defensive -
To put oneself in a position that is intended to protect oneself.
One of the challenges of a therapist is to achieve the trust of the patient, and overcome the patient's defensive behavior.
adjective
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unnerving -
Disturbing or upsetting in a way that makes someone feel anxious or afraid, sometimes leading to a loss of courage, confidence, or composure.
It was an unnerving experience walking alone in the empty and unused area under the highway.
adjective
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stickler -
Someone who is very particular or fussy about a specific thing.
She spends a lot of time cleaning the house, because she's a stickler for neatness and cleanliness.
adjective
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touchy -
Easily offended or sensitive to criticism or comments.
Be careful what you say—he’s really touchy about his artwork.
noun
See verb
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shock -
A jarring event that causes surprise, disbelief, or emotional disturbance.
The shock of the market crash left investors scrambling to adjust their portfolios.
adjective
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agitated -
Emotionally upset or excited, especially due to worry or anger.
His voice grew louder and more agitated as he explained what he was feeling.
adjective
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fidgety -
Being restless, impatient, and uneasy, and making small bodily movement that reveals that condition.
At first the criminal appeared confident under questioning, but as the hours passed, he started losing his cool and became fidgety.
noun
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fuss -
A display of unnecessary or excessive excitement, activity, or interest
The baby would make a fuss every time his parents would try to take a picture of him.
adjective
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jittery -
Nervous or unable to relax
The double shot iced coffee from Starbucks made Roman so jittery that he couldn't stand still.
adjective
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frazzled -
To feel completely exhausted and worn out, and unable to think straight, after a great deal of mental or physical effort
After being up two nights in a row writing a 60 page history paper, and drinking 60 cups of coffee, Simon's mind felt frazzled.
verb
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gnaw -
To cause continual distress or discomfort, often in a mental or emotional sense.
Doubts about her decision started to gnaw at her, making it hard to focus.
verb
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stutter -
To speak with involuntary disruptions or repetitions of sounds, often at the beginning of words, due to a speech difficulty.
During the presentation, she began to stutter when she got nervous.
