Do All Paths Lead To Neuroticism?

Neuroticism is a personality trait that has a significant biological foundation. This makes people vulnerable to mental illness because it is associated with both poor stress management and a tendency to expose themselves to mentally harmful stimuli.

Being very neurotic can make disorders such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia affect a person more severely. It also plays an important role in relationship problems, hostility in the workplace, as well as  burnout.

Below we will briefly explain exactly what neuroticism is and how it works in different mental disorders, as it can have different effects with each one.

Neuroticism as a personality trait

Neuroticism is a personality (consisting of behavioral, emotional, and cognitive tendencies) that people primarily inherit from their parents, which to a large extent does so biologically by nature.

This does not mean that it can not be changed. But the tendency is in the person from the moment they are born. Throughout life, their environment will either make this tendency stronger or weaker.

Almost all personality theories include neuroticism as a fundamental function. It is available in:

• The five-factor model of personality traits (Costa and McCrae 1992)
• The alternative five-factor model for personality traits (Zuckerman 1999)
• Eysenck’s book Dimensions of Personality   (1947)
• Cloningers Temperament and Character Inventory (1994) (Note that here they call it injury avoidance.)

Therefore, it is clear that whether it is part of a lexicalist, empirical or factorial analysis, most researchers consider it to be part of the basic structure of personality. All models include neuroticism because it outlines each person’s basic emotional tendency.

In other words, it indicates whether you have a tendency to stability and well-being (low neuroticism) or instability and anxiety (high neuroticism).

Given the relationship between neuroticism and emotions, we will now analyze it. We look at how it affects three common mental disorders: depression, anxiety and addiction.

The role of neuroticism in various mental disorders

Depression

Neuroticism is associated with a higher number and intensity of depressive symptoms. This is because less negative stimulation is required in people with high neuroticism to make them feel upset or uncomfortable than is required in people with low neuroticism. 

Therefore, it indicates higher  sensitivity  to distress and thus affects the course of depression. It reinforces negative emotions  by making them more intense and intolerable. Thus, it becomes more likely that the hole of depression will only become deeper and more difficult to escape.

Anxiety

Neuroticism leads to anxiety, since the person fixates on the insecurity they can not tolerate. For example, they will avoid being in insecure situations, taking risks, and experiencing some degree of physical, psychological, social, or emotional insecurity. To successfully overcome anxiety, the person must confront it. But  neuroticism keeps these people in their comfort zone, and hinders recovery.

Neurotic people try to control all aspects of potentially risky situations, no matter how unlikely the risk may be. They waste a lot of time, money and energy to avoid risk. For example, they will leave home extremely early to reach an appointment in time, just to give themselves enough time in case one of the many dangers they imagine actually happens.

This can also be used in much more serious contexts, such as a  panic attack. The most effective treatment for panic disorder involves gradual exposure to the situation one fears. It is clear how much high neuroticism plays into this situation.

As we said before, people who consider themselves highly on the neurotic scale are very resistant to exposing themselves to things they fear, and will avoid taking the small risk at all costs, even if it will lead to addiction and finally the end of their anxiety. The higher the neuroticism, the greater the resistance to exposure. Thus, the more anxiety that is expected, the more of it the exposure will cause.

Addiction

People with high neuroticism are more likely to develop an addiction. Why? Because it pushes them to avoid discomfort and increases their perceived levels of stress.

High stress levels mixed with high sensitivity to distress make them feel mentally exhausted and overwhelmed by their daily problems. Substance abuse can be a form of escape for them. After all, it frees them from the constant occupation they feel.

In other words,  the emotional exhaustion produced by high sensitivity to discomfort turns everyday challenges into threats. Since they need to avoid discomfort and control what is happening around them, they become very overwhelmed.

The resulting psychological exhaustion makes it very difficult for them to cope well. So, the effects of psychoactive substances in  depressants like alcohol and marijuana give them a short break. A break from discomfort and stress.

What can people with high neuroticism do to change?

First of all, it is important to  seek the help of a psychologist who can perform a personality assessment and determine exactly how neurotic they are.

This is because both our own perceptions of ourselves and others’ perceptions of us can be wrong. Therefore, one can have a  picture of oneself that does not reflect one’s actual level of neuroticism.

A psychologist is the most qualified person to decide which therapeutic steps to take. In general, psychotherapy can  help a person manage neuroticism by focusing on the following:

• Dealing with emotions

• Increased tolerance for discomfort and insecurity
• Work on overcoming anxiety and fear

In addition,  psychotherapy can also help very neurotic people to work towards goals  that are important to them. It can break down the wall they built to protect themselves. Scientific evidence shows that personalities are not completely determined; they are to some extent shaped. We are in a constant state of social, emotional and behavioral change as a result of our environment.

Therefore, there is no room for the excuse “it’s just the way I am”. It is a mistake to think that you can not change. If you work to become a better version of yourself, you can reach your goals.