Which term is defined as the experience we have when we realize we are not immortal, that we face constant choices in an uncertain world, and when we realize we are fundamentally alone?

• A. Authenticity
• B. Anxiety
• C. Awareness
• D. Authorship

Answer: (B)

Existential anxiety is the emotional response that arises when we realize we are not immortal, must make choices in an uncertain world, and face a sense of fundamental isolation. This awareness can feel unsettling because it centers on mortality, freedom, and loneliness, which are core triggers for anxiety in existential thought. It’s the best fit because the description targets this specific emotional state, not a stance of living true to oneself (authenticity), a general cognitive realization (awareness), or the act of constructing one’s life narrative (authorship). In counseling, recognizing this as a normal, experience-driven reaction helps students grapple with meaning and decision-making in the face of uncertainty.