I'd like to make the distinction between situation-specific nervousness and generalized anxiety. I have often, and continue to experience situation specific nervousness (ie before public speaking, a big meeting etc). That extra energy is helpful, as a number of people have mentioned, to focus on dealing with the situation at hand. What is new to me, and most disconcerting, is generalized anxiety. Its not related to anything specific. It appears to be energy I pick up from other people, because when I sit down with it and examine it, there is rarely anything to do with me or what /I/ need to be doing. When I am around people in distress, I find I am also anxious when I get home. I have a hard time getting rid of this anxious energy, even when I intellectually know it isn't me.