What is anxiety disorder — and why is it so common in the UAE?

Anxiety disorder is not the same as feeling stressed or worried. Everyone experiences stress — it is a normal response to life's demands. Anxiety disorder is something categorically different: a persistent, inappropriate activation of the body's fear system that continues even when no genuine threat is present.

The brain's threat-detection system becomes locked in a heightened state. It interprets ordinary situations as threatening. It generates the full suite of anxiety symptoms: racing heart, breathlessness, dizziness, intrusive thoughts, panic, avoidance, and an overwhelming sense that something is terribly wrong.

The UAE has specific factors that amplify this. High-achieving, competitive environments. Distance from family support networks. Cultural isolation for English speakers. The relentless pace of Dubai and Abu Dhabi. These factors don't cause anxiety disorder — but they can trigger it in people who are neurologically predisposed.

The encouraging news is that anxiety is widely recognised as something people can improve with the right support. LAR coaching draws on Threat Recalibration Therapy (TRT), developed by the Institute of Applied Psychophysiology, which focuses on how the threat response has been learned. Progress and timelines vary from person to person, and coaching is not a diagnosis or a replacement for medical care.

If you recognise this in yourself — or in someone close to you — the first step is understanding what you are dealing with. It is not a character flaw. It is not weakness. A good first step is speaking to a doctor, who can rule out physical causes and discuss treatment options, alongside any coaching you choose.