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Emily Upton, PhD Candidate in Psychology, UNSW Sydney; Black Dog Institute

Is it anxiety or OCD? 2 psychology experts explain the difference

apomares/Getty

Anxiety itself is not a mental illness. It’s a normal, adaptive emotion that helps us respond to perceived threats.

Anxiety is the automatic reaction that makes you jump back when you think you’ve seen a snake while bushwalking – before realising it’s a stick.

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