Anxiety is best understood as an evolutionarily derived human emotion. Its components work together to encourage us to avoid danger and seek safety. Feeling uneasy in an unfamiliar environment, for example, might lead us to increase vigilant behavior, thereby increasing the odds of survival. Early humans who were more sensitive to situational dangers would have been more likely to avoid them. However, anxiety can present in a manner that is out of proportion to the real threats in the world in a way that is distressing and impairs functioning.

The mission of the Anxiety and Panic Lab is to investigate the development of unwanted anxiety and to test interventions that might reduce its intensity.

Explore our pages to learn about our ongoing work and how you could get involved.