Is it hard to relax or just enjoy everyday events without a sense of dread?  Anxiety is an umbrella term to describe the experience of feeling nervous, worried, fearful or panicked.  Anxiety usually starts as a protective reaction to a difficult environment or a traumatic event.   At low or moderate levels, it helps us with motivation and performance, but for many people who struggle with anxiety, the experience goes beyond what was protective, happening more frequently or everyday.  This can have a domino effect on our sense of physical wellness, our emotions and whether we feel we are in control of our lives.