India, Oct. 24 -- Feeling anxious is a part of being human. The foreboding dread about something that might happen in future makes one worry a lot. Being anxious before a big day is an obvious state of mind, and in a way, it helps you stay prepared by anticipating different scenarios and outcomes. When anxiety kicks in before an exam, interview or presentation, you push harder and plan better.

But there's always a line where the anxious mood starts to become permanent, turning into a disorder that interferes with daily life. Mood is a temporary state, triggered by a specific situation, and it dissipates once the situation changes. And most importantly, mood does not affect regular functioning. On the contrary, disorder is more persistent...