--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Anxiety is extremely contagious, but so…" description: "\"Anxiety is extremely contagious, but so is calm.\" — Harriet Lerner" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/723/harriet-lerner-4248_anxiety_anxiety-is-extremely-contagious-but-so-i_1428758.jpg" --- # Anxiety is extremely contagious, but so is calm. ![“Anxiety is extremely contagious, but so is calm.” quote by Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/723/harriet-lerner-4248_anxiety_anxiety-is-extremely-contagious-but-so-i_1428758.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/723/harriet-lerner-4248_anxiety_anxiety-is-extremely-contagious-but-so-i_1428758.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/723/harriet-lerner-4248_anxiety_anxiety-is-extremely-contagious-but-so-i_1428758.jpg) > “Anxiety is extremely contagious, but so is calm.” [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Anxiety spreads quickly, yet calm can be equally contagious, influencing group emotions. **In simple terms:** Calm spreads like anxiety. Key Takeaway Cultivate calm to counter anxiety. Themes emotion contagion anxiety calm psychology Mood calming empowering Type advisory inspirational When to use this quote - workplace - family gatherings - therapy sessions - public speaking Key Concepts emotional intelligence social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How can you model calm in stressful settings? - What practices help you maintain inner peace? A Different Perspective Calm may be dismissed as passive; anxiety often dominates. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anxiety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) [Anxiety Extremely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety-extremely-5081686/) [Calm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calm/) [Contagious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contagious/) [Contagious Calm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contagious-calm-5081685/) [Extremely Contagious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extremely-contagious-1169878/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) ## Related quotes > [“Cynicism is extremely contagious, and the most pious among us cannot long endure its potency. The gullible should be on their guard, however, since…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-corbett/cynicism-is-extremely-contagious-and-the-most-pious-among-us-cannot/) [Mike Corbett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-corbett/) > [“So beware. For good or ill, a mature, enthusiastic delight is extremely contagious. This is where's God's Word cuts to the heart of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregg-harris/so-beware-for-good-or-ill-a-mature-enthusiastic-delight-is-extremely/) [Gregg Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregg-harris/) > [¢ Well, I hope the next girl you kiss has something extremely contagious on her lips!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/young-siddiq-prince/well-i-hope-the-next-girl-you-kiss-has-something-extremely-contagious/) [Young Siddiq Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/young-siddiq-prince/) > [“This much is sure: contagious calm will happen to the degree that we turn to him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/this-much-is-sure-contagious-calm-will-happen-to-the-degree-that-we/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [I don't think that people should have the choice to infect others with a potentially fatal and extremely contagious virus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leana-s-wen/i-don-t-think-that-people-should-have-the-choice-to-infect-others/) [Leana S. Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leana-s-wen/) > [Request an apology when you believe you deserve one, but don't get in a tug of war about it. Instead, be a role model…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/request-an-apology-when-you-believe-you-deserve-one-but-don-t-get-in/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [“Everyone freaks out. Sometimes the best we can do with fear is befriend it. Expect it and understand that fear will always reappear. Eventually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/everyone-freaks-out-sometimes-the-best-we-can-do-with-fear-is/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [“A calm demeanor will deter the danger of words spoken in anger or panic.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shmiras-haloshon/a-calm-demeanor-will-deter-the-danger-of-words-spoken-in-anger-or/) [Shmiras Haloshon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shmiras-haloshon/) > [If you were to press your heart close up against somebody else’s heart eventually your hearts will start beating at the same time. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-gibson/if-you-were-to-press-your-heart-close-up-against-somebody-else-s/) [Andrea Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-gibson/) > [Such a person needs meditation more than anyone else because they are headed for a crisis. If stress and anxiety are so great that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/such-a-person-needs-meditation-more-than-anyone-else-because-they-are/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [“Calm is not merely the absence of stress, but the powerful presence of peace.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-simmons-schneider/calm-is-not-merely-the-absence-of-stress-but-the-powerful-presence-of/) [Gina Simmons Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-simmons-schneider/) > [They say hitting is contagious, but I think defense is, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-crawford/they-say-hitting-is-contagious-but-i-think-defense-is-too/) [Brandon Crawford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-crawford/) > [It's a great historical joke that when the Spanish met the Aztecs, it was a blind date made in serve-you-right heaven. At the time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-a-gill/it-s-a-great-historical-joke-that-when-the-spanish-met-the-aztecs-it/) [A. A. Gill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-a-gill/) > [Enthusiasm is by far the highest paid quality on earth, probably because it is one of the rarest; yet it is one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-bettger/enthusiasm-is-by-far-the-highest-paid-quality-on-earth-probably/) [Frank Bettger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-bettger/) > [The only activity a cynic will find contagious is yawning, that is, with other people, at other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/the-only-activity-a-cynic-will-find-contagious-is-yawning-that-is/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) ## More by Harriet Lerner > [“Letting go of anger and hate requires us to give up the hope for a different past, along with the hope of a fantasized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/letting-go-of-anger-and-hate-requires-us-to-give-up-the-hope-for-a/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [“There’s a widespread belief that if you have solid self-esteem you don’t need outside affirmation and praise. This is patently untrue, by the way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/there-s-a-widespread-belief-that-if-you-have-solid-self-esteem-you/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [It is an act of courage to acknowledge our own uncertainty and sit with it for a while.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/it-is-an-act-of-courage-to-acknowledge-our-own-uncertainty-and-sit/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [Silence can pose a greater threat than the difficult truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/silence-can-pose-a-greater-threat-than-the-difficult-truth/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [Nothing you say can ensure that the other person will get it, or respond the way you want. You may never exceed his threshold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/nothing-you-say-can-ensure-that-the-other-person-will-get-it-or/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [If you exchanged wedding vows, tape them to your bathroom mirror and read them aloud to yourself every morning along with the ritual brushing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/if-you-exchanged-wedding-vows-tape-them-to-your-bathroom-mirror-and/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [Kids want nothing more than for all the important adults in their life to get along.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/kids-want-nothing-more-than-for-all-the-important-adults-in-their/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [“People's sense of self worth is pivotal to their ability to look clearly at the hurt they've caused. The more solid one's sense of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/people-s-sense-of-self-worth-is-pivotal-to-their-ability-to-look/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [Being able to make a sincere apology - one that says, "Yes, I get it; I screwed up. Your feelings make sense, and I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/being-able-to-make-a-sincere-apology-one-that-says-yes-i-get-it-i/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [“Everyone freaks out. Sometimes the best we can do with fear is befriend it. Expect it and understand that fear will always reappear. Eventually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/everyone-freaks-out-sometimes-the-best-we-can-do-with-fear-is/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [The bolder and more courageous you are, the more you will learn about yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/the-bolder-and-more-courageous-you-are-the-more-you-will-learn-about/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [Underground issues from one relationship or context invariably fuel our fires in another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/underground-issues-from-one-relationship-or-context-invariably-fuel/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [There are some things for which there is no apology, and on the question of slavery, there is no adequate apology for ripping people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/there-are-some-things-for-which-there-is-no-apology-and-on-the/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [Don't count on the power of your love or your nagging to create something that wasn't there to begin with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/don-t-count-on-the-power-of-your-love-or-your-nagging-to-create/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [If we only listened with the same passion that we feel about being heard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/if-we-only-listened-with-the-same-passion-that-we-feel-about-being/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) [Explore all 113 Harriet Lerner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) ## More Anxiety quotes > [“Anything that you find yourself worrying about regularly may find you suddenly wanting unrealistic changes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nagisa-tatsumi/anything-that-you-find-yourself-worrying-about-regularly-may-find-you/) [Nagisa Tatsumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nagisa-tatsumi/) > [Bein Crazy is the least of my worries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/bein-crazy-is-the-least-of-my-worries/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [The answer to deep anxiety is the deep adoration of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/the-answer-to-deep-anxiety-is-the-deep-adoration-of-god/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [“Fear of seeing a police car pull into the drive. Fear of falling asleep at night. Fear of not falling asleep. Fear of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-carver/fear-of-seeing-a-police-car-pull-into-the-drive-fear-of-falling/) [Raymond Carver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-carver/) > [I get nervous when I don't get nervous. If I'm nervous I know I'm going to have a good show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beyonce-knowles/i-get-nervous-when-i-don-t-get-nervous-if-i-m-nervous-i-know-i-m/) [Beyonce Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beyonce-knowles/) > [“Every invention comes through anxiousness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakesh-wadhwani/every-invention-comes-through-anxiousness/) [Rakesh Wadhwani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakesh-wadhwani/) > [“Do Not Be Anxious 25 e “Therefore I tell you,  f do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-not-be-anxious-25-e-therefore-i-tell-you-f-do-not-be-anxious-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Nothing happens on its own, you have to make things happen. If you really want to come out of your stressful situation than you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subodh-gupta/nothing-happens-on-its-own-you-have-to-make-things-happen-if-you/) [Subodh Gupta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subodh-gupta/) > [“I guess if we're talking about my anxiety, the even truthier truth is it started way before that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-winfrey/i-guess-if-we-re-talking-about-my-anxiety-the-even-truthier-truth-is/) [Kerry Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-winfrey/) > [I was a very good student. Procrastinating gives me anxiety, and getting a B really ticked me off. Sure, I didn't always want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-loren/i-was-a-very-good-student-procrastinating-gives-me-anxiety-and/) [Josie Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-loren/) > [“The suspense: the fearful, acute suspense: of standing idly by while the life of one we dearly love, is trembling in the balance; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-suspense-the-fearful-acute-suspense-of-standing-idly-by-while-the/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [The party in Alobar’s head, which agitation and anxiety were throwing, now was crashed by a notion: existence can be rearranged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-party-in-alobar-s-head-which-agitation-and-anxiety-were-throwing/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [As you know, I have been very open about my struggle with social anxiety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/summer-walker/as-you-know-i-have-been-very-open-about-my-struggle-with-social/) [Summer Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/summer-walker/) > [Anxiety is not to be managed it is a sin that needs to be repented of](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/anxiety-is-not-to-be-managed-it-is-a-sin-that-needs-to-be-repented-of/) [Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/) > [“I’ve always seen this in you, ever since you were a little girl — this hunger to love other people into their highest selves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-elisabeth/i-ve-always-seen-this-in-you-ever-since-you-were-a-little-girl-this/) [Jennifer Elisabeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-elisabeth/) [Browse all 4,944 Anxiety quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Anxiety is extremely contagious, but so is calm.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Harriet Lerner" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/anxiety-is-extremely-contagious-but-so-is-calm/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Anxiety" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/anxiety-is-extremely-contagious-but-so-is-calm/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/723/harriet-lerner-4248_anxiety_anxiety-is-extremely-contagious-but-so-i_1428758.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/723/harriet-lerner-4248_anxiety_anxiety-is-extremely-contagious-but-so-i_1428758.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/723/harriet-lerner-4248_anxiety_anxiety-is-extremely-contagious-but-so-i_1428758.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Anxiety is extremely contagious, but so is calm.” — Harriet Lerner", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Harriet Lerner", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Anxiety is extremely contagious, but so...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/anxiety-is-extremely-contagious-but-so-is-calm/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/anxiety-is-extremely-contagious-but-so-is-calm/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```