Neurosis or neuroticism, what is and how does it affect us?

Neuroticism is a long -term trend to be in a negative emotional state.

People with neuroticism tend to have more depressed moods. They suffer feelings of guilt, envy, anger and anxiety, more frequently and with greater severity than other individuals. What hides behind neurosis?

Content

• How are neurotic people
• Origin of the term "neurosis"
• Categories of neurotic disorders
• General signs of neurosis
  • Other symptoms
• Treatment

How are neurotic people

People with a tendency to neuroticism are particularly sensitive to changes in the environment, They suffer higher levels of stress and respond badly to these symptoms. These people are easier for situations to perceive as threatening and more negative than they are truly, for them trivial frustrations are highly problematic and can lead them to despair. An individual with neuroticism is normally shy and anxious. There is a tendency to internalize phobias and other neurosis, such as panic, aggressiveness, anxiety and depression disorders.

Neurosis refers to a mental disorder that implies suffering, but there is no presence of hallucinations or delusions. The individual is still in contact with reality. People with low neuroticism scores are emotionally stable And they manage to deal with stress more successful than those with higher scores. They are also usually equanimous, quiet, and are less likely to stress or show tense against daily difficulties, quite the opposite of people with high scores.

Origin of the term "neurosis"

The word neurosis means "Nervous Disorder" and was first coined at the end of the 18th century by William Cullen, a Scottish doctor. The concept of cullen neurosis covered those nerve disorders and symptoms that do not have a clear organic cause. Subsequently, Sigmund Freud used the term "Anxiety neurosis" To describe mental illness or anguish with extreme anxiety as a definition characteristic.

There is a difference of opinion on the clinical use of the term neurosis today. In general, it is no longer used as a diagnostic category by psychologists and psychiatrists, and in fact it was eliminated from the diagnostic manual of the psychiatric association in 1980 with the publication of the third edition (it appeared for the last time as a diagnostic category in the DSM-II).

Some professionals still use this term to Describe the symptoms of anxiety and associated behavior, or to name the range of mental illnesses different from psychotic disorders (p. Eg., Schizophrenia, delusional disorder). Others, particularly psychoanalysts, use the term to describe the internal process itself (unconscious conflict) that triggers the characteristic anxiety of neurosis.

Categories of neurotic disorders

Neurotic disorders are different from psychotic disorders, In the first the individual with neurotic symptoms has firm control of reality, and the psychotic patient does not. There are several main traditional categories of psychological neuroses. These include:

• Anxiety neurosis.Mental illness defined by anxiety and excessive concern, sometimes with panic attacks and manifests itself in physical symptoms such as tremors, chest pain, sweating and nausea.
• Depressive neurosis.A mental illness characterized by a deep feeling of sadness or despair and a lack of interest in the things that were once pleasant.
• Obsessive-compulsive neurosis.Persistent and distress recurrence of intrusive thoughts or images (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions).
• Conversion disorder (previously called hysterical neurosis).The presence of real and significant physical symptoms that cannot be explained by a medical condition, but are a manifestation of anxiety or other mental anguish.
• Post -traumatic stress disorder (also called war or combat neurosis).He stress Severo and the disability functional caused by witnessing a traumatic event, such as war combat or any other event that implies death or serious injuries.
• Compensation neurosis.It is not a true neurosis, but a form of simulation, or to simulate psychological symptoms for monetary purposes or other personal gains.

General signs of neurosis

People with neurosis have the following symptoms:

• They feel sad most of the time, with lack of interest in looking for hobbies or amusements.
• They have interpersonal problems derived from their little tolerance to others.
• They are usually quite irritable people.
• They explode easily and frustrated against everyday problems.
• They are very sensitive and have signs of emotional suffering frequently.

Another characteristic that may appear is that in their daily lives their symptoms can cause them difficulties at work, frequent frictions with their relatives or with other people, inability to make appropriate decisions, and even arriving abuse (generally psychological) of others. If this progresses the desire to live, they can decrease and depression levels are reached.

There are also people who gradually develop constant and catastrophic concerns without external cause that justifies them, and are distressed by finding ways to prevent them from becoming a reality. This may include the practice of mental rituals or repetitive behaviors typical of an obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Not rarely these characteristics cause social dysfunction of the person, since others see it weird. Some have a hard time getting out of their home to carry out their normal activities preferring.

In cases where anxiety rises very intensely and thus prevails over weeks and months, leads them to an almost unbearable state of uneven. They are people who start very easily and constantly have the feeling that something bad can happen at any time, but they don't know what it is.

Frequently complain about Difficulties to rest during the nights, since they have a hard time falling asleep or keeping sleep and in the morning they feel as tired as if they had been awake all night.

Other symptoms

They can also experience excessive sweating of hands, intense heartbeat, a passing sensation of being crazy, lack of air or fear of dying suddenly. All this is compatible with an anxiety disorder (anxiety neurosis). We can conclude that the formerly known "neurosis", currently constitute true psychic diseases that deteriorate the quality of life of those who suffer from them.

A proper diagnosis and treatment can help recover tranquility and personal well -being, so that if someone presents some of these symptoms, it is convenient that he will go with a specialist, to make an assessment of his case and establish the appropriate treatment for their improvement.

Treatment

Neurosis should be treated by a psychologist, psychiatrist or other mental health professional. The treatment for a neurotic disorder depends on the symptoms of presentation and the level of discomfort that are causing the patient.

The type of treatment is similar to those of other mental disorders, and may include psychotherapy, generally cognitive-behavioral therapy, creative therapies (for example, art therapy or music therapy), psychotopármacos, exercise and relaxation.