Anticipatory Anxiety

Anticipatory anxiety is the fear of having an anxiety episode or panic attack. It is essentially anxiety about future anxiety. Sufferers of anxiety and panic disorders often have anticipatory anxiety - they fear having another anxiety episode or panic attack and avoid situations where they think they might arise. Anticipatory anxiety can sometimes lead to the development of phobic disorders like agoraphobia, which is the fear of public places and leaving the home. Sufferers are worried they will have an anxiety episode out in public so they avoid going out.