Anxious people experience overreactions to threatening things in their environment, which causes them to have a more severe stress response in their body than someone else would have to that stimulus. They are not able to tolerate uncertainty about the future very well as they fear many things that may go wrong. This could be about world events - including terrorism and plane crashes - or internal problems such as relationships ("What if he doesn't really love me?") or health concerns ("What if I've got cancer?")
People with anxious personalities tend to have a general, although often subliminal, belief that the world is a dangerous place and that they must always be on guard to prevent or control any threat to their body and psychological well-being. Their thoughts are frequently dotted with 'what ifs' and 'maybes'.
A person behaves a certain way because of a need to minimize or get rid of a stimulus or situation that is causing him to feel stressed. For example, a person may often say, "Yes" if someone asks him to take on more work, and is considered to be an obliging person. It is possible however, that he is actually anxious about receiving criticism and disapproval if he said, "No".
Sometimes the anxious person is not aware that he experiences anxiety. The physical manifestations of discomfort, and changes to the gut or bowel, or problems with the immune or nervous systems, are often seem as physical problems requiring tests and treatment, and the cognitive (thinking) involvement is not at first recognized.
It is common that a fearful or negative thought then becomes in itself the threatening stimulus, which results in the body producing adrealin, the stress hormone that prepares the body for a 'fight' of 'flight' response in the event that the situation really is dangerous. Adrenalin stores in the muscles and maintains in the person a sense of readiness in case danger ever occurs. This feeling of being 'on guard' or stressed can mean that one small event triggers an intense response due to the adrenalin build up. This is seen by others as an overreaction.
It is quite common for an anxious person to also be a sensitive person, prone to worrying. Sensitive people have a brain that is always on guard to any threat, resulting in the body producing adrenalin at the slightest suggestion of there being any "danger" in the environment. This could be in reality an external stimulus (heat, noise, unpleasant smells, bright lights, scratchy clothing, food with strange textures) or a threat from internal appraisals (feeling disapproved of, disliked or criticized).
An anxious person may have a strong physical/adrenalin response (called flooding) to irritable tones, raised voices or a suggestion of conflict in their environment, regardless of whether or not the conflict is directed at them. They may startle easily.
The adrenalin arouses the nervous system, creating the "anxious" feeling, even before the person can rationalize the situation. But once the brain recognizes the adrenalin arousal, it begins to "watch out" for the danger, and the thoughts then commence, 'what if' this and 'what if' that. The thoughts typically flow to the person's vulnerability at the time, which may be about their health, finances, relationships, children, work, being disliked, being inadequate - there is always something the brain will find as dangerous to justify the physical anxious sensation.
Warmly, Karen Gosling - 15784
People with anxious personalities tend to have a general, although often subliminal, belief that the world is a dangerous place and that they must always be on guard to prevent or control any threat to their body and psychological well-being. Their thoughts are frequently dotted with 'what ifs' and 'maybes'.
A person behaves a certain way because of a need to minimize or get rid of a stimulus or situation that is causing him to feel stressed. For example, a person may often say, "Yes" if someone asks him to take on more work, and is considered to be an obliging person. It is possible however, that he is actually anxious about receiving criticism and disapproval if he said, "No".
Sometimes the anxious person is not aware that he experiences anxiety. The physical manifestations of discomfort, and changes to the gut or bowel, or problems with the immune or nervous systems, are often seem as physical problems requiring tests and treatment, and the cognitive (thinking) involvement is not at first recognized.
It is common that a fearful or negative thought then becomes in itself the threatening stimulus, which results in the body producing adrealin, the stress hormone that prepares the body for a 'fight' of 'flight' response in the event that the situation really is dangerous. Adrenalin stores in the muscles and maintains in the person a sense of readiness in case danger ever occurs. This feeling of being 'on guard' or stressed can mean that one small event triggers an intense response due to the adrenalin build up. This is seen by others as an overreaction.
It is quite common for an anxious person to also be a sensitive person, prone to worrying. Sensitive people have a brain that is always on guard to any threat, resulting in the body producing adrenalin at the slightest suggestion of there being any "danger" in the environment. This could be in reality an external stimulus (heat, noise, unpleasant smells, bright lights, scratchy clothing, food with strange textures) or a threat from internal appraisals (feeling disapproved of, disliked or criticized).
An anxious person may have a strong physical/adrenalin response (called flooding) to irritable tones, raised voices or a suggestion of conflict in their environment, regardless of whether or not the conflict is directed at them. They may startle easily.
The adrenalin arouses the nervous system, creating the "anxious" feeling, even before the person can rationalize the situation. But once the brain recognizes the adrenalin arousal, it begins to "watch out" for the danger, and the thoughts then commence, 'what if' this and 'what if' that. The thoughts typically flow to the person's vulnerability at the time, which may be about their health, finances, relationships, children, work, being disliked, being inadequate - there is always something the brain will find as dangerous to justify the physical anxious sensation.
Warmly, Karen Gosling - 15784
About the Author:
Karen Gosling has helped thousands of people in more than 30 years to understand their own and their partner's emotional style. Her 1-hour "Surviving Emotional Style" DVD and audio CD with transcript will show you how. You will find nearly everything you need to know about managing your emotional style so that your relationships aren't impacted by anger or anxiety. Go to: Surviving Emotional Style