Angela Fernández, psychologist: “People with anxiety share neuroticism as a symptom”
The mental health expert has explained on social media the three behavior patterns commonly found in people who experience anxiety.
No one doubts that there are as many attitudes and behaviors as there are people on the planet. Nor is it disputed that certain patterns can be identified that help decode each person’s mental and psychological reality.
Detecting what lies behind everyday gestures or words is part of the work of psychologists like Ángela Fernández, who also creates educational content on social media under the name “angelaprs.psicología.” In a recent video, the expert points directly to a series of clues that reveal an increasingly widespread condition.
“Three traits shared by people with anxiety,” she says at the beginning of the post, adding that “people with anxiety, like everyone else on Earth, tend to share personality traits.” In this case, she explains, those traits are high responsibility, excessive agreeableness, and neuroticism. She explains them one by one.
High responsibility
The trait is also known as conscientiousness, and “these people are usually very self-demanding, rigorous, disciplined, deeply committed to their tasks, with very high performance standards, since they constantly strive for perfection,” she says, emphasizing that this also translates into a high level of mental rigidity. –
Although this trait “is very socially accepted from a young age,” readers should remember that “everything is fine in moderation,” and for people who want to work on their anxiety, it is essential to “learn to be flexible.”
Excessive agreeableness
Excessive agreeableness is another classic trait. “Agreeableness involves being generous, cooperative, altruistic,” she explains. “These are people who struggle to set boundaries and probably tolerate too much.”
She adds that they generally “focus on others all the time, which means very little self-care,” and that as part of their treatment they “will need to take action and set limits.”
Neuroticism
Finally, the psychologist highlights what is known as neuroticism. “High scores on this trait are associated with emotionally unstable, impulsive, nervous individuals,” she notes. These people are described as having “high reactivity,” since they “remain in a constant state of alert,” and “a noise, a rude response, or a plan that falls through affects them much more.”
In terms of treatment, “the ideal approach for these individuals is to seek activities that promote calm and tranquility in their daily lives.” If this is practiced consistently, it “will help them achieve greater emotional stability.”
How to avoid falling into the trap of self-demand, perfectionism, and frustration
The expert sums up the key to her advice with a healing practice: “Try to speak to yourself with a flexible and compassionate perspective and avoid pushing yourself too hard, because you can fall into the trap of self-demand, perfectionism, and frustration.”
In other words, “accept these tendencies within yourself, but do not let them limit you too much.”
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