When does anxiety transition to being classified as abnormal?

Anxiety is classified as abnormal when it interferes with daily functioning. This means that the intensity, duration, or frequency of the anxiety has reached a level where it disrupts an individual's ability to perform everyday activities, such as work, school, or social interactions.

For instance, an individual might experience anxiety in certain situations, but if this anxiety becomes so overwhelming that it prevents them from attending work or engaging in social activities, it is considered abnormal. The key aspect here is the impact on functioning—if anxiety is manageable and does not significantly affect someone's ability to lead a normal life, it does not meet the threshold for an anxiety disorder.

While the persistence of anxiety symptoms or the presence of physical symptoms can be factors that characterize certain anxiety disorders, they do not alone define abnormality. Anxiety in public places may suggest specific phobias, but again, it is the functional impairment that ultimately determines whether the anxiety is classified as abnormal. Thus, the correct answer emphasizes the importance of daily functioning in understanding and diagnosing anxiety disorders.