Kleshas: Root Afflictions Behind Anxiety

The kleshas are five fundamental psychological afflictions that Patanjali identified as sources of all suffering, including anxiety. Avidya (ignorance) creates false beliefs about threat; asmita (ego) generates defensiveness; raga (attachment) fuels desperate grasping; dvesha (aversion) produces avoidance patterns; and abhinivesha (fear of death) underlies existential anxiety. Rather than treating anxiety as a isolated symptom, Patanjali's framework traces it to these deeper roots. Clinical anxiety often combines multiple kleshas: fear-based thinking (avidya), ego-threatened reactions (asmita), clinging to control (raga), and avoidance behaviors (dvesha). By identifying which kleshas drive an individual's anxiety, treatment becomes precise and transformative. This ancient psychological map aligns with modern cognitive-behavioral insights while offering a more comprehensive philosophical framework. Working with the kleshas moves treatment from symptom suppression toward genuine psychological maturation and freedom.