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Lump in the stomach, feeling of unease, difficulty breathing… Anxiety generally results in negative signals. But this is not always the case. Here are seven “positive” behaviors that mask anxiety according to a psychology expert.
The symptoms of anxiety are easily identifiable. For what ? Because they are linked to a negative feeling: a lump in the stomach, difficulty breathing… But did you know that there are also “positive” behaviors which reflect anxiety? Here are the ones.
Stay calm at all costs
While representing the voice of reason by adopting a calm and soothing attitude during a crisis situation can be beneficial, it is not possible to constantly adopt this behavior. Indeed, “having a strong ability to adapt leads, at some point, to reaching a point of burnout” explains therapist Amélia Kelley, in an article for the HuffPost. “A person with high anxiety may not realize there is a problem until they experience an extreme reaction, or even medical problems and inflammation.”
Strive for perfection
Achieving perfection (if that’s even possible!) at work will certainly delight your boss, but the consequences will be different for you. “People who struggle with anxiety may think that anything less than perfect will result in judgment or negative consequences, so they set incredibly high standards for themselves.” indicates psychologist Ernesto Lira de la Rosa. “Basically, the perfectionism can serve as a defense mechanism when you are afraid of failing or not being good enough“.
Be “super efficient”
In the same idea, the search for performance is also a way of fighting against the anxiety which overwhelms you and which tells you that you are not doing enough. “Often, we throw ourselves wholeheartedly into work or responsibilities to manage the feeling of inadequacy we may feel or other unpleasant emotions.” analyzes the expert.
Stay in control at all times
“Supervising everything can give the impression of having control over everything and being very efficient, but it can also be a sign that this person fears losing control and feels the need to ‘hypermanage’ their life. adds the specialist. This attitude is harmful to your health and leads to problems with stress, anger management and difficulty asking for help.
Satisfy others, at all costs
Do you feel anxious about making someone unhappy by not doing what they want? Do you constantly say “yes” to everything, to avoid conflicts? These are signs that you are people pleasant. These people “go out of their way to make others happy, even at the expense of their own needs, because they fear that saying no or disappointing others will lead to disapproval or a breakdown in the relationship” analyzes Ernesto Lira de la Rosa. “This may be a manifestation ofsocial anxiety and a fear of not being acceptede”.
Having too much empathy
Empathy is a good thing. This can be defined as understanding or sharing the emotions a person feels. But in excess, it becomes harmful. Indeed, an empathy “too much leads to feeling anxiety” warns the specialist.
Good in his body, good in his head!
Present “hyper responsibility”
Some people feel the constant need to take over the responsibilities that fall to the group. This can be helpful, but it also represents unnecessary stress that you are inflicting on yourself. “Taking on too much responsibility may come from the need to feel in control of uncertain situations or to prevent potential problems.” indicates the psychologist. “This may come from anxiety about the future or fear of being blamed if things go wrong.. Before concluding: “Set limits and give yourself compassion. Your mind and body deserve it“.
Slide: 7 strategies to ease your anxiety