Anxiety Generalized Anxiety Disorder Living With How Anxiety Can Be a Secondary Emotion Is anxiety an emotion? By Will Meek, PhD Will Meek, PhD Will Meek, PHD, is Director of Counseling and Psychological Services at Brown University and has been in university counseling leadership since 2008. Learn about our editorial process Updated on March 03, 2024 Medically reviewed Verywell Mind articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and mental healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Rachel Goldman, PhD, FTOS Medically reviewed by Rachel Goldman, PhD, FTOS Rachel Goldman, PhD FTOS, is a licensed psychologist, clinical assistant professor, speaker, wellness expert specializing in eating behaviors, stress management, and health behavior change. Learn about our Medical Review Board Print aldomurillo / Getty Images Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Overview GAD Understanding Complex Emotions Trending Videos Close this video player Anxiety is a common secondary emotion, one that you experience in place of another that's too difficult to feel or express. This differs from a primary emotion, an initial, direct reaction to something. For example, anxiety can be a secondary emotion for anger, jealousy, hurt, disappointment, embarrassment, or sadness. You can also experience two secondary emotions at once, such as anger and anxiety. Theoretically, secondary emotions protect you from more complicated or painful feelings. it's easy to think that a situation or occurrence has made you anxious or angry when the true emotion is something different. Learning about primary and secondary emotions can help you understand yourself and where your reactions are coming from. Overview Get Advice From The Verywell Mind Podcast Hosted by Amy Morin, LCSW, this episode of The Verywell Mind Podcast shares how to recognize and ease anxiety, featuring neuroscientist Dr. Jud Brewer. Follow Now: Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts Generalized Anxiety Disorder For people with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), this can become very complicated. They experience mPeople with chronic, uncontrollable anxiety that causes significant life problems often are diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). They see most of their life experience through a lens of constant worry, so anxiety is a relatively expected, familiar feeling. GAD Symptoms According to the DSM-5, a GAD diagnosis requires anxiety and worry that occurs for at least six months. Signs and symptoms of GAD can include: Imagining every possible negative conclusion to a situation Difficulty concentrating, or the feeling that your mind "goes blank" Difficulty handling uncertainty or indecisiveness Trouble making decisions for fear of making the wrong one Inability to relax Persistent, obsessive worrying about small or large concerns that are out of proportion to their importance Worrying about excessively worrying Breaking the Anxiety Cycle to Overcome Worry Physical Health Symptoms Physical signs and symptoms of GAD can include: Being easily startledFatigueHeadachesIrritabilityMuscle tension or achesSweatingTrembling, feeling twitchyTrouble sleeping If you're concerned about your mental health or that of someone you know, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 for information on support and treatment facilities in your area. For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database. Understanding Complex Emotions To discover the true source—the primary emotion—of your anxiety, the first step is simply asking yourself that question. Be open to the possibility that you are hurt, disappointed, or grieving rather than anxious. If you sense actual fear, then your anxiety is likely in the right place. The goal is to make life changes that help alleviate your true negative feelings, so you don't miss out on experiences or continue to worry for “no reason,” as many people with GADdo. By considering that other feelings might lie underneath your anxiety, you're taking a great step toward understanding yourself, having greater emotional intelligence, and improving your situation based on those underlying feelings. The 7 Best Online Anxiety Support Groups 2 Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fifth Edition). Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Association; 2013. National Institute of Mental Health. Generalized Anxiety Disorder: When Worry Gets Out of Control. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Helpful Report an Error Other Submit