Purpose. Patients awaiting surgery experience different levels of anxiety before general anesthesia. The goal of this research was to assess the main source of anxiety caused by anesthesia, and study its relationship with among others gender, age and education. Methods. A questionnaire consisting of 21 questions was presented to patients a day before the surgery during a pre‑anesthetic visit. The questions were related to demographics of the patients and to fear of anesthesia. Results. 100 questionnaires have been analyzed. 89% of patients reported fear of general anesthesia (96% females and 84% males). Concern about the surgery was expressed by 96% females and 78% males. The level of anxiety increased with the patients’ age (<45 y/o – 80%, >45 y/o – 95%). Prior experience with anesthesia and neurosurgery lowered the level of fear (first anesthesia – 94%, subsequent anesthesia – 87%; first neurosurgery – 93%, subsequent neurosurgery – 81%). Patients with chronic diseases reported higher level of fear than patients without them (91%vs 86%). Level of anxiety was greater in patients having a family history of chronic disease, before brain surgeries, and in patients with higher BMI. The anxiety was lower in patients with neurological symptoms. There was no correlation between the level of anxiety and education, residence or surgery lead time. Conclusion. Fear of general anesthesia is a common phenomenon in surgical patients. The anxiety is greater in females, patients over 45 and people with concurrent diseases.