Scroll down below the table for the "What's it Like?" descriptions for each level.

Anxiety Level Symptoms Comments What you can do to help What you shouldn't do Good 1 Anxiety is in the “background”. I feel pretty good. I can be expected to do most normal things without problem or worry. Nothing, just act normal around me and don't worry. Nothing really just don't threaten me with sharp objects. 2 Anxiety is present in foreground but is easilymanaged. I may have some trepidation about doing certain things, but I can handle it. Nothing for the most part, but you could give me an encouraging word or two, tell me you understand. A good hug couldn't hurt. Ask what's wrong or make me feel guilty about something 3 Anxiety is such that certain events could make it worse, I'll avoid outings, groups of people I can do most normal things within my comfort zone, but I can't go out of it. Be understanding, don't use peer pressure, allow me to set boundaries for what I can and can't do. Ask what can I do to help? 4 Feel like I need to change my surroundings, that I need to ”regroup”. Trembling a little. My surroundings are scaring me, I need to go elsewhere, either home or outside or my bedroom to regroup Make it easy for me to leave, for example if I am at a party, make it easy for me to walk outside and get fresh air for a while, and be prepared to give me a ride home shortly. Ignore or postpone my requests to leave. Don't make my issue public, help me find a good excuse to leave without offending. 5 Avoid looking at anybody. Clenching hands into fists. I'm actively trying to fight my anxiety by staying in the situation. Say things like “I understand, and I'm here to help. Would you like me to get you your medicine?” Ask what are you afraid of? 6 Difficulty concentrating. Feelings of un-reality. Feeling dizzy. I shouldn't do anything where I could drop something valuable or make any big decisions. Say things like “I understand, and I'm here to help. Would you like to go for a walk and talk?” Ask me to do any chores. Bad 7 Very nervous, trying to distract myself. I may react in an overly defensive manner. Fidgeting. My mind is precoocupied with trying to distract myself away from dealing with my anxiety. Don't talk to me too much, my mind is too busy processing my anxiety. Maybe put on a good comedy show on TV Ask what are you afraid of? 8 Compulsive pacing, convinced I need to be put in an institution. Clenching muscles. I can't see a way out of my problems, I'm consumed by them. I may even be thinking of suicide. Give me a little bit of room, and tell me it's ok if I just need to go in my room for a while. Tell me you understand. Ask if I would like to try taking some medicine. Then after the medicine try to get me to talk about my problems and be compassionate and understanding and remind me of positive things in my life. Ask what are you afraid of? Ask what happened? 9 Hiding in a closet or corner. Speaking in only single words. Trembling, motionless. I'm scared to death of everthing, it's very scary just to walk to the phone to pick it up. I need a good, long hug. I may even need to cry. Tell me you love me and I'm a wonderful person, and you understand how horrible it is. Then bring me some medicine and slowly help me to my feet. Ask what are you afraid of? Ask what happened? Avoid statements like “Everyone is here, they came to see you can't you come out?” Worst 10 Hiding in a closet or corner. Unable to speak. Trembling, motionless. Closing eyes to shut out world. Short breaths/hyperventilating. I'm terrified of everything, and the idea of even walking to the phone is more than I can handle. I need a good, long hug. I may even need to cry. Tell me you love me and I'm a wonderful person, and you understand how horrible it is. Then bring me my medicine and water and help me take them. Then slowly help me to my feet. After a while, suggest doing something foolish, like jumping in mud puddles or running through the rain or making fun of politicians on TV. Ask what are you afraid of? Ask what happened? Avoid statements like “Everyone is here, they came to see you can't you come out?”

What's it like? Level One - Good Imagine this: You're working in your office, and all your co-workers are having a party in the next room. It's distracting, but you're dedicated to your work and you intend to get your work done, even though you know you won't be going to the party when you're done. What's it like? Level Two Imagine this: You're working in your office, and not only is the party going on that you can't attend, but you can just overhear some of your co-workers talking about you behind your back in a derogatory way. And you're behind schedule on your report, so you just try to block it out and ignore it as gossip and say to yourself that you're above them and won't stoop to their level by asking them to stop. What's it like? Level Three Imagine this: You're at work, the party that you can't attend is going on, they're gossiping bad things about you behind your back right in front of your boss's office, and you have to go give him your over-due report now. Your boss hasn't been pleased with your last reports and you're scared enough to have to face him right now with another late report, plus you have to walk right through the people who are talking bad about you to get to his office. You'd really rather be someplace else. You're struggling with the idea of putting off the report, it's already late, and go work on something else. What's it like? Level Four Imagine this: You're at work, the party that you can't attend is going on, they're gossiping bad things about you behind your back right in front of your boss's office, you have to go give him your over-due report yesterday. You're boss hasn't been pleased with you, you have to walk right through the people who are talking bad about you, you'd really rather be someplace else. You're struggling with the idea of putting off the report. But you can't think of any of that because the ground has begun shaking in an earthquake, and you should be running to safer ground. You know you've got to get out of there. But nobody else notices the ground trembling, they just keep on acting the same. What's it like? Level Five Imagine this: You're at work, the party that you can't attend is going on, they're gossiping bad things about you right in front of your boss's office, you owe him your over-due report yesterday. You're boss hasn't been pleased with you, you'd really rather be someplace else. Your'e worrying about all of that as you run out of the building, you don't want to get hurt by falling debris! You know you look stupid because nobody else believes there's an earthquake. Your heart is pounding, and your fists are clenched, you hope nobody notices. Maybe if you try hard enough you can go back inside the building. What's it like? Level Six Imagine this: You're outside of work, the party that you can't attend is going on, they're gossiping bad things about you and your boss doesn't like you, and wasn't there something about a report? You're not sure with all the ground shaking, are you keeping balance? You look at the watch on your wrist. You can't remember putting it on. The ground is shaking, isn't it? Oh my God, that car almost hit you! People really should drive slower in the parking lot! You're starting to go a little numb as you notice all the muscles in your body have been clenching since this all started. What's it like? Level Seven - now it starts to get bad Imagine this: It's bad enough that you're outside of work, there's a party you can't attend, they're gossiping bad things about you, your boss doesn't like you, wasn't there something about a report? The ground is shaking, are you keeping balance? What time is it? You keep looking at your watch which you can't remember putting it on, but you still can't remember what time it is so you keep looking again. The ground is shaking, isn't it? Oh my God, that car almost hit you! People really should drive slower in the parking lot! You're muscles are starting to hurt. Your mom is calling you on your cell phone, but you don't want to talk to her because she's just upset with you because you never call her. You tell yourself, just look at the trees, just look at the trees..... Then somebody taps you on your shoulder! Nope, it was just a nut falling from the tree, what was that about a report? The air-raid siren is going on, it's so loud, the siren is right next to you! You cover your ears, "can't I just look at the trees?" you think to yourself. And why are those people looking funny at you? What's it like? Level Eight Imagine this: You're outside of work, pacing back and forth, there's a party you can't attend, they're gossiping bad things about you, your boss doesn't like you, wasn't there something about a report? The ground is shaking, are you keeping balance? What time is it? You keep looking at your watch which you can't remember putting it on, but you still can't remember what time it is so you keep looking again. The ground is shaking, isn't it? Oh my God, that car that almost hit you keeps driving around in mad circles! You're muscles are still hurting. Your mom is calling you on your cell phone, you're afraid to look up at the trees, because they're dropping nuts all over the place, what was that about a report? You're still pacing, your heart is racing. You can't leave, because you can't get to your car with that madman racing around in the parking lot. The air-raid siren is going on, it's so loud, the siren is right next to you! You can't go back inside, because the ground is still shaking and that building doesn't look stable. Why does your life always go like this? You know you're normal, aren't you? And why are those people looking funny at you? What's it like? Level Nine Imagine this: You're outside of work, sitting underneath a tree, covering your head with your hands to protect from the falling nuts, there's a party you can't attend, they're gossiping bad things about you, your boss doesn't like you, wasn't there something about a report? The ground is shaking, and you keep falling over. Your watch is beeping at you, but you don't want to look at it. That madman is still driving in circles, he's going to run over that little girl! You're muscles are hurting all over. Your cell phone is vibrating in your pocket, you can't answer it right now! You're life is in danger! Your heart is racing so much you pretty sure you're having a heart attack. You can't leave, because now there's a man standing in front of you with a loaded gun pointed at your face demanding you to hand over your wallet! The air-raid siren is is so loud! That building looks like it's going to cave in any minute and crush all those people! Why does your life always go like this? And why are those people looking funny at you? What's it like? Level Ten - worst Imagine this: You're laying in the fetal position underneath a tree, covering your eyes with your hands, your head is threatened by falling nuts, there's a party you can't attend, they're gossiping bad things about you, your boss doesn't like you, wasn't there something about a report? The ground is shaking, you keep falling over. Your watch is beeping at you, but you don't want to look at it. That madman is still driving in circles, he's going to run over that little girl! You're muscles are hurting all over. Your cell phone is vibrating in your pocket, you can't answer it right now! You're life is in danger! Your heart is racing so much you think you might have a heart attack. You can't leave, because now there's a man standing in front of you with a loaded gun pointed at your face demanding you to hand over your wallet! The air-raid siren is is so loud, the enemy is attacking! That building looks like it's going to cave in any minute and crush all those people! There's a man with a bloody axe running straight for you! You don't have anywhere to go! And why are those people looking funny at you?