Which best defines anxiety?

• A. A vague feeling of dread or apprehensiveness
• B. A clearly identifiable threat
• C. A mood disorder with cycles
• D. A panic attack without warning

Answer: (A)

Anxiety is a diffuse, future-oriented sense of unease or dread. It isn’t tied to a specific, present danger but rather to worries about what might happen, which can feel vague or unsettled. This sets it apart from fear, which is a response to an identifiable threat in the moment. It also isn’t a mood disorder with cyclical patterns, which would describe mood fluctuations rather than this persistent anticipatory worry. And it isn’t a panic attack, which involves sudden, intense surges of fear with physical symptoms. So the best definition is a vague feeling of dread or apprehensiveness.