How to deal with neuroticism

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We all have our faults and ways that we could work on our personal growth. One way that we can focus on personal growth is to become more in-touch with our personalities and become more aware of how our personality traits affect those around us.

Some psychologists believe that there are five big personality traits: extraversion, agreeableness, openness, conscientiousness, and neuroticism.

This article dives deeper into the personality trait of neuroticism and ways that you can help yourself feel less neurotic if it is something that you are struggling with.

What is neuroticism?

Neuroticism is characterized by emotional instability, mood swings, and sadness. People with high neuroticism often feel very stressed out, worried, and anxious. They get upset easily, experience dramatic mood swings, and struggle to regroup after a high stress trigger. They often feel sad and irritable.

People with low neuroticism often are emotionally stable and resilient. They don’t feel sad, anxious, or worried very often and tend to be relaxed.

Can you become less neurotic?

Whether you have a high-neurotic or low-neurotic personality, these traits tend to stick with us throughout our life. We cannot easily change our personalities. However, if you are highly neurotic, there are some tips and tricks you can use to help you feel more stable.

Positive self-talk

While the word “neuroticism” can have many negative connotations, having a highly neurotic personality is not necessarily a bad thing. You are not a bad person so practice acceptance and don’t be too hard on yourself.

People with high neuroticism are also susceptible to feelings of sadness, depression, and anxiety so they might think poorly of themselves. This can be a dangerous cycle of low mood and poor self-talk. Instead, practice positive self-talk and give yourself some grace.

Seek professional help

Speaking with your primary care doctor or a mental health professional can be a great move for anyone who wants to work on addressing negative thought patterns or other mental health issues. If appropriate, they might also be able to prescribe medication to help alleviate negative symptoms like depression or anxiety.

Exercise more

Exercise has many mental health benefits that can help you manage neuroticism. First, exercise releases chemicals in our brains like serotonin and endorphins. These chemicals help improve our mood. Getting outside and focusing on movement can also relieve stress and anxiety.

Eat a healthy diet

You are what you eat! And it turns out that eating a healthy diet can have a huge impact on our mental health. Supplying your brain with the nutrients it needs to thrive can help with brain health and function, and therefore better equip you to handle negative experiences throughout the day.

Foods that are high in processed sugar and caffeine can make us feel low energy, jittery, and anxious — worsening the effects of neuroticism — so these foods should be avoided.

Practice mindfulness meditation

Mindfulness meditations are soothing for the brain and can help us relax. They also help us feel our emotions and practice acceptance of our thoughts. Practicing a mindfulness meditation for just a few minutes each day can do wonders to help manage neuroticism.

Marie Miguel Biography

Marie Miguel has been a writing and research expert for nearly a decade, covering a variety of health- related topics. Currently, she is contributing to the expansion and growth of a free online mental health resource with BetterHelp.com. With an interest and dedication to addressing stigmas associated with mental health, she continues to specifically target subjects related to anxiety and depression.