This article is devoted to a review of research on anxiety states in fundamental and applied writings. The issues of prevalence, etiological factors of anxiety, historical and modern perceptions about this emotional state are considered. Main symptoms and specificity of manifestations of various types of anxiety, as well as the influence of gender, age and personal characteristics of an individual on its manifestations are highlighted. The studies of anxiety reveal the relationship with the productivity and performance of professional / sports activities, communication and psychophysiological state of a person. Currently, anxiety is considered not only a negative emotional phenomenon, but also as a necessary condition for the normal functioning of the psyche at its optimal level. The ruminations of anxious experiences in the types of activities associated with special working conditions (athletes, law enforcement officers, defense officials) are revealed.