Which statement best defines anxiety?

• A. A severe neurological disorder
• B. An emotional state of high energy, with the stress response as the body's reaction to it
• C. A respiratory condition
• D. A feeling of happiness and calm

Answer: (B)

Anxiety is best understood as an emotional state of worry or unease that triggers the body's stress response. When you feel anxious, your body activates arousal to prepare for potential challenges—things like a faster heartbeat, quicker breathing, tense muscles, and heightened alertness. The statement describing anxiety as an emotional state of high energy with the stress response as the body's reaction to it fits this mix of mental feeling and physical readiness. The other options describe things that don’t match this experience: a severe neurological disorder is not what anxiety is, a respiratory condition focuses on breathing problems, and a feeling of happiness and calm is the opposite of anxiety.