The term apprehension is used to indicate a very high fear of contracting a disease, of being hurt, or fear of certain aspects that, from the person’s perspective, seem repugnant. In this case, it becomes synonymous with anxiety due to repulsion or fear of suffering some harm.
Apprehensive people are usually characterized by having an obsession with cleanliness and fleeing from everything that they think may infect or harm them, which can have serious repercussions. In this Psychology-Online article, we will see What is it to be apprehensive and how to stop being it. We will show you what the consequences of being apprehensive are and some tips to overcome this fear.
What is it to be apprehensive?
Apprehension is a term of philosophical origin adopted by Kant to describe the act with which sensible multiplicity is synthesized in the pure forms of space and time. In psychology, however, some speak of apprehension For indicate an immediate evaluation of objects or events that have characteristics of simplicity and place it between perception and understanding.
What is behind an apprehensive person? Let’s look at the signs that characterize apprehensive people:
- fear continually that something could happen bad.
- Excessive worry: The quality of life of people who are constantly worried about relationships can be seriously harmed.
- Anxiety about the disruption they live with: it can seriously compromise your well-being, both in the private sphere and in social and work exchanges.
When apprehension exceeds what may commonly be considered normal concern, becomes dysfunctional, and, therefore, in an obvious sign of a , generally of a . For example, it is understandable for a parent to worry that their 5-year-old child will fall off their bicycle and get hurt while going downhill at full speed, but it is not so obvious that it is understandable to prohibit the child from going out to play. or express this same type of apprehension towards an adult child.
Differences between apprehension and anxiety
Being apprehensive often becomes synonymous with anxiety. Specifically, the Apprehension is a solid anxiety, fruit of a calculation and a clear vision of the situation, aware of what can go wrong. Even so, apprehension is a much more rational dimension than anxiety, which is generally the fear of something that is not current.
For example, what is it to be squeamish about people? It can be a mother worried about her daughter’s night out, as well as questions asked to a friend who is going through a difficult love situation or giving urgent and alarmed advice. As we see, in apprehension is the clear projection of the probability of damage and the pressing concern that arises of it.
Consequences of being apprehensive
When the anxiety underlying dysfunctional suspicion, caused by apprehension, becomes excessive, it is difficult to control. Next, we will see the main consequences of being apprehensive:
- Interferes with work and social activities of the person.
- Concern in dysfunctional relationships.
- The person often becomes invasive and toxic, even with close people.
- The apprehension can appear without a precise reason which can be related to areas such as the future, economic issues or the health of friends and family.
- May lead to physical and cognitive symptoms: keeps the person in a state of psychophysical stress and alertness.
- Intrusive thoughts about fear of death own and/or others, fear of diseases, catastrophes or financial crises. In this article, we tell you.
These mental scenarios occur even in the absence of a real problem or amplifying what may be a real difficulty. Often, apprehensive people need continued reassurance, so they are unintentionally demanding and controlling towards friends and family in an attempt to prevent any unforeseen incidents that may occur to them.
How to stop being apprehensive
Now that you know the harsh consequences of being an apprehensive person, let’s look at some tips that answer the question how to stop being apprehensive:
Choose a time to worry
Worry is like a goldfish that becomes as big as the pool it swims in. Therefore, it limits the amount of time you spend worrying: This way, worries will not take up your entire day. Set a specific time of 30 minutes, maybe after lunch or after dinner, and call it your “worry time.” The only time you should avoid is right before bed.
When the worries have passed the designated time, ask yourself: Can I do something about it right now? For example, if you start to worry that you haven’t paid your credit card statement, move on and pay him; But if you start to worry that you’re going to die alone, there’s nothing you can do right now, and that’s why you reject it! In this article, we tell you more about the.
Bring it back to your worry time. It is likely that when that moment comes, you will have forgotten everything that was bothering you, or at least, the thought will have lost urgency. What if he comes back again? Go ahead and worry for a few minutes. The reason for worry time is not to suppress anxieties and not have them anymore. The meaning is contain worry so that it does not contaminate your life.
Experiment with confident and decisive action
What to do to stop being apprehensive? We all have that friend who can handle it all, but even that friend can have some problems, just anxiety isn’t one of them. So when you’re tired of feeling anxious, ask yourself what that friend would have done and try doing it yourself. At first it will seem bad, but the benefit is in experiencing non-anxious behaviors that force you to try a more flexible way of thinking and acting.
Focus directly on the worst that could happen
If you’re wondering how to stop being apprehensive, one method is to apply “what if” to your worries. Next, you will see we tell you what to do to stop being apprehensive with this method:
- Really Imagine the Worst Scenario: You paint anything you’re afraid of in great detail, as if it were the worst scene in your own horror movie. You’ll know you’ve found the right image if you just think about it.
- Once found, keep it in your mind and stay for 5 minutes with the shitty emotions it brings. Set a timer so you’re not tempted to throw in the towel.
- The next day, rinse and repeat: Do it until it gets boring. As scary as this exercise may be at first, it will only make you anxious the first few times.
- Eventually, one of two things will happen: your brain You will realize that the total disaster you imagined in your mind could never happen or will get bored with repetition that never comes to fruition.
Psychologists call this imaginary exposure practice and it can be done best with the help of a qualified professional.
This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
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Bibliography
- Rubano, C. (2021). Apprensione nelle relazioni, i rischi. Retrieved from: https://www.crescita-personale.it/articoli/crescita-personale/ansia/apprensione-nelle-relazioni-rischi.html