Self-demand and anxiety are two concepts that are intrinsically related in the field of psychology. Self-demand refers to the personal tendency to set very high standards and expectations for oneself, seeking perfection and feeling the need to meet those expectations at all costs. On the other hand, anxiety is an emotion characterized by feelings of worry, nervousness and fear in the face of future or uncertain situations. In this article, we will explore the close relationship between self-demand and anxiety, how they influence each other, and how they can affect a person's mental health and well-being.
Self-demand as a trigger of anxiety
Self-demand can be an important trigger of anxiety in many people. Those people who tend to be very demanding of themselves may experience high levels of stress and pressure to meet their own unattainable standards. This constant pressure can trigger symptoms of anxiety, as the person feels the need to meet impossibly high expectations.
Perfectionism and constant worry
Perfectionism is a common characteristic among self-demanding people, since they seek to perform all their tasks impeccably and without errors. This constant pursuit of perfection can lead to constant worry about not living up to self-imposed standards, which in turn can trigger anxiety. The person feels constantly worried about not meeting their own expectations, which generates a cycle of stress and anxiety that is difficult to break.
Fear of failure and self-demand
Another important aspect The relationship between self-demand and anxiety is the fear of failure. Self-demanding people tend to fear failure more than others, as they perceive any deviation from their standards as a personal failure. This constant fear of not meeting one's own expectations can lead to high levels of anxiety, as the person constantly feels under pressure to perform perfectly in all areas of their life.
Impact of anxiety in self-demand
Anxiety can also influence a person's self-demand, creating a vicious circle in which both feed off each other. When a person experiences high levels of anxiety, they may feel the need to be even more demanding of themselves to try to control that anxiety and compensate for their fears. This increase in self-demand only serves to increase levels of stress and anxiety, creating a negative cycle that is difficult to break.
Constant self-evaluation and anxiety
Constant self-evaluation is another way in which that anxiety can influence a person's self-demand. Those people who experience anxiety tend to constantly evaluate their performance and actions, looking for possible errors or failures that may cause them concern. This constant self-evaluation can lead to greater self-demand, as the person seeks to avoid any situation that may trigger their anxiety, which in turn increases the pressure on themselves.
Catastrophic thoughts and irrational demands
Catastrophic thoughts and irrational demands are also common consequences of anxiety that can influence a person's self-demand. Those who experience anxiety may have negative and catastrophic thoughts about their abilities and the future, leading them to set even higher and more demanding standards for themselves in an attempt to control those worries. This cycle of negative thoughts and self-demand can increase anxiety levels, creating a downward spiral for the person.
Consequences for mental health and well-being
The relationship between self-demand and Anxiety can have serious implications for a person's mental health and well-being. Those people who experience high levels of self-demand and anxiety may face a series of negative consequences that affect their quality of life and overall health.
Impact on self-esteem and confidence
Perfectionism and self-demand can negatively affect a person's self-esteem and self-confidence. When a person fails to meet their impossibly high expectations, they may experience feelings of failure and low self-esteem, which in turn can increase anxiety levels. This lack of self-confidence can perpetuate the cycle of self-demand and anxiety, creating a constant feeling of dissatisfaction and emotional discomfort.
Physical health problems
In addition to the implications on the Mental health, self-demand and anxiety can also have consequences on a person's physical health. Chronic stress caused by the pressure to meet self-imposed standards can manifest as sleep problems, muscle aches, fatigue, and other physical disorders. Anxiety can also trigger physical symptoms such as tachycardia, breathing difficulties and gastrointestinal problems, affecting the person's general health.
Impact on interpersonal relationships
Self-demand and anxiety can also trigger They can affect a person's interpersonal relationships. Those people who are very self-demanding tend to bring that same demand to their relationships, which can generate conflicts and tensions with others. Anxiety can also hinder a person's ability to socialize and establish emotional bonds, as they may feel constantly worried about the judgment of others and about not meeting their expectations.
Addressing self-demand and anxiety
It is important to recognize the relationship between self-demand and anxiety in order to effectively address these problems and improve a person's mental health and well-being. Here are some strategies that can help manage self-demand and anxiety:
Psychological therapy
Psychological therapy, particularly cognitive-behavioral therapy, can be very useful in addressing both self-demand such as anxiety. A therapist can help the person identify and change irrational and self-demanding thought patterns, as well as develop skills to manage anxiety and stress more effectively.
Relaxation and mindfulness techniques
Practicing relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing, meditation and mindfulness, can help reduce anxiety and stress levels, as well as cultivate self-compassion and personal acceptance. These techniques can help the person be more understanding of themselves and reduce the excessive self-criticism that accompanies self-demand.
Set realistic expectations
It is important that the person learns to set expectations realistic and achievable for herself, instead of seeking absolute perfection in everything she does. Accepting that making mistakes is part of the learning and growth process can help reduce self-imposed pressure and improve self-esteem and self-confidence.
Conclusions
In summary, self-demand and anxiety are closely related and can influence each other in a negative way. Self-demand can trigger anxiety symptoms by setting unattainable standards, while anxiety can increase a person's self-demand by generating fear of failure and catastrophic thoughts. This relationship can have negative consequences for a person's mental health and well-being, affecting self-esteem, physical health, and interpersonal relationships.
Addressing self-demand and anxiety requires a comprehensive approach that includes psychological therapy. , relaxation and mindfulness techniques, as well as establishing realistic expectations. By learning to manage self-demand and anxiety in a healthy way, a person can improve their quality of life, reduce stress, and cultivate greater self-acceptance and self-compassion.