychologist Rachel Zawa distinguish normal stress from an anxiety disorder. While moderate anxiety can boost performance, a disorder persistently interferes with daily life, trapping individuals in an "anxiety avoidance cycle". Three strategies can break this cycle: gradually facing fears (exposure-based living), challenging catastrophic thoughts (flexible thinking), and reinterpreting physical sensations as uncomfortable but not dangerous (reframing)
Article Citation:
Mineo, L. (2025, September 30). Crossing line between good and bad anxiety. Harvard Gazette. https://news.harvard.edu/
