--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Anxiety is the fear of one's self." description: "\"Anxiety is the fear of one's self.\" — Wilhelm Stekel" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33b/wilhelm-stekel-33531_anxiety_anxiety-is-the-fear-of-one-s-self-305990_305990.jpg" --- # Anxiety is the fear of one's self. ![“Anxiety is the fear of one's self.” quote by Wilhelm Stekel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33b/wilhelm-stekel-33531_anxiety_anxiety-is-the-fear-of-one-s-self-305990_305990.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33b/wilhelm-stekel-33531_anxiety_anxiety-is-the-fear-of-one-s-self-305990_305990.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33b/wilhelm-stekel-33531_anxiety_anxiety-is-the-fear-of-one-s-self-305990_305990.jpg) > “Anxiety is the fear of one's self.” [Wilhelm Stekel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-stekel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Anxiety originates from self‑directed fear, not external threats. **In simple terms:** Anxiety is fear of oneself. Key Takeaway Explore inner fears to reduce anxiety. Themes psychology self-awareness fear mental health Mood introspective clinical Type psychological self‑help When to use this quote - therapy sessions - journaling - mindful breathing Key Concepts cognitive therapy self‑reflection mindfulness Questions to Reflect On - What inner beliefs fuel your anxiety? - How can self‑compassion help? A Different Perspective Self‑fear can be hard to confront alone. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anxiety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) ## Related quotes > [Anxiety is fear of one's self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-stekel/anxiety-is-fear-of-one-s-self/) [Wilhelm Stekel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-stekel/) > [Almost all the ideas we have about being a man or being a woman are so burdened with pain, anxiety, fear and self-doubt. For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-cohen/almost-all-the-ideas-we-have-about-being-a-man-or-being-a-woman-are/) [Andrew Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-cohen/) > [“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/) > [Fear is the fear of one's self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-stekel/fear-is-the-fear-of-one-s-self/) [Wilhelm Stekel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-stekel/) > [Anxiety is not fear, being afraid of this or that definite object, but the uncanny feeling of being afraid of nothing at all. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-barrett/anxiety-is-not-fear-being-afraid-of-this-or-that-definite-object-but/) [William Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-barrett/) > [“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/) > [Learn the art of patience. Apply discipline to your thoughts when they become anxious over the outcome of a goal. Impatience breeds anxiety, fear,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/learn-the-art-of-patience-apply-discipline-to-your-thoughts-when-they/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Fear of self is the greatest of all terrors, the deepest of all dread, the commonest of all mistakes. From it grows failure. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-seabury/fear-of-self-is-the-greatest-of-all-terrors-the-deepest-of-all-dread/) [David Seabury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-seabury/) > [“Fear and self-doubt are the greatest killers of personal genius.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ziad-k-abdelnour/fear-and-self-doubt-are-the-greatest-killers-of-personal-genius/) [Ziad K. Abdelnour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ziad-k-abdelnour/) > [Every time I start a picture ... I feel the same fear, the same self-doubts . . . and I have only one source…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/federico-fellini/every-time-i-start-a-picture-i-feel-the-same-fear-the-same-self/) [Federico Fellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/federico-fellini/) > [When you're in the closet, you feel like the sky will fall down if anyone finds out. A lot of the fear is self-generated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-velez-mitchell/when-you-re-in-the-closet-you-feel-like-the-sky-will-fall-down-if/) [Jane Velez-Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-velez-mitchell/) > [“Fear becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. Thinking that there is something to be avoided manifests something to avoid.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vironika-tugaleva/fear-becomes-a-self-fulfilling-prophecy-thinking-that-there-is/) [Vironika Tugaleva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vironika-tugaleva/) > [Fear is self-awareness raised to a higher level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/fear-is-self-awareness-raised-to-a-higher-level/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [There is always the fear of self-righteousness possessing us, the fear of arrogating to ourselves a superiority that we do not possess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/there-is-always-the-fear-of-self-righteousness-possessing-us-the-fear/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Behind every fear is a person you want to be. Fear is self-imposed, meaning it doesn't exist. You create it. You can destroy it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/behind-every-fear-is-a-person-you-want-to-be-fear-is-self-imposed/) [Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/) ## More by Wilhelm Stekel > [People who do not understand themselves have a craving for understanding — a thing which is rather surmised and never spoken than known and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-stekel/people-who-do-not-understand-themselves-have-a-craving-for/) [Wilhelm Stekel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-stekel/) > [“People get sick from ''not wanting to see''.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-stekel/people-get-sick-from-not-wanting-to-see/) [Wilhelm Stekel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-stekel/) > [Statistics is the art of lying by means of figures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-stekel/statistics-is-the-art-of-lying-by-means-of-figures/) [Wilhelm Stekel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-stekel/) > [Love at first sight is a revival of an infantile impression. The first love object reappears in a different disguise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-stekel/love-at-first-sight-is-a-revival-of-an-infantile-impression-the-first/) [Wilhelm Stekel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-stekel/) > [Fervid atheism is usually a screen for repressed religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-stekel/fervid-atheism-is-usually-a-screen-for-repressed-religion/) [Wilhelm Stekel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-stekel/) > [Many an attack of depression is nothing but the expression of regret at having to be virtuous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-stekel/many-an-attack-of-depression-is-nothing-but-the-expression-of-regret/) [Wilhelm Stekel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-stekel/) > [Truth is not always the best basis for happiness. There are certain lies which may constitute a far better and more secure foundation of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-stekel/truth-is-not-always-the-best-basis-for-happiness-there-are-certain/) [Wilhelm Stekel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-stekel/) > [The immature man wants to die nobly for a cause, while the mature man wants to live humanely for one](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-stekel/the-immature-man-wants-to-die-nobly-for-a-cause-while-the-mature-man/) [Wilhelm Stekel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-stekel/) > [Love rarely overtakes; it mostly comes to meet us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-stekel/love-rarely-overtakes-it-mostly-comes-to-meet-us/) [Wilhelm Stekel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-stekel/) > [Anxiety is fear of one's self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-stekel/anxiety-is-fear-of-one-s-self/) [Wilhelm Stekel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-stekel/) > [Every fear is fear of death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-stekel/every-fear-is-fear-of-death/) [Wilhelm Stekel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-stekel/) > [In reality, we are still children. We want to find a playmate for our thoughts and feelings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-stekel/in-reality-we-are-still-children-we-want-to-find-a-playmate-for-our/) [Wilhelm Stekel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-stekel/) > [Fear is the fear of one's self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-stekel/fear-is-the-fear-of-one-s-self/) [Wilhelm Stekel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-stekel/) [Explore all 14 Wilhelm Stekel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-stekel/) ## 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": "Anxiety is the fear of one's self.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Wilhelm Stekel" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-stekel/anxiety-is-the-fear-of-one-s-self/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Anxiety" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-stekel/anxiety-is-the-fear-of-one-s-self/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33b/wilhelm-stekel-33531_anxiety_anxiety-is-the-fear-of-one-s-self-305990_305990.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33b/wilhelm-stekel-33531_anxiety_anxiety-is-the-fear-of-one-s-self-305990_305990.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33b/wilhelm-stekel-33531_anxiety_anxiety-is-the-fear-of-one-s-self-305990_305990.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Anxiety is the fear of one's self.” — Wilhelm Stekel", "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": "Wilhelm Stekel", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-stekel/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Anxiety is the fear of one's...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-stekel/anxiety-is-the-fear-of-one-s-self/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-stekel/anxiety-is-the-fear-of-one-s-self/#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 } } ] } ```