Kleshas (Root Afflictions Underlying Anxiety)

Patanjali identifies five kleshas or root afflictions: avidya (ignorance), asmita (egoic identification), raga (attachment to pleasure), dvesha (aversion to pain), and abhinivesha (fear of death). Understanding these kleshas provides profound insight into anxiety's origins. Surface anxiety symptoms often mask deeper patterns. A person anxious about health might be driven by abhinivesha (death fear); social anxiety might reflect asmita (ego concern); perfectionism might involve raga (attachment to a specific outcome). By identifying which kleshas fuel individual anxiety, treatment becomes targeted and transformative. Avidya, fundamental ignorance, is particularly significant—much anxiety arises from misunderstanding the nature of reality, mind, and self. Many people suffer from false beliefs about what anxiety means about them or what will happen if they experience it. Recognizing and working with the kleshas shifts anxiety treatment from symptomatic management to addressing root causes. A person might reduce panic attacks through medication but still suffer if the underlying kleshas remain untouched. The Yoga Sutras teach that by gradually reducing these afflictions through practice, we simultaneously address all their manifestations including anxiety. This offers a comprehensive framework for understanding what fuels anxiety at multiple levels.