Psychology: 5 phrases that help you recognize anxious people

Fear itself is not only natural, we even need it: It's a warning signal from our brain that potential danger is lurking. Our ancestors relied on this alarm function to react quickly if they encountered, for example, a saber-toothed tiger. In today's much more complex world, however, we need fear as a warning signal much less often—at least if we're fortunate enough to live in a safe country and a safe environment.

The problem: Our brains haven't really changed since the time of saber-toothed tigers and function almost the same as they did in prehistoric times. This leads, among other things, to us sometimes panicking, even when there's no real danger. People who suffer from anxiety disorders experience this particularly frequently. However, many are also quite good at hiding their fears. These five sentences can be subtle signs.

Anxious people are especially stressed when they don't know what to expect. Therefore, they want to know everything as precisely as possible. When does it start, what's the route like, what exactly will happen, who will be there, what's the parking situation like? These are all questions that people can ask out of fear. The more they know, the more control they have—at least, that's what their anxiety tries to tell them.

2. "We discussed it differently"

The same applies to the next sentence. Anxious people don't like spontaneous changes to plans at all. To control their anxiety, they like to have all the information they need and thus be able to prepare optimally—at least mentally. If there's a change for a party, a vacation, or another potentially stressful situation, it can trigger panic.

3. "I can't decide"

It's very typical for people with generalized anxiety disorder to have an incredibly difficult time making decisions. This can sometimes be stressful for those around them. However, this is usually not due to disinterest or anything similar, but rather a great fear of making the wrong decision. They therefore overthink every possible outcome of the upcoming decision and every eventuality, no matter how unlikely. This fear can become so great that the person feels paralyzed and is no longer able to make a decision at all.

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4. "I have to get out of here"

Situations with large crowds and large crowds can overwhelm anxious people. If they do try it, for example, and go to a festival they were in awe of with its noise and crowds, it's quite possible that they'll be overcome by a flight reflex as soon as it becomes too much for them. Instead of explaining what's going on, they leave the situation as quickly as possible: The "fight or flight" response in the brain is triggered – the fear leaves them with no choice but to flee.

5. "This is the worst thing that can happen"

People plagued by anxiety often have a tendency to catastrophize. Anxious people often assume the worst possible outcome. Objectively harmless situations like a delayed train or a dropped phone plunge them into panic. Even reassurances can't elevate them from their despair. Once someone is in catastrophic mode and the anxiety brain takes over, they often find it difficult to get out of it and lose an objective view of the situation.

mbl Brigitte

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