Anxiety is seen as an obstacle to success. It is a thought that always lingers in your mind before you start to do something. If you are doing something new or trying to do something that you have already done it in your life and have bad memories with. This thought creeps in. This thought that sometimes sends chills down your spine, makes you shiver, or that makes you feel like you cannot breathe, as if someone has put a huge rock on your heart is what defines anxiety. However, emerging research suggests that it can in fact, serve as a valuable tool for focus, motivation and problem solving. Studies on performance and stress, including the widely known Yerkes-Dodson curve, indicate that moderate levels of anxiety can enhance productivity, while both excessive and insufficient anxiety can hinder it.

The Yerkes-Dodson curve demonstrates that when anxiety is too high, it can become paralyzing, preventing individuals from taking action. On the other hand, very low anxiety can lead to complacency, reducing motivation and attention to detail. The ideal state falls somewhere in the middle, where anxiety signals importance, sharpens focus, and encourages preparation.

This perspective challenges the common belief that anxiety should always be suppressed. Instead, researchers argue that learning to harness anxiety can be beneficial. Studies have shown that people experiencing moderate anxiety often generate more creative solutions to problems compared to those who remain entirely calm.

How Can You Use Anxiety To Your Benefit?

Anxiety can serve as a sort of increased awareness, motivating people to take action in critical situations. Medical decision-making research show that concerned people are more likely to follow up on health issues, stick to treatment plans, and aggressively seek medical help. For example, studies on heart transplant patients show that people with moderate levels of anxiety are more likely to seek adequate care, which leads to improved survival rates.

The same strategy is used to address everyday difficulties. Anxiety tells the brain that something is important and requires effort. Anxiety can encourage you to be prepared and attentive, whether you're preparing for a presentation, making a critical life decision, or dealing with an uncertain situation.

Is There A Thin Line Between Anxiety That Helps And That Harms?

Despite its potential benefits, anxiety can become debilitating when it causes what researchers term “functional impairment.” This occurs when excessive worry prevents individuals from fulfilling their daily responsibilities, whether in work, relationships, or personal well-being.

One method for distinguishing between helpful and harmful anxiety is cognitive reframing—shifting the perspective on stressors. Studies suggest that those who reframe anxiety as a performance-enhancing tool rather than a hindrance experience less distress and greater effectiveness in high-pressure situations. By viewing anxiety as a source of energy rather than a threat, individuals can improve their ability to navigate challenges.

Research on stress resilience indicates that experiencing a moderate amount of adversity in life can lead to stronger coping skills. Longitudinal studies on both humans and animals suggest that those who have faced and overcome moderate difficulties—such as personal loss or professional setbacks—tend to develop greater mental fortitude.

One study found that individuals who had endured a small number of adverse events exhibited better overall mental health than those who had either faced extreme hardship or had led relatively stress-free lives. This pattern aligns with the concept of "stress inoculation," where manageable levels of stress act as a form of psychological training, making individuals more resilient to future challenges.

So, What Can You Do?

Rather than attempting to eliminate anxiety, researchers suggest acknowledging it as a natural response that can be channeled productively. Psychological studies indicate that when people view their physiological responses—such as increased heart rate and adrenaline surges—as performance enhancers, their actual outcomes improve.

For instance, in high-stakes situations like public speaking or athletic competitions, individuals who interpret nervousness as a sign of readiness rather than fear tend to perform better. Physiologically, the body's response to excitement and fear is similar; the key difference lies in perception.

Research suggests that those who embrace a mindset of "anxiety as fuel" experience improved cognitive and physical performance. This approach aligns with studies showing that moderate stress prompts the release of hormones that enhance alertness and problem-solving ability, whereas overwhelming stress triggers a flood of cortisol, which can impair decision-making.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has reaffirmed that childhood vaccines do not cause autism spectrum disorders (ASD). This follows a fresh review by the WHO’s Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety (GACVS), which examined 31 major studies published between January 2010 and August 2025. Last month, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) adjusted its website wording, which some argued weakened its earlier, science-backed position that vaccines are not linked to autism. The WHO has now made its stance clear.

Years of research consistently show no causal relationship between vaccinations and autism or other developmental conditions. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has long promoted anti-vaccine views, has repeatedly claimed vaccines contribute to autism, despite evidence to the contrary. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus clarified in a Geneva press conference that vaccines do not cause autism.

WHO Rejects Claims Of Link Between Vaccines And Autism

“Today, WHO is releasing a new analysis by the Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety, which concludes, based on all available evidence, that vaccines are not linked to autism,” said Tedros, as per the official WHO report. The committee reviewed 31 studies conducted across multiple countries over 15 years, looking at vaccines containing thiomersal—a preservative used to prevent bacterial and fungal growth in multi-dose vials—and aluminium adjuvants.

“The review found no evidence connecting vaccines, including those with aluminium or thiomersal, to autism,” Tedros added. “This is the fourth review of its kind, following similar evaluations in 2002, 2004, and 2012, all of which reached the same conclusion: vaccines do not cause autism. Like any medical product, vaccines can have side effects, which WHO monitors carefully, but autism is not one of them.”

What Is Autism Spectrum Disorder?

ASD usually refers to Autism Spectrum Disorder, a developmental condition that affects communication, social skills, and behavior, with a wide range of symptoms. It can also mean Atrial Septal Defect, a congenital heart condition characterized by a hole in the upper chambers of the heart. Context is important: the first is neurological, the second cardiac, according to the CDC.

RFK Jr Blames Vaccines For Causing Autism

Health And Me has previously reported that Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has long claimed that vaccines are responsible for autism. He has cited the rising autism diagnoses over recent decades—from about 1 in 150 children in 2000 to roughly 1 in 36 today—as evidence of vaccine harm. However, multiple studies have debunked this, showing that increased awareness, better screening, and broader diagnostic definitions that include milder forms of autism largely explain the rise. Kennedy’s assertions have been widely criticized by health authorities and autism advocacy groups.

According to the CDC, about half of parents surveyed who have autistic children believe that vaccines may have contributed to their child’s autism. This statistic comes from a 2006 survey published in the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. The CDC explains that these vaccines are typically those administered within the first six months of life—such as Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis (DTaP), Hepatitis B (HepB), Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib), inactivated Poliovirus (IPV), and Pneumococcal conjugate (PCV)—as well as one given at or after the child’s first birthday, the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine.

No Link Between Vaccine And Autism

The supposed connection between the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine and autism originated from a flawed 1998 study, later retracted for using falsified data. Its findings were never replicated and have been thoroughly refuted by extensive research. “The study was shown to be fraudulent and withdrawn, but the notion it created has persisted,” said Tedros.

Kennedy has a long record of promoting questionable claims, which have become central to his “Make America Healthy Again” campaign, a notable element of President Trump’s broader Make America Great Again coalition. The recent CDC website changes sparked concern and alarm among career scientists and public health experts, including those within the agency, who have spent years combating misinformation.

Delhi AQI turns 'very poor' on Friday, with overall Air Quality Index hitting at 331 at 7am. As per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data, Jahangirpuri was the worst-affected area, and had its AQI at 405, under the 'severe' zone. Reports have shown that PM2.5 or the particulate matter levels in Delhi is well over 30 times the World Health Organization (WHO) safe standard.

However, the Minister of State for Environment Kirti Vardhan Singh said in Parliament that the WHO guidelines are only meant to help nations frame their own standards, factoring in geography, environmental conditions and local circumstances. He said that no global authority conducts official rankings, the government evaluates air quality within the country through its annual Swachh Vayu Survekshan, which ranks 130 cities under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) based on improvement efforts.

This was the Centre's response on Thursday to a question in Rajya Sabha on India's stand on IQAIr's World Air Quality Ranking, the WHO Global Air Quality Database, the Environmental Performance Index (EPI), and the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) metrics.

While this was happening in the Parliament, the Central government's 'Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi' said that "The air quality is likely to be in the Very Poor category from 11.12.2025 to 13.12.2025. The outlook for the subsequent 6 Days: The air quality is likely to be in the Very Poor category.

So, what is to be considered? Is the central government evading India's global air quality rankings? Previously, the union government also denied any deaths directly linked to air pollution.

However, the GBD data found that at least 15% of all deaths in 2023 were related to air pollution. The analysis was based on the data released by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME). The data estimated around 17,188 deaths in the national capital, all of which were linked to long-term exposure to particulate matter or PM2.5. This means 1 in every 7 deaths in Delhi could be traced to city's toxic air.

Also Read: Connection Between Migration And Pollution: People Are Leaving City To Be Away From Delhi's Toxic Air

Is The Government Doing Anything?

Amid the continuously worsening air condition in Delhi, the government has now formed an 'expert group' to combat air pollution as health crisis rise.

The panel will study how pollution builds up from human activity as well as natural causes and will recommend technology upgrades, policy reforms, and sector specific interventions that can be put into action.

The group will be chaired by retired IAS officer and former Union Environment Secretary Leena Nandan. Other members include former CPCB member secretary Dr JS Kamyotra, IIT Delhi professor emeritus Mukesh Khare, IIT Kanpur professor emeritus Mukesh Sharma, and Dr Suneel Pandey, director of Circular Economy and Waste Management at TERI. Representatives from CAQM, the IMD, APAG, PHDCCI and senior officials from the Delhi government are also part of the group. The Secretary of Environment and Forest is a member, and the DPCC chairman will serve as member secretary.

This expert panel will act as a high level advisory body, offering clear, actionable guidance that can shape both emergency responses and long term reforms. It will track the progress of current pollution control programs, study global best practices, and flag where corrections are needed. The group will meet every month, either in person or virtually, and will receive administrative support from the Delhi Pollution Control Committee. The initial tenure is six months, with the option to extend if required.

What Does Government Data Tell Us About Pollution And Health?

The government revealed that in the span of three years between 2022 to 2024, Delhi's six state run hospitals recorded 200,000 cases of acute respiratory illness. The government also said in parliament that more than 30,000 people were hospitalized in Delhi over three years with respiratory illness.

For weeks Delhi's PM2.5 levels have stayed 20 times the limit recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). In the span of three years, here is how many case Delhi's six major hospitals have recorded:

• 2022: 67,054
• 2023: 69,293
• 2024: 68,411

"Analysis suggests that increase in pollution levels was associated with increase in number of patients attending emergency rooms. However, this study design cannot provide confirmation that the association is causal," the government told parliament.

A new Ontario study revealed that there has been a 157 percent increase in the prescriptions for stimulant medications used to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The study noted that the prescriptions skyrocketed between 2015 to 2023. This means the prescriptions have increased four times each year from 2020 to 2023, as compared to 2015 to 2019, linked pandemic and mental health conditions to be a reason for the same. The study is published in JAMA Network Open. Researchers at ICES, the non-profit group formally known as the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences in Toronto, along with North York General Hospital and the Hospital for Sick Children.

Growth Accelerates After the Pandemic

According to the study, prescription rates began climbing steadily before the pandemic but accelerated sharply from 2020 onward. Between 2020 and 2023, stimulant prescriptions rose nearly four times faster each year compared with the period between 2015 and 2019. This shift suggests that life disruptions during lockdowns may have pushed many people to seek help for long-standing attention and focus struggles.

Using data from Ontario’s Narcotics Monitoring System, the researchers tracked prescriptions for stimulant medications, the primary treatment for ADHD. These drugs increase dopamine and other chemicals in the brain, helping people concentrate, regulate emotions and think more clearly.

The overall result was a 157 percent rise in new stimulant prescriptions over eight years.

Women See the Largest Increase

The most striking finding is how dramatically rates have increased among women. Women between 25 and 44 saw a surge of more than 420 percent. For men in the same age group, the increase was nearly 220 percent. Younger women also experienced a major rise, with prescriptions up almost 370 percent among those aged 18 to 24.

By 2023, women over the age of 18 were receiving stimulant prescriptions at higher rates than men, reversing long-standing patterns in ADHD diagnosis and treatment. Historically, boys and men have been diagnosed more often because the condition has been viewed through a male-focused lens.

Experts say this makeover in the data reflects a deeper shift in understanding ADHD in females. Girls often present with symptoms of quiet inattention rather than the hyperactivity commonly seen in boys. Because they tend not to disrupt classrooms, they are frequently overlooked and reach adulthood without a diagnosis.

Pandemic, Social Media and Online Clinics Play a Role

Heidi Bernhardt, founder of the Centre for ADHD Awareness Canada, says the pandemic played a major role in changing how people experienced and recognized ADHD symptoms. With routines disrupted and support systems diminished, many adults began to notice difficulties that had been manageable before.

At the same time, TikTok, Instagram and other social platforms created a surge in conversations about neurodiversity. Online mental health services also became more accessible, making it easier for adults to pursue an assessment, sometimes for the first time in their lives.

Awareness Helps, But Misdiagnosis Is a Concern

Specialists welcome the fact that more women are now being correctly diagnosed. Dr. Anita Parhar of the ADHD Centre for Women says the rising prescription rates show that women are finally being acknowledged and treated for symptoms they may have lived with for years.

But researchers also caution that the rapid increase raises the possibility of misdiagnosis. Some symptoms linked to ADHD can overlap with anxiety disorders or other mental health issues. When ADHD is diagnosed incorrectly, the underlying condition may go untreated.

Pediatrician and ADHD specialist Jane Liddle notes that failure to treat true ADHD carries its own risks. Untreated ADHD is associated with higher rates of anxiety, depression, academic problems and addiction.

As prescriptions continue to rise, experts say the priority should be ensuring accurate diagnosis and access to appropriate care, especially as awareness of ADHD continues to evolve.