The Mean Reds

The Mean Reds can mean either one of these things:

Mean Reds, a rock band
In the novella Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote, Holly Golightly called her bouts of anxiety "the mean reds." In the film, she described "the mean reds" as a feeling of being afraid, yet not knowing what you are afraid of.

Holly Golightly: You know those days when you get the mean reds?

Paul Varjak: The mean reds. You mean like the blues?
Holly Golightly: No. The blues are because you're getting fat, and maybe it's been raining too long. You're just sad, that's all. The mean reds are horrible. Suddenly you're afraid, and you don't know what you're afraid of. Do you ever get that feeling?

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