Contents
Why Some People Can’t Stand Doing Nothing
Psychology
The term ‘horror vacui’ describes in the field of psychology the anguish that some people experience when they are left alone with their thoughts and bodily sensations
La hyperstimulation and the speed of change of the inputs we receive on a day-to-day basis makes us so disconnected from ourselves that simply feeling our being generates strangeness. In fact, we have so normalized the excess information that causes us discomfort not having it and that is when we feel the call ‘horror vacui‘or that need to fill every moment of life with activities, thoughts and things. The term ‘horror vacui’, as explained by psychologist Laura Portaencasa, from Mundopsicologos.com, comes from a concept of the art world that refers to the artistic movement in which all space is filled without leaving any void; Although this concept, applied to psychology, is used to describe the anguish that exists in our current society when we have nothing to do and we are alone with our thoughts and our bodily sensations.
Some people are more likely than others to suffer from this need to fill every moment of their life that is related to not knowing how to stop, according to the psychologist. Those who are anxious, who have a tendency to obsessive thoughts, rumination and, ultimately, to have anxiety are more likely to unleash that ‘horror vacui’. It also occurs in the case of active, extroverted people and those who focus their life abroad; Well, these types of people always need to be busy and feel more uncomfortable when they stop doing things.
How the ‘horror vacui’ manifests itself
In the most acute cases, anxiety and panic attacks can occur, although the most frequent is to suffer it in the form of discomfort, anxiety or nervousness so that the palpitations in the chest, the hyperventilation, the knot in the stomach, the catastrophic thoughts, trembling and sweating in the hands can be some of the signs that indicate that this disorder is suffered. «The problem is in the types of thoughts that begin to appear, without order or direction, wandering between the past and the future without reaching any specific purpose. That makes us start to consider possible future scenarios that cause us concern. And the same happens with the past, because they tend to go back to certain scenes where they question what they said or what they did not do, generating feelings of guilt in them ”, clarifies Portaencasa.
That inability to stop iAvoid experiencing peace, stillness, and calm. That is why the psychologist advises all those who feel that they suffer from this disorder to work with these guidelines that help to focus on oneself, relax and learn the value of introspection.
Practice meditation
It is essential to learn to slow down our thoughts, find a way to slow down and focus on the important things.
Write an emotional journal
Learning to recognize our emotions, give them a name and manage them helps us become aware of what we feel, face it to solve it, instead of running away, filling every moment of our life with anything.
Take time
Reserve half an hour in your schedule as a dedicated time for yourself. We usually have time for everything and everyone. Let’s start spending time each day for ourselves as well.
Visualize the problem
Write down the unpleasant emotions that it generates, especially at the beginning. Analyzing and using negative words to describe our discomfort is very useful to visualize the problem and try to solve it.
Forget the screens
Turn off the TV and open a book. The benefits of reading are endless, for the brain and for the psyche. In addition, cutting with screens and electronic devices is also highly recommended for our psychophysical well-being.