Crossword Genius

Small lock of hair causing anxiety (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

stress

'anxiety' is the definition.
(anxiety is stress or tension)

'small lock of hair' is the wordplay.
'small' becomes 's' (abbreviation - e.g. clothes size).
'lock of hair' becomes 'tress' (I've seen this in another clue).
's'+'tress'='STRESS'

'causing' is the link.

(Other definitions for stress that I've seen before include "'Strain, tension (6)'" , "Feeling of pressure" , "Ictus" , "Dwell on" , "Emphasize" .)

I've seen this clue in The Sun and The Times.
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