Neuroticism is a colloquial term for an overly emotional or sensitive personality. In psychology, neurotic personality means a tendency to over-experience negative emotions, anxiety and low resistance to stress. A neurotic is a person prone to excessive self-criticism and brooding over situations that are irrelevant to an emotionally balanced person. A neurotic very often needs a partner to confirm that everything is fine. Living with a neurotic person can be very demanding, which is why both neuroticists and their partners often decide to undergo therapy.
Neuroticism – What is it?
Neurotics are people with an excessive tendency to experience negative experiences, worry and depression. Neurotics they are particularly prone to developing mental illnesses and addictions.
Although a matter of neuroticism already Sigmund Freud dealt with, the concept neuroticism It was not until the XNUMXth century that Hans Eysenck introduced him to psychological terminology, creating the theory of temperamental traits. Neuroticismapart from psychoticism and extraversion, it is one of the three basic dimensions of personality. Individual dimensions of personality appear in a person in various forms and proportions, which results in one of 4 personality types: melancholic, phlegmatic, sanguine and choleric.
According to the authors of the Big Five model of personality factors (Paul Costa and once Robert McCrae), the substrate neuroticism one should look for genetic predisposition. Currently, however, the prevailing opinion, espoused especially by Karen Horney, is that personality neurotic it is a consequence of certain situations from childhood and early youth.
In terms of physiology, neuroticism it is considered an over-activity of the sympathetic nervous system.
Neuroticism – symptoms
Neuroticism It manifests itself in a number of characteristic behaviors, however, it is difficult to talk about an unambiguous model of conduct neurotics. Neuroticism is manifested by a frequent feeling of frustration, anxiety, anxiety or dissatisfaction, disproportionately exaggerated in relation to the situation in which the person with neurotic personality. Neurotics they are unable to properly assess the situation, often becoming prisoners of their own desires, ideas and guilt.
Neuroticism usually accompanied by shyness, withdrawal, and neurotics show an excessive tendency to reflect on past situations and give meaning to issues that are irrelevant to emotionally balanced people.
Neuroticism means striving for perfection, therefore neurotics they are often good students and employees that stand out. Unfortunately, striving for the ideal means over-focusing on yourself and your problems. Neurotics They burn out quickly because they are constantly self-critical and dissatisfied with the results of their work. Although others evaluate the achievements positively neurotic, this one will always find a bottom line in their assessment and have destructive thoughts.
People of Fr. neurotic personalities often develop addictions or develop mental illnesses. Neuroticism is associated with the occurrence of depression and anxiety, and is also seen as the cause of anorexia or obesity.
Neuroticism – treatment
Neuroticism it is not classified as a mental illness, however life neurotic and life with a neurotic can be difficult. Many people choose to get treatment by taking the appropriate one therapy.
Therapy of neuroticism it consists in reaching the source of the disorder. During therapy Past events, especially from childhood, are analyzed with the aim of discovering and understanding the source of contemporary personality problems.
In the diagnosis neuroticism it helps to perform the EPQ-R test, adapted to the needs of adults, children and adolescents. Self-performance of the test can only reveal what type of personality we represent. For a professional interpretation of the result, go to the psychologist’s office.