What term describes a state of heightened arousal characterized by intense worry?

The term that describes a state of heightened arousal characterized by intense worry is anxiety. Anxiety is a psychological state often accompanied by a variety of physical symptoms, such as increased heart rate, sweating, and feelings of tension. It is characterized by excessive, pervasive worry about potential future events or situations, often leading to a sense of dread or apprehension.

In contrast, stress refers to a response to external pressures or demands, which may not necessarily involve heightened worry but can manifest as a general feeling of being overwhelmed. Depression primarily involves persistent feelings of sadness and a lack of interest in life, rather than the specific state of worry associated with anxiety. Fear, while it can also provoke a heightened arousal response, is typically a reaction to an immediate and specific threat rather than a more generalized state of worry about future events, which distinguishes it from anxiety.