Self-awareness therapy

Although we may not always realize it, every day we are faced with a multitude of real or imagined demands that can alter our health and our personal well-being.

The individual coping with these demands, that is, the way we solve problems, is of great importance to maintain personal balance.

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The consequences of coping styles

Various investigations have analyzed the effects of the coping styles we use in adverse situations, and they come to the conclusion that we face challenges more or less successfully depending on the traits that make up our personality.

For example, an emotion-focused coping style that includes distancing, self-control, seeking social support, avoidance, acceptance of responsibility and positive appreciation, will be more beneficial than coping that includes isolation, culpability, fear and negative revaluation. The way we manage our emotions in these difficult situations will manifest itself either in stability or emotional instability.

The importance of self-knowledge in the face of day-to-day challenges

Knowing ourselves has been one of the great challenges posed since ancient times; for this, current science has designed sophisticated personality test perfected with precise mathematical algorithms and of course always subject to the interpretation of an expert professional.

Currently, the instruments that can help us the most in the therapy improvement process are personality tests and scales of anxiety.

To measure the structure of the personality, the most used model is that of “the five factors”, Using the NE0 PI-R personality inventory (Costa and McCrae, 2008). This test is one of the most prestigious instruments for the evaluation of non-pathological personality and has become one of the most used tools in various fields. It consists of 240 questions that are answered on a scale of five answer options and allows the evaluation of the five main personality factors: Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness, Kindness, and Responsibility.

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The pillars of personality

The five-factor model of personality traits was an important novelty in personality research, and the results obtained through the tests based on this gave rise to new ways of understanding in personality theories.

These theories gave primary importance to the traits that make up a particular personality typology and also deal with on the influence of the social and cultural environment on the evolution of the structure of the traits that define us as individuals unique.

On the other hand, to measure the degree of anxiety, the most widely used instrument is the STAI questionnaire (Spielberger, Gorsuch & Lushene, 2011).

This test assesses two independent concepts of anxiety and consists of two sections, 20 questions each. The first analyzes anxiety as a state (A / E) and the second analyzes anxiety as a trait (A / R). A scale is completed with four answer options for each question. The results give us information on two independent concepts of anxiety.

The first is defined as a state of transitory emotional anxiety (A / E) and that depends on the circumstances of the moment in which the test is performed. The second gives us the data of a stable trait (A / R) and that characterizes individuals with a tendency to perceive situations as threatening to a greater or lesser extent.

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The influence of personality on coping styles

The first trait evaluated by the NEO-PIR is Neuroticism, and it defines this concept as the innate tendency to manifest emotional stability or instability. Numerous investigations have studied the relationship between our personality traits and the levels of anxiety experienced. The correlations found between the neuroticism factor and trait and state anxiety indicate that high levels in the Neuroticism factor and its corresponding facets correspond to high scores in trait anxiety and state.

People with a high neuroticism trait will use emotion-focused coping to resolve stressful situations, which in the long run can lead to exhaustion as a result of continuous emotional exhaustion and appear manifested both in physical problems (infections, fatigue, pain ...) and in psychological problems (decay, apathy, fear, Doubts...).

Other personality traits that we are interested in knowing before undergoing therapy are Kindness and Extroversion.. These personality characteristics assess the traits of interpersonal tendencies. High scores on these factors define an affectionate, energetic, and positive personality for interpersonal relationships.

Responsibility and Openness to experience, the other two characteristics that complete “the five great ”, define the tendency to focus on achieving our goals and open-mindedness respectively.

Ultimately, the famous motto "know yourself" can be the key to recovering the lost balance.