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This is something I’ve noticed about myself and I’m curious about the underlying mechanism.

Whenever I receive a letter or email that looks official — from a bank, government office, school, etc. — I feel a spike of anxiety almost immediately. What’s strange is that this happens before I even know what the message actually says.

In most cases, it turns out to be routine or harmless. Still, the anxious reaction comes first and sometimes lingers until I fully understand the content.

I’m not looking for personal advice, but I’m curious whether this response is tied to how humans process authority, uncertainty, or perceived consequences. Is there any psychological or cognitive explanation for why the anticipation alone triggers stress, even when experience says it’s usually nothing serious?