When you feel anxious, you're worried or uneasy about something that might happen. Before a big test, you might feel anxious about whether you studied enough. Before performing in the school play, you might feel anxious about forgetting your lines or tripping on stage.

Anxiety is that jittery, uncomfortable feeling in your stomach when you're anticipating something difficult or uncertain. Your heart might beat faster, your thoughts might race, and it can be hard to sit still or focus on anything else. Someone waiting to hear if they made the soccer team might pace around anxiously, checking their phone every few minutes.

People sometimes confuse anxious with eager, but they're quite different. If you're eager to open birthday presents, you're excited and looking forward to it. If you're anxious about something, there's worry and nervousness mixed in.

While everyone feels anxious sometimes, especially before important events, the feeling usually fades once the situation passes. The math test that made you anxious all week suddenly doesn't seem so scary once you're actually taking it and realizing you know more than you thought.