"Stress contagion—the tendency to absorb others' stress, anxiety, and tension—is a form of this human propensity," said Dr. Manly. And the more empathetic you are, the more susceptible you may be. The idea of stress and anxiety being contagious has been suggested in research.
Shaking legs, moving around, rolling things over in your hands, etc – are all the signs that a person uses to hide their anxious side.
Observing someone who is stressed — especially a coworker or family member — can have an immediate effect upon our own nervous systems. A separate group of researchers found that 26% of people showed elevated levels of cortisol just by observing someone who was stressed.
It's true—stress from others can affect your own stress levels, and have an impact on your health. A 2009 study published in the Public Library of Science found that when people are stressed they release a chemical that can be inhaled by those around them, causing these people to become more anxious, as well.
feeling tense, nervous or unable to relax. having a sense of dread, or fearing the worst. feeling like the world is speeding up or slowing down. feeling like other people can see you're anxious and are looking at you.
However, people with anxiety disorders frequently have intense, excessive and persistent worry and fear about everyday situations. Often, anxiety disorders involve repeated episodes of sudden feelings of intense anxiety and fear or terror that reach a peak within minutes (panic attacks).
If an anxious friend decides to confide in you, show you support them. Validate, rather than minimize, their experience. If you don't have an anxiety disorder, avoid offering advice without listening to your friend. Tell them you're there for them, ask how you can help and listen to what they have to say.
Telling people about your diagnosis
Whether or not you tell someone about your mental illness is completely your choice. You don't have to tell everyone you know (or anyone at all, for that matter), especially if you don't feel comfortable talking about it.
Thought behaviors are extremely common with anxiety, including things like: Negative self-talk (i.e. "I am going to embarrass myself.") Feeling as though you are going crazy. Convincing yourself something is wrong with you.
Research has indicated that individuals with high emotional reactivity (high neuroticism) and introverted tendencies (low extroversion) are more likely to experience anxiety than other personality types [101].
To show your partner you accept their anxiety, you need to encourage them to open up about it. Try to listen without judging, becoming defensive or taking their anxiety personally. Provide reassurance and have empathy towards the situation.
INFP and INFJ: The Overthinkers
We start off with INFPs and INFJs: two Introverted personalities that often experience bouts of anxiety. When it comes to these types, their anxiety can stem from an inclination to overthinking.
Are you always waiting for disaster to strike or excessively worried about things such as health, money, family, work, or school? If so, you may have a type of anxiety disorder called generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). GAD can make daily life feel like a constant state of worry, fear, and dread.
Adults ages 30 to 44 have the highest rate of anxiety of this age group, with around 23% of people this age reporting an anxiety disorder within the past year.
Illness anxiety disorder (hypochondria) is extremely rare. It affects about 0.1% of Americans. It typically appears during early adulthood. Illness anxiety disorder can affect all ages and genders.
Dating someone with anxiety can feel very overwhelming and stressful, especially once your partner's behavior shifts. They may start to shut down, pull away, and behave in a passive-aggressive manner, or they may become more controlling, angry, or overly critical.