Anxiety Definition


What is anxiety? Personal Strategyz




What is anxiety? Let's take a look at how anxiety is defined.

  • A feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome.
  • In Psychiatry- Anxiety is a nervous disorder characterized by a state of excessive uneasiness and apprehension, typically with compulsive behavior or panic attacks
  • Some examples of anxiety disorders include panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.


Definition of anxiety

Oxford Dictionary states the following:

[uncountable] anxiety (about/over something)  the state of feeling nervous or worried that something bad is going to happen

acute/intense/deep anxiety

Some hospital patients experience high levels of anxiety.

Waiting for exam results is a time of great anxiety.


[countable] a worry or fear about something

If you're worried about your health, share your anxieties with your doctor.


[uncountable] a strong feeling of wanting to do something or of wanting something to happen

anxiety to do something the candidate's anxiety to win the vote

anxiety for something the people's anxiety for the war to end


Merriam-Webster Dictionary states the following:

A (1): apprehensive uneasiness or nervousness usually over an impending or anticipated ill : a state of being anxious

More Buddhist uprisings in South Vietnam in the spring of 1966 intensified my anxiety.

— Robert S. McNamara


I felt my anxiety rise as we pressed deeper underground.

— Jon Krakauer


   (2) medical : an abnormal and overwhelming sense of apprehension and fear often marked by physical signs (such as tension, sweating, and increased  pulse rate), by doubt concerning the reality and nature of the threat, and by self-doubt about one's capacity to cope with it


B: mentally distressing concern or interest

Yet the pace of a child's progress can also be a source of anxiety for mothers and fathers.

— Susan Ochshorn

C:  a strong desire sometimes mixed with doubt, fear, or uneasiness

… his anxiety to succeed and his continued nervousness over the possible bankruptcy of his shoe company caused her to lecture him about relaxing and caring for his health.

— William Drake


Think about these questions and what anxiety means.

    • Where does it stem from?
    • Does it stop you from doing daily life activities?
    • Do you know anyone else that struggles with anxiety?








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