{"id":1048,"date":"2021-08-27T06:57:49","date_gmt":"2021-08-27T06:57:49","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2021-08-27T06:57:51","modified_gmt":"2021-08-27T06:57:51","slug":"what-does-it-mean-to-be-neurotic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/magazine.circledna.com\/what-does-it-mean-to-be-neurotic\/","title":{"rendered":"What Does it Mean to Be Neurotic?"},"content":{"rendered":"

What does it mean to be neurotic, and what are the signs you\u2019re a neurotic person? Is it a bad thing to be neurotic? We\u2019re going to cover these questions in this article, but first, I\u2019d encourage you to do some self-reflection.<\/p>\n

Do you feel anxious quite often, about upcoming meetings or just your to-do list in general? Are you often feeling unpleasant emotions of worry or concern, or often experiencing psychological distress? Do you overthink or feel fear or sadness more than you\u2019d like?<\/p>\n

Neuroticism, or being neurotic, is a personality trait involving a tendency to be anxious, negative, irrational, fearful or even drastic. Aggression in response to a perceived threat, as well as fear and sadness are common for those with this personality trait.<\/p>\n

Are you generally optimistic when you think about potential outcomes? Do you typically feel positive, optimistic, confident, and calm? If so, you\u2019re probably not neurotic.<\/p>\n

The personality trait of neuroticism is approximately 48% genetic.<\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Being neurotic hinders your ability to be emotionally stable. It\u2019s also often a contributing factor in the development of mental illnesses such as major depression and anxiety disorders.<\/p>\n

This personality trait affects your cognitive thinking and behaviour.<\/p>\n

Neuroticism VS Typical Anxious Thoughts
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It\u2019s normal to feel anxiety over an important job interview or over a major life stressor. However, when anxiety, fear or propensity to overthink is happening all the time even over minor stuff, it is known as being neurotic<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Try telling a neurotic person, \u201cDon\u2019t sweat the small stuff\u201d and they\u2019ll tell you that\u2019s easier said than done. Some people only have anxious thoughts when something major is happening in their life, and those people likely don\u2019t possess the personality trait of neuroticism.<\/p>\n

Remember Woody Allen from Toy Story<\/em>? He had an audible narration going on as the story progressed. This happens in real life for some of us, too. If you\u2019re neurotic, a perpetual thought bubble (often of negative thoughts) hangs over your head, and you\u2019re often unable to burst it. When it feels like every thought and feeling is troubling or concerning you, it\u2019s called \u2018neurosis\u2019 in clinical terms.<\/p>\n

Neuroticism: An Unfortunate Self-Fulfilling Prophecy?<\/h2>\n

Those who believe in the \u201cLaw of Attraction\u201d believe that negative thoughts bring negative experiences into a person\u2019s life.<\/p>\n

There could be some truth to this. Some people worry about everything and are overly pessimistic. They worry about someone they\u2019re dating losing interest, a relationship ending, going broke, losing friends, or getting fired from their job. Sometimes, whatever they\u2019re spending so much time worrying about actually happens.<\/p>\n

It turns out these neurotic individuals have created a self-fulfilling prophecy. Two people can be going through the same situation with the same shot at success, and the neurotic one with a negative outlook on it will likely be the one who fails. This is just one example of how neurosis can lead to self-harm and an overall decreased satisfaction with life.<\/p>\n

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Are There Benefits of Being Neurotic?<\/h2>\n

While there are certainly many detriments and drawbacks of being neurotic, there are some benefits as well. Sigmund Freud, legendary neurologist and the founder of psychoanalysis famously said, \u201cNeurotics complain of their illness, but they make the most of it, and when it comes to taking it away from them they will defend it like a lioness her young.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

People with neurotic personalities tend to be more intelligent and pragmatic. They think ahead and prepare for negative outcomes.<\/p>\n

What are some other upsides to being neurotic? Neurotic people tend to be highly sensitive and vulnerable. They are empathetic towards others and can easily pick up on others\u2019 feelings. This means they\u2019re intuitive, which can be of great quality. They want to help people whenever possible, fix issues, or settle disputes. These people often turn out to be good friends and understanding partners.<\/p>\n

Neurosis can turn advantageous<\/a> if you use negative thought patterns to improve your life. You can reach your goals easily by planning in advance for a potentially negative outcome. Self-criticism can be both a challenge and an opportunity if you know how to use it. When used for blaming, it\u2019s a problem. When used for improving on your weaknesses, it\u2019s a blessing in disguise.<\/p>\n

That being said, moderation is key. If the behaviour is mild, it won\u2019t hurt anyone. If it\u2019s severe, then it could pose a threat to yourself as well as others.<\/p>\n

Think of neuroticism as a potential superpower, only if you know how to wield it.<\/p>\n

Signs You\u2019re a Neurotic Person<\/h2>\n

What does it mean to be neurotic, and how can you find out if you are? There are some signs to watch out for. For example, you can tell if you have a tendency to be neurotic by observing how you react to small inconveniences in life. In other words, you often sweat the small stuff.<\/p>\n

Below are some highly neurotic personality traits that you can look out for:<\/p>\n

You\u2019re Hypervigilant and See Situations Through a Negative Lens<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Hypervigilance is a state of increased concern and alertness, where you\u2019re extremely sensitive to your surroundings. You\u2019re constantly aware of everything going on around you, looking for signs of trouble to watch for. You pick up people\u2019s body language with ease. Similarly, you\u2019re analyzing every word that comes out of people\u2019s mouths, often hearing it with a negative lens. You are aware of possible rejection, deception, ulterior motives and true colours. That being said, you are a little volatile and respond to stress with irritability. You have trouble controlling your emotions<\/a>.<\/p>\n

You\u2019re Avoidant<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Some neurotic people are highly avoidant. They may avoid conversations with their boss, their partner, or their friends out of fear that it will go badly. They tend to assume it will go badly.<\/p>\n

Some neurotic people also say \u201cNo\u201d to adventure sports, wild trips, or any other activity that may potentially go badly and cause concern. It\u2019s common to prefer predictable and familiar activities with people they trust. Many neurotic people also try to avoid being the centre of attention, out of fear. It\u2019s better to go unnoticed than receive unwanted attention that could be negative.<\/p>\n

You\u2019re Productive, Restless, and Have Anxiety While Sitting Still<\/strong><\/h2>\n

For some neurotic people, sitting still and doing nothing causes anxiety. They try to sit still and watch a show, but they don\u2019t feel relaxed. They\u2019ll often spend their energy being productive instead of letting themselves be bored, or letting themselves relax.<\/p>\n

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You Believe in Murphy\u2019s Law<\/strong><\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re neurotic, you subscribe to the notion that there\u2019s a better chance of something going wrong than of it going according to plan. Due to this internal belief, you have a pragmatic personality. You plan for the worst-case scenario and mentally prepare for the worst outcome. When things go right, it\u2019s like Christmas for you. When you notice yourself feeling optimistic instead of pessimistic, you might be very caught off guard<\/strong> \u2013 in a good way.<\/p>\n

You Accept Your Weaknesses<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Since neurotic people are not overly optimistic or very confident, they accept their limitations. Be it removing a mental health stigma<\/a>, calibrating their strengths, or preparing for an event \u2013 they know their capabilities and weaknesses well. Not much can surprise you about yourself if you\u2019re neurotic, as you\u2019ve already analyzed your personality to death.<\/p>\n

Is Neurosis a Diagnosis?<\/h2>\n

Neurosis is not a diagnosis per se. It\u2019s more of an indication that there might be issues you need to work through. Neurosis could contribute to the development of Major Depressive Disorder or Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Medical or clinical help is typically only needed when your neurotic, negative thoughts have so much power over you, that you\u2019re significantly impaired in your daily life functioning.<\/strong><\/p>\n

What Should You Do if You\u2019re Neurotic?<\/h2>\n

Knowing whether you can benefit from help with neurosis is a difficult decision. The first step is asking yourself how much neurosis affects your life. If this is a personality trait that drastically affects your life, your relationship with yourself, and your relationship with others, you should speak to a psychiatrist.<\/p>\n

Ask yourself the following questions:<\/p>\n