--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If the mood is overly anxious, then…" description: "\"If the mood is overly anxious, then anxiety must be reduced by lowering uncertainty. Very simply, uncertainty is reduced when people are told what's go..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c1/judith-m-bardwick-17540_anxiety_if-the-mood-is-overly-anxious-then-anxie_955901.jpg" --- # If the mood is overly anxious, then anxiety must be… ![“If the mood is overly anxious, then anxiety must be reduced by lowering uncertainty. Very simply, uncertainty is reduced when people are told what's going on and what will happen to them. In the vacuum of no news, people imagine the worst. Since disappointment is much easier to handle than…” quote by Judith M Bardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c1/judith-m-bardwick-17540_anxiety_if-the-mood-is-overly-anxious-then-anxie_955901.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c1/judith-m-bardwick-17540_anxiety_if-the-mood-is-overly-anxious-then-anxie_955901.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c1/judith-m-bardwick-17540_anxiety_if-the-mood-is-overly-anxious-then-anxie_955901.jpg) > “If the mood is overly anxious, then anxiety must be reduced by lowering uncertainty. Very simply, uncertainty is reduced when people are told what's going on and what will happen to them. In the vacuum of no news, people imagine the worst. Since disappointment is much easier to handle than anxiety, then, good news or bad, honesty is honestly the best policy.” [Judith M Bardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-m-bardwick/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reducing uncertainty by providing clear information lowers anxiety more effectively than avoiding news. **In simple terms:** Clear info eases anxiety. Key Takeaway Communicate openly to calm fears. Themes anxiety management communication uncertainty reduction Mood informative calming Type advice explanatory When to use this quote - healthcare - crisis response - leadership - public relations Key Concepts psychology risk perception information theory Questions to Reflect On - What details are essential to share? - How to balance honesty with reassurance? A Different Perspective Over‑communication can cause information overload. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anxiety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) [Anxious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxious/) [Disappointment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disappointment/) [Good news](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-news/) [Honesty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honesty/) [Mood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mood/) [News](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/news/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Uncertainty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uncertainty/) ## Related quotes > [Anxiety is the experience of growth itself. In any endeavor, how do you feel when you go from one stage to the next? The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-koestenbaum/anxiety-is-the-experience-of-growth-itself-in-any-endeavor-how-do-you/) [Peter Koestenbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-koestenbaum/) > [I don't get too anxious or get anxiety about the future. I just try to handle it one day at a time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ingram-ii/i-don-t-get-too-anxious-or-get-anxiety-about-the-future-i-just-try-to/) [Mark Ingram II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ingram-ii/) > [“Knowing what you're afraid of means you know why your pulse is racing, and that knowledge provides you with a choice: Handle the anxiety…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-berent/knowing-what-you-re-afraid-of-means-you-know-why-your-pulse-is-racing/) [Jonathan Berent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-berent/) > [“I have a pretty good handle on my anxiety. I basically treat myself like a nervy horse: lots of exercise, lots of sleep, lots…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-moran/i-have-a-pretty-good-handle-on-my-anxiety-i-basically-treat-myself/) [Caitlin Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-moran/) > [Every tomorrow has two handles we can take hold of it with the handle of anxiety or the handle of faith If you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-konrath/every-tomorrow-has-two-handles-we-can-take-hold-of-it-with-the-handle-2/) [J.A. Konrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-konrath/) > [Every tomorrow has two handles. We can take hold of it with the handle of anxiety or the handle of faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/every-tomorrow-has-two-handles-we-can-take-hold-of-it-with-the-handle-3/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [As a freshman in college, I was having a lot of trouble adjusting. I took a meditation class to handle anxiety. It really helped.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-goleman/as-a-freshman-in-college-i-was-having-a-lot-of-trouble-adjusting-i/) [Daniel Goleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-goleman/) > [Every tomorrow has two handles. You can take hold of the handle of anxiety or the handle of enthusiasm. Upon your choice so will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/every-tomorrow-has-two-handles-you-can-take-hold-of-the-handle-of/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [Nobody should ever look anxious except those who have no anxiety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/nobody-should-ever-look-anxious-except-those-who-have-no-anxiety/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [That's where the anxiety comes from with me; it's not a bad anxiety, but a good anxiety - like, I'm anxious to see: What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-kamara/that-s-where-the-anxiety-comes-from-with-me-it-s-not-a-bad-anxiety/) [Alvin Kamara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-kamara/) > [The presence of anxiety is unavoidable, but the prison of anxiety is optional. Anxiety is not a sin; it's an emotion. So don't be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/the-presence-of-anxiety-is-unavoidable-but-the-prison-of-anxiety-is/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [“We don’t just want His word that He will be with us; we want Him to show us the end from the beginning and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/we-don-t-just-want-his-word-that-he-will-be-with-us-we-want-him-to/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [“You get anxious about confronting somebody in your life. That anxiety cripples you and you start wondering why you’re so anxious. Now you’re becoming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-manson/you-get-anxious-about-confronting-somebody-in-your-life-that-anxiety/) [Mark Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-manson/) > [People who suffer from anxiety are very good at hiding it. That can often be a contributor to the anxiety because the gap between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-stossel/people-who-suffer-from-anxiety-are-very-good-at-hiding-it-that-can/) [Scott Stossel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-stossel/) > [I'm terribly prone to anxiety. I get very depressed and I get very anxious and my anxiety is almost always about my children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-a-gill/i-m-terribly-prone-to-anxiety-i-get-very-depressed-and-i-get-very/) [A. A. Gill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-a-gill/) ## More by Judith M Bardwick > [Self is a construct, a feeling, an identity that is internal and can neither be given nor taken away by others. We develop and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-m-bardwick/self-is-a-construct-a-feeling-an-identity-that-is-internal-and-can/) [Judith M Bardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-m-bardwick/) > [... we know that productivity suffers when uncertainty is high. But we've failed to realize the equally destructive effects of too little anxiety. ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-m-bardwick/we-know-that-productivity-suffers-when-uncertainty-is-high-but-we-ve/) [Judith M Bardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-m-bardwick/) > [Trust is perhaps the most critical single building block underlying effectiveness. Without trust leaders do not have followers. Without trust, leaders are impotent despite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-m-bardwick/trust-is-perhaps-the-most-critical-single-building-block-underlying/) [Judith M Bardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-m-bardwick/) > [Schools are generally feminine places, institutions where conformity is valued, taught largely by conformist women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-m-bardwick/schools-are-generally-feminine-places-institutions-where-conformity/) [Judith M Bardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-m-bardwick/) > [The balanced life is a goal, but for us it is mostly a myth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-m-bardwick/the-balanced-life-is-a-goal-but-for-us-it-is-mostly-a-myth/) [Judith M Bardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-m-bardwick/) > [Credibility is lost when there are big discrepancies between what leaders say and what they do. ... Increasing credibility requires openness. Hidden agendas will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-m-bardwick/credibility-is-lost-when-there-are-big-discrepancies-between-what/) [Judith M Bardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-m-bardwick/) > [The sense of loss of control over what happens to you at work (and thus in your life is vital). This further involves a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-m-bardwick/the-sense-of-loss-of-control-over-what-happens-to-you-at-work-and/) [Judith M Bardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-m-bardwick/) > [Nothing creates more self-respect among employees than being included in the process of making decisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-m-bardwick/nothing-creates-more-self-respect-among-employees-than-being-included/) [Judith M Bardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-m-bardwick/) > [I was appalled at how children had become the focus and gravitational center of the nuclear family around which parents orbited instead of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-m-bardwick/i-was-appalled-at-how-children-had-become-the-focus-and-gravitational/) [Judith M Bardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-m-bardwick/) > [... there's a large core of powerlessness which is balanced against the unwritten contract that says that if you behave, you'll be okay. No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-m-bardwick/there-s-a-large-core-of-powerlessness-which-is-balanced-against-the/) [Judith M Bardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-m-bardwick/) > [The message to organizations is this: You have to increase the number of categories of contributing, or the types of career paths, which people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-m-bardwick/the-message-to-organizations-is-this-you-have-to-increase-the-number/) [Judith M Bardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-m-bardwick/) > [I think the characteristics of really effective leaders when people are frightened and depressed are the same qualities that leaders need when people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-m-bardwick/i-think-the-characteristics-of-really-effective-leaders-when-people/) [Judith M Bardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-m-bardwick/) > [Real confidence comes from knowing and accepting yourself- your strengths and your limitations -in contrast to depending on affirmation from others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-m-bardwick/real-confidence-comes-from-knowing-and-accepting-yourself-your/) [Judith M Bardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-m-bardwick/) > [The need for challenge, the need to burst through the constrictions of tasks and situations already seen and mastered, can affect anyone, even those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-m-bardwick/the-need-for-challenge-the-need-to-burst-through-the-constrictions-of/) [Judith M Bardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-m-bardwick/) > [Institutions which have too much security ... tend to become bureaucratic. They add layers of people and layers of rules in order to assure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-m-bardwick/institutions-which-have-too-much-security-tend-to-become-bureaucratic/) [Judith M Bardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-m-bardwick/) [Explore all 37 Judith M Bardwick quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-m-bardwick/) ## 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 > [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": "If the mood is overly anxious, then anxiety must be reduced by lowering uncertainty. 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