anxious thinking

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "anxious thinking" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a state of mind characterized by worry or unease, often in relation to specific thoughts or concerns. Example: "Her anxious thinking about the upcoming exam kept her awake at night."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

Even though the Fenway Faithful knew Bobby Valentine would be go over worse than Jar Jar Binks, a good number of idiots were hopefully anxious, thinking that the stink of the 2011 season could wash off with a little grit.

Vice

Get Specific and Think in Parts: Anxious thinking supersizes small problems and makes them seem monumental, permanent and unchangeable.

Huffington Post

(The exception to this rule is depression, for which persistent worry about the past is a recognised symptom. But it's not called worry: it's called "rumination". "Worry" is defined as anxious thinking about the future).

The Guardian

However, over time, this close watching and anxious thinking would diminish.

Huffington Post

As I waited for him at the bar, I became anxious thinking about what we would have to talk about.

Huffington Post

But that anxious thinking can still just be our attempt to run from the straightforward experience of what we're going through-or what that person in front of us is going through.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

It makes me very anxious just thinking about it.

The New York Times

There was a strong effect of gender, such that women experience that hearing is more important for all modes of transportation, which corresponds with the women being more anxious and thinking more about safety c.f. [3].

European Transport Research Review

Relatedly, males may feel anxious when thinking about an upcoming interaction (as Levin did), which may negatively affect cognitive performance (cf. Richeson & Shelton, 2003).

Archives of Sexual Behavior

It is also possible that men felt anxious when thinking about the upcoming interaction or that they chose to allocate less resources to the Stroop task in order to "save" cognitive resources for the actual interaction to be able to make a good impression on their interaction partner later on.

Archives of Sexual Behavior

Its a regular occurrence, which I'm told comes with age, but I think it's just me, always anxious and always thinking.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "anxious thinking" to specifically describe a pattern of thought characterized by worry and unease. It's helpful when distinguishing between general anxiety and the specific mental processes associated with it.

Common error

Avoid using "anxious thinking" as a blanket term for all types of anxiety. Be specific about the context and content of the thoughts to ensure clarity and relevance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "anxious thinking" functions as a descriptive term, specifying a type of thinking process that is characterized by anxiety. It often acts as a noun phrase, describing a state or process. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

35%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "anxious thinking" is a grammatically sound and usable phrase that describes a thought process characterized by worry and unease. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is correct and appears across various contexts, including News & Media, Science, and Wiki sources. It serves to categorize and describe specific mental patterns associated with anxiety, and while its register is generally neutral, it can be adapted for both formal and informal discussions. While common alternatives include "worried thoughts" and "nervous thoughts", it's important to use the phrase accurately and avoid overgeneralization. Overall, "anxious thinking" is valuable in discussing mental health, coping mechanisms and is related to anxiety, but should be specific to the context of thoughts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

worried thoughts

Replaces "thinking" with "thoughts" to emphasize the content of the anxiety.

nervous thoughts

Substitutes "anxious" with "nervous", highlighting the agitation aspect.

apprehensive thoughts

Uses "apprehensive" instead of "anxious" to denote a sense of foreboding.

anxious mind

Shifts the focus from the process of thinking to the state of the mind.

anxious state of mind

Emphasizes the condition or situation of mental anxiety.

worrisome contemplation

Replaces "thinking" with "contemplation" to suggest a more prolonged and serious thought process.

ruminative thinking

Highlights the repetitive and cyclical nature of anxious thoughts.

concerned thoughts

Uses "concerned" to imply a sense of worry and care about something.

uneasy thoughts

Replaces "anxious" with "uneasy", pointing to a feeling of discomfort and restlessness.

distressed thinking

Emphasizes the mental anguish caused by anxiety.

FAQs

How is "anxious thinking" different from general anxiety?

"Anxious thinking" refers specifically to the thought patterns characterized by worry and unease, while general anxiety encompasses a broader range of emotional and physical symptoms. One involves thoughts, the other a feeling.

What are some alternatives to "anxious thinking"?

You can use alternatives like "worried thoughts", "nervous thoughts", or "apprehensive thoughts" depending on the context.

How can I identify "anxious thinking" in my daily life?

Pay attention to recurring thoughts that involve excessive worry, fear of negative outcomes, or difficulty controlling negative thoughts. These are key indicators of "anxious thinking".

Is "anxious thinking" always a negative experience?

While often associated with negative emotions, "anxious thinking" can sometimes lead to proactive problem-solving. However, persistent and uncontrollable "anxious thinking" can be detrimental to mental health.