Poor management of responsibilities and the goals that we set on a daily basis is, for many people, a source of constant discomfort.
However, sometimes we fall into the trap of not only trying to follow an unsustainable work pace, but also considering that the fact of always being up to our necks in water and on edge is part of normality, of that so you have to go through yes or yes.
In this article we will talk precisely about that, hyperdemands, and the way in which these psychologically impact our daily lives
Hyperdemands are a pattern of behavior through which We get used to demanding from ourselves a pace of work and performance that we can barely reach or which we do not directly reach.
Therefore, hyperdemands can give way to harmful lifestyle habits both physically and mentally.
Possible causes
These are the main causes from which hyperdemand towards oneself can arise.
1. Perfectionism
Many times, excessive demands on oneself are not so much in the amount of work to be done as in the quality of the results to be obtained In these cases, the main driver of this behavior pattern is linked to perfectionism managed in an inappropriate way, counterproductive for the person.
On the other hand, perfectionism can be of two types, and both cases can cause problems if they become the center of the life of the person who develops them.
1.1. perfectionistic efforts
Perfectionistic efforts are present in those individuals who try to get closer to an ideal through their work, regardless of what others do. For example, an artist trying to surpass himself and create the most important work of his career will probably be motivated by this type of perfectionism.
1.2. Perfectionistic concerns
Perfectionistic concerns are present in those who try to do something in the best possible way to satisfy the expectations of others, that is, due to external pressures. An example of this would be a skater who is focused on not being disqualified from a championship so as not to disappoint her family.
2. Work pressures
We must not forget that in countries like Spain, the labor market is very competitive and the threat of becoming unemployed and taking a long time to find another job is very real. This means that many people do not find a job role that satisfies them, since in order not to lose added value they must sacrifice a lot and work hard. Some people even work more than necessary without anyone asking them, simply out of fear of losing their source of income
3. Family responsibilities
On the other hand, there are many people who cannot cope with household chores and raising children, and who despite this refuse to ask for help.
This is a type of hyperdemand more common in women because historically the female role has been linked to taking care of the home, which leads some of them to feel shame and guilt at the idea of not giving their all and sacrificing themselves for others.
These are the different ways in which hyperdemands affect people’s well-being.
1. Lack of sleep
Lack of sleep is one of the phenomena in which hyperdemand is first noticed People who try to keep up with many responsibilities tend to either believe that sleeping is a waste of time, or not being able to fall asleep at the right time or sleep deeply.
2. Stress and anxiety
On the other hand, hyperdemand goes hand in hand with a high activation of the nervous system, that is, always be alert This causes anxiety-type alterations to arise and stress crises to be relatively frequent.
3. Greater risk of falling into addictions
People who face a heavy workload every day are more likely to develop addictions This is a measure of coping with discomfort that gives them some relief in the short term, but that obviously harms them greatly in the medium and long term. However, in the face of anxiety and stress, the long-term vision loses importance.
4. Rumination
Rumination is the tendency to ruminate on things, especially those thoughts related to the tasks to be performed and the goals to be achieved, given that these generate anguish and stress, so that they attract the focus of attention
Are you looking for professional support in the face of hyperdemand?
If you think you tend to overburden yourself with responsibilities and overly ambitious goals, and you think you need professional support, I suggest you contact me. I am a psychologist specialized in the cognitive-behavioral intervention model and I have many years of experience helping individuals and companies. To see more information about me, as well as my contact information, go to this page.
