Anxiety is surely one of the best-known reasons for psychological discomfort In modern societies, due to the pace of work and high burden of obligations that inhabitants who, above all, live in cities, tend to have, more and more disorders related to poor management of stress and anguish are diagnosed. Traffic, crowds, pollution, pressure at work or family problems are some of the causes.
However, some experts warn of the erroneous beliefs that exist about anxiety, myths about it For a long time, some ideas have been taken for granted that, today, have been categorically refuted by various studies on the matter.
Anxiety is a mental state or situation that It causes us intense stress, an insecurity above normal and that can become chronic if we do not take the necessary measures to combat it. It is a completely involuntary reaction that the body generates in the face of stimuli, both external and internal, that are perceived by people as a threat.
Generally, this state puts us on alert until the problem is resolved, activates mental defense mechanisms and this leads to situations with a very worrying, negative feeling. Obsessive thoughts, discomfort in professional and personal life, are the causes of anxiety. And insomnia is one of the most common symptoms among individuals who suffer from distress, a fact that equally affects our physical integrity (going to work tired, low defenses).
Another element to take into account is that anxiety, in a very high number of cases, is generated by a feeling based on a concern without a real, imagined basis That is, sometimes people imagine or project a negative situation that does not have to happen, as well as giving excessive importance to a minor problem.
5 anxiety myths
Nowadays we have easily accessible tools to determine what happens to us if we find ourselves in an abnormal situation that causes us anxiety. However, this progress has not been reflected in the degree of popular knowledge about this psychological phenomenon. In the following lines we will see the most recurring points when thinking in the wrong way about anxiety.
1. Anxiety is not so normal
We always downplay moments of stress and worry. “You’ll get over it, read for a while, go out and play sports.” They are the most frequent pieces of advice that we reciprocally give to each other. Serious mistake, we must not fall into the normalization of this problem In the United States alone, almost 20% of the population suffers from anxiety, and this has a clear impact on the health system.
2. It does not represent a serious problem
At Columbia University, USA, psychiatrist professors and specialists in human behavior advise not to downplay the importance of the phenomenon, since can lead to disorders Anxiety does not travel alone, and it can transform into health disorders such as addiction to harmful substances and a long-lasting state of depression.
3. Individuals with anxiety are weak and fearful
Anxiety disorder is generally correlated with the feeling of fear. It is a serious mistake, according to specialists.
It is true that many of the psychic pictures reveal some degree of fear that causes anxiety, but it is not a condition that must necessarily occur nor is it linked solely to low self-esteem. Human beings with a strong mentality and personality also suffer from anxiety.
4. Time heals everything
Researchers at Columbia University explain tips to follow when faced with a situation involving a friend or family member who presents symptoms of anxiety; As curious as it may seem, people resort a lot to temporality to cure these types of disorders, but that does not work. What you have to do in these cases is show empathy, understanding It greatly reassures the patients in the office.
5. Trauma as a cause of anxiety
Certainly, people with anxiety are misdiagnosed by stating that it comes from a past trauma or anxiety, as well as a premature bad experience. There are obvious cases of this, such as children who grow up in a hostile environment and as adults express what they could not combat. But the reality is that very often, this problem It is based on genetic predispositions and anxiety-producing environments in which what works poorly does so over long periods, not in specific events.
