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Anxiety Physiology

Meaning

This term refers to the intricate, measurable biological processes and hormonal shifts that underpin the subjective experience of anxiety. It involves the activation of the body’s defensive systems, specifically the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal or HPA axis, which is the central coordinator of the stress response. Understanding this physiology allows clinicians to distinguish between normal stress reactivity and a dysregulated state requiring targeted intervention. Chronic anxiety can lead to allostatic load, reflecting cumulative wear and tear on the body’s hormonal and metabolic systems.