Neurotic people: 8 characteristics that distinguish them

Neurotic people are a constant in our society. And it is that despite the fact that we call ourselves "rational animals", emotional instability is widespread among the human species.

And it is that the meaning of the term "neuroticism" alludes basically to that: the relative instability of emotional and sentimental states, specifically, due to a bias towards ideas and negative and anxiety-producing emotions. This means that in a matter of minutes a slight stimulus, inconsequential for the majority, causes a lot of discomfort in the neurotic person. Now, in practice... what exactly does it mean to be a neurotic person? Let's see it.

• Related article: "Types of people: 13 basic personality characteristics"

That's how neurotic people are

The word "neuroticism" was used by the psychologist hans eynseck to refer to a personality trait that indicates the tendency to delve into negative and stressful thoughts, which can break out almost at any time. Next we will see how eto translates to day to day.

1. Constant search for references

Neurotic people need to feel anchored to reality through the example they see in other people, charismatic people in whom they reflect themselves and who they want to be like. In this way, they try to give consistency to their life objectives by borrowing the attitudes and values ​​of someone whom they normally idealize.

Of course, this works in some cases, but in others it causes even more problems. Because? Because the fact in itself of not looking like that reference figure gives more reasons for frustration. On the other hand, the fact that they idealize their idols also contributes to the fact that the actions of neurotic people may follow an unreasonable pattern of behavior.

2. They can be very direct

In their personal relationships, neurotic people are capable of being significantly intrusive and even inappropriate with others, even without being angry. The reason is that although they know the theory of what is considered "polite conduct", in practice it is often difficult for them to take it into account, since they let themselves be carried away by the emotions of the present regardless of whether this leads them to be very invasive with the rest.

3. They often contradict each other

Another characteristic of neurotic people is that there is relatively little consistency in their actions and speech. The reason for this is that the emotional state of the moment influences a lot, and that makes the reasoning that could structure thought disappear or lose importance during the time when the emotional wins the game.

• Related article: "Are we rational or emotional beings?"

4. They often fall into anticipatory anxiety

They easily fall into stress. In the face of setbacks, stress manifests itself intensely in neurotic people. Normally it is given in limited amounts, but it can cause crises in which control is lost.

5. They make forecasts in terms of black or white

Nuances and details are often overlooked when there is something that captures all our attention. This is exactly what happens to neurotic people when making predictions; there are such terrifying possibilities that everything is analyzed based on whether certain actions bring us closer to that possible scenario or if they move us away from it.

6. They do not tolerate frustration well

We have seen that neurotic people are prone to making very pessimistic forecasts of the future, but, paradoxically, when something goes wrong that also affects them more than the rest, often producing an explosion of emotions. This is so because the problem of perceiving a failure is added to the difficulty of knowing how to act from that moment on to rebuild the present and make it somewhat more tolerable.

7. They are sensitive to criticism

It is very common for neurotic people to have unstable self-esteem, usually relatively low due to the episodes of constant uncertainty that they often go through. That's why criticism can easily hit the bull's-eye and hurt your feelings; not only because they believe that there are many reasons to criticize them, but also because, as we have seen, they adopt a catastrophic interpretation of things.

On the other hand, criticism can also be taken as an indication that a message is being sent. veiled, something that indicates that that person knows a secret about us and expresses it in a hint. This possibility, based on an almost paranoid thought, is terrifying for neurotic people.

8. They are more sensitive in general

What defines neurotic people is not so much going from one end of the arc of emotions to its opposite, but the ease with which they fall into negative emotions (that is, unpleasant for those who feel them). experience). That's why, it is easy for them to feel bad about all kinds of situations, from a sad movie to something that can be slightly offensive.