The 5 most common myths about anxiety

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 the inhabitants usually have, who, above In spite of everything, they live in cities, more and more disorders related to poor stress management and distress. 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, the myths about this. For a long time, some ideas have been taken for granted that, to this day, have been emphatically refuted by the various studies on the matter.

• Related article: "The 7 types of anxiety (causes and symptoms)"

What is anxiety?

Anxiety is a mental state or situation that It causes us intense stress, insecurity above the usual and that it can become chronic if we do not take the necessary measures to combat it. It is a totally involuntary reaction that the body generates against stimuli, both external and internal, that are perceived by people as a threat.

Usually this state puts us on alert until the problem is resolved, activates mental defense mechanisms and this leads to situations of a very worrying, negative feeling. Obsessive thoughts, discomfort in professional, personal life, are the causes of anxiety. And the insomnia It is one of the most common symptoms among individuals who suffer from affliction, a fact that also conditions 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 with no real, imagined basis. That is, that 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 myths of anxiety

We currently 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 knowledge that people have about this psychological phenomenon. In the following lines we will see the most recurring points when it comes to thinking the wrong way about anxiety.

1. Anxiety is not so normal

We always downplay moments of stress and worry. "It will pass, read for a while, go out and play sports." They are the most frequent advice that we reciprocally give to each other. serious mistake, there is no need to 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 is not a serious problem

At Columbia University, USA, professors of psychiatry and specialists in human behavior advise not to downplay the phenomenon, since it can lead to disorders. Anxiety does not travel alone, and it is that it can transform into health disorders such as addiction to harmful substances or a state of long-term depression.

• You may be interested in: "Types of Anxiety Disorders and their characteristics"

3. Anxious individuals 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 be given in an essential way or linked solely to low self-esteem. Human beings with a strong mentality and personality also suffer from anxiety.

4. Time heals all

Researchers from Columbia University explain tips to follow when faced with a situation involving a friend or relative who presents symptoms of anxiety; Curious as it may seem, people resort a lot to temporality to cure this type of disorder, but that doesn't work. What to do in these cases is show empathy, understanding. It reassures the patients in the consultation a lot.

5. Trauma as a cause of anxiety

Certainly one falls into the incorrect diagnosis of people with anxiety by asserting that it comes from a past trauma or grief, 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 manifest what they could not combat. But the reality is that very often, this problem is based on genetic predispositions and anxiogenic environments in which what works badly does so for long periods, not in specific events.