A person with an anxious personality experiences an overreaction to threatening stimuli in his or her environment, resulting in the body having a greater stress response than another person might have to the same event. The anxious person is less able to tolerate the normal uncertainties about the future and the "dangers" that may arise. This may be about external events - such as terrorist attacks or planes crashing - or relationship or health issues: "What if he doesn't really love me?" or "What if I've got cancer?"
The anxious person believes subliminally that there is danger all around in this world and that if they're not always on guard there may be potential threat to their body or psychological well being. They are constantly thinking 'what if this?' and 'maybe that?'
Their behavior is motivated by an attempt to reduce or get rid of the stressor that is causing them to feel stressed. For example, the anxious person may always say, "Yes" if asked to take on extra work by the boss and is thought to be obliging. It could be however, that he is anxious about being criticized or being disapproved of if he says, "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.
Many anxious people are sensitive, and are commonly known as worriers. The sensitive person has a brain that is sensitized to threat, and instructs the body to produce adrenalin at the first hint of there being a stimulus that could in any way be dangerous to the person. This could be external stimuli (heat, noise, unpleasant smells, crowds, bright lights, scratchy clothing, food with strange textures) or internal perceptions especially pertaining to being 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 nervous system, if aroused by adrenalin, gives a person the anxious feeling even before he or she can rationalize the situation. Once the brain recognizes that anxious feeling it stays on guard for the danger and the thoughts in the head are usually 'what if' this and 'what if' that. Typically the thoughts focus on the person's vulnerability at the time and that may be related to something about their health, finances, relationships, children, work, being disliked, being inadequate. The brain is looking for some danger to justify the fear feeling.
All the best, Karen Gosling
The anxious person believes subliminally that there is danger all around in this world and that if they're not always on guard there may be potential threat to their body or psychological well being. They are constantly thinking 'what if this?' and 'maybe that?'
Their behavior is motivated by an attempt to reduce or get rid of the stressor that is causing them to feel stressed. For example, the anxious person may always say, "Yes" if asked to take on extra work by the boss and is thought to be obliging. It could be however, that he is anxious about being criticized or being disapproved of if he says, "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.
Many anxious people are sensitive, and are commonly known as worriers. The sensitive person has a brain that is sensitized to threat, and instructs the body to produce adrenalin at the first hint of there being a stimulus that could in any way be dangerous to the person. This could be external stimuli (heat, noise, unpleasant smells, crowds, bright lights, scratchy clothing, food with strange textures) or internal perceptions especially pertaining to being 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 nervous system, if aroused by adrenalin, gives a person the anxious feeling even before he or she can rationalize the situation. Once the brain recognizes that anxious feeling it stays on guard for the danger and the thoughts in the head are usually 'what if' this and 'what if' that. Typically the thoughts focus on the person's vulnerability at the time and that may be related to something about their health, finances, relationships, children, work, being disliked, being inadequate. The brain is looking for some danger to justify the fear feeling.
All the best, Karen Gosling
About the Author:
Karen Gosling has helped thousands of people in more than 30 years to deal with different emotional styles in relationships. 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
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