The quote captures an intense emotional state, likening the sensation of anxiety or dread to a cold fish dying in one's stomach. This vivid imagery suggests how unsettling emotions can linger beneath the surface, creating a persistent discomfort that is hard to ignore. Despite attempts to push these feelings away, they resurface and remind us of deeper issues that need attention.

In the context of Ruth Ozeki's "A Tale for the Time Being," this metaphor reflects the complexity of human experience, where past traumas or fears can frequently reemerge. The struggle to confront these feelings can be overwhelming, but it is also a critical part of processing and understanding our emotional landscape.