Ana Isabel Marin Jodar: "Anxiety in the family is very common"

Anxiety is a relatively common factor in the daily life of any person., to a greater or lesser extent, and yet in most cases this is not a problem.

However... How to react when it becomes an element of psychological exhaustion? We talked about it with Ana Isabel Marin Jodar.

• Related article: "Types of Anxiety Disorders and their characteristics"

Ana Isabel Marin Jodar: the regulation of anxiety and negative emotions

Ana Isabel Marin Fuck She is a coach specialized in anxiety problems, and attends in Barcelona. In this interview she talks to us about managing anxiety and negative emotions.

Is there a way to distinguish the moment in which negative emotions go from being a normal element of everyday life to being a psychological problem?

We all have to a lesser or greater extent negative emotions that we have to deal with on a daily basis. It is true that the more you know yourself, the easier it will be for you to know these negative emotions and therefore ask for help from a professional.

I am going to describe several situations, so that it is easy to detect when these emotions begin to be problematic and can affect our day to day. You have emotions or moods that go from 0 to 100 in seconds, and you find it impossible to control your anger. After this internal storm, you feel bad about yourself, because you have not been able to manage emotions assertively.

You are unable to communicate and express what you think and feel. Most of the time you don't dare to say “no” for an answer, even though it is what you really want. This can lead to feelings of frustration and sadness.

What aspects of the work context can cause more anxiety problems?

Work anxiety is currently a situation that occurs frequently. We spend at least eight hours in our workplace and this can lead to situations that cause us stress, such as: not getting along with a colleague, feeling pressure from the boss, feeling of not being able to do what they ask of you, not feeling recognized or valued, salary/work hours ratio not adjusted, or too much workload job.

As a consequence of these situations, work anxiety appears, which can limit us on many occasions and affect productivity, motivation, and mood, blocking our ability to work.

And as for family life, what elements of coexistence tend to give rise to excess anxiety?

Anxiety in the family environment is very common, the person who suffers from it is usually always the one who bears the most responsibilities.

For this reason, to enjoy a home in harmony and free of tension, it is important to distribute the household chores and that each member of the family unit is assigned one or more responsibilities. This will make it easier to reduce disputes and enjoy a good atmosphere.

Good communication, empathy, collaboration and setting limits are also necessary.

How are rumination and anxiety related?

The rumination It is the situation in which a person concentrates on repetitive negative thoughts that cause anxiety and stress.

The first step to breaking this cycle is to observe our mind to be aware of what kinds of thoughts are being repeated, and thus be able to break this pattern of thought.

What recommendations would you give to people who suffer from anxiety, beyond going to therapy?

One of my recommendations is that first of all we have to accept all our emotions, including the least we like them, acceptance makes us allow them to flow and not remain stagnant in the form of sadness, anger, etc...

It is important to reserve at least half an hour a day to dedicate it to ourselves practicing a hobby that connects us with our essence.

What are the strategies you use the most to offer help in the face of anxiety and excess negative emotions?

The strategies that he used in consultation is to know first of all what is causing the anxiety or emotional discomfort, when we already identify the problem we go deeper to heal and forgive.

When the person decides to take the step of doing therapy, it is when he is really committed to himself to make the change that his life really needs.

It is very satisfying to see the change in the person, how he manages to perceive his life from another, healthier point of view.