On Words: Why You Should Embrace ‘Anxiety,’ Even in the Era of Coronavirus

Bethany Teachman

It is time to stop dreading anxiety.

Few things motivate escape and avoidance more than the feeling of anxiety, the sense of apprehension and worry that a catastrophic outcome may lie ahead. Sometimes we can name it – tomorrow is the big test, the first online date, a telemedicine check-up by Zoom. Other times, we are unsure of the source of our unease. Of course, few words promote anxiety more than “coronavirus.”