Anxiety
A feeling of apprehension; mild anxiety aids learning while severe anxiety impairs it.
Anxiety is a feeling of apprehension that exists on a continuum: mild anxiety sharpens focus and aids learning, while severe and panic-level anxiety narrow perception and impair functioning. As anxiety escalates, reducing environmental stimuli and ensuring safety become the priorities. Stay with a client in severe or panic-level anxiety, use a calm voice with simple, short directions, and postpone teaching until the anxiety drops to a level where the client can absorb it.