How anxiety can cause disturbances in relationships?

Physical fitness is often emphasized upon. Weight loss remains on the minds of people forever and it is a topic of endless discussions among people but beyond the importance of physical fitness, mental well being is often ignored.

People fail to take note of the symptoms of a mental disorder or these are ignored as a part of normal human nature while the condition arising out of acute anxiety continues to take a toll on people’s relationships.

As a result, those battling anxiety disorders are further saddled with relationship issues to handle. This further exacerbates the ailment as relationship problems further build on the existing anxiety related issues. In fact, anxiety troubles relationships along multiple lines. Here are the ways in which this happens.

1. Lack of patience

Anxiety affects a person’s mental state to an extent that thoughts and the resultant actions go beyond one’s control. One seeks to do things or find solutions immediately. This is not always possible in our busy schedules. Professionals and even students find it difficult to spare time for near and dear ones. Patience is the key in sustaining such relationships.

Impatience on the part of a person suffering from an anxiety disorder puts strain on a relationship and makes it increasingly difficult to maintain status quo. Harmony gives way to discord in such situations.

2. A general sense of insecurity

Anxiety gives rise to suspicion and lack of self confidence. A person suffering from an anxiety disorder gets upset and anxious without getting to the root of the problem. This gives rise to a situation where the simplest of issues get blown out of proportion. Relationships need to be nurtured and undue stress certainly changes the nature of relationships for the worse.

3. Difficulty in accepting time constraints

Our busy lives allow us little time for people. We try to make up for it through interaction on social networks and texting or chatting as and when possible. Discussing issues at length is not feasible when deadlines for work come into play.

Understanding is thus sought in relationships. Anxiety disorders make it difficult for people to take these genuine reasons into consideration and acrimony follows.

4. An abnormal need for reassurance

Anxiety makes worrying a second nature of a person. One needs people around all the time to assure them of their presence in one’s life. A person refuses to acknowledge factors that can impinge on one’s time thereby not allowing near and dear ones to be around every moment.

Our busy lives do not allow us such a luxury. People feel burdened by such expectations and ultimately look for escape routes.

5. Irritability

Excessive worrying in the form of anxiety disorders takes away a general sense of mental well being and peace making the person irritable and snappy. In such a situation it is easy for a small issue to take the form of a bitter war of words. Unless one is ready to understand, it can be quite difficult to reverse the damage done.

6. Disproportionate reactions

Overreaction to situations or issues comes from the fact that a general sense of insecurity coupled with temper issues takes over the normal personality of a person. One gives reactions in the heat of the moment without sparking a thought to the effect it can have on relationships.

The person at the receiving end, oblivious to the fact that the other person is suffering from a mental disorder that needs treatment, may not always be willing to accept, forgive and forget.

7. An urge to look for quick fix solutions at the expense of relationships

Anxiety makes people vulnerable to stress and a general feeling of having been hurt. This gives rise to a desire to limit the pain by resorting to solutions that can only be termed as knee jerk reactions. Such people prefer to sever relationships rather than getting hurt under the burden of their own expectations and eventually turn reclusive.

8. Anger issues

Anxiety gives shape to anger through undue expectations and a feeling of having been betrayed when those expectations are not met. A short-tempered reaction to situations becomes more a norm than an exception. It is difficult for relationships to remain cordial under the strain of regular arguments unless one is fortunate to have people around who sense something abnormal and extend a helping hand.

9. Dependence on people beyond what is considered normal

Worrisome and insecure people battling anxiety are prone to seeking solace in the company of near and dear ones. This may not always be possible to accommodate. In fact, the ever demanding and clingy nature is bound to get on people’s nerves prompting a reaction, arguments and discord.

As a person suffering from an anxiety disorder is bound to get upset at the smallest of issues, it can be quite difficult to avoid any problems in relationships.

10. Unreasonable expectations

Relationships are sustained only when people understand and accommodate easily. There are times when it is not possible to meet others’ expectations as multiple factors come into play. This is where understanding is important. Anxiety can make all attempts at looking through someone else’s point of view go for a toss. Not all relationships can survive the burden of undue expectations.

11. Inability to see reason

This again comes from insecurity and lack of understanding. Suspicion too enters the fray. It becomes impossible for a person to separate truth from one’s believes stemming out of insecurity. This has the potential to harm relationships to an extent that there is virtually nothing that can be done to revive them as the same issues are likely to crop up again in the future.

Anxiety and relationship issues form a cause and effect cycle of their own. This is because anxiety can lead to relationship issues and the opposite is also true. When problems in relationships go out of hand, these give rise to depression and anxiety. Support of family members and friends is necessary for a person to recover from anxiety related disorders.

If the symptoms are ignored and relationships bear the brunt of the disorder, then the person suffering from anxiety finds it even more difficult to cope with it.

About the author: Alia Haley is a blogger by profession. She loves writing on technology and autos. Beside this she is fond of cars and fancy accessories. Recently an article on Anxiety attracted her attention. These days she is busy in writing an article on smartphone like health assistant.