Not everyone can boast of a strong nervous system now. The rhythm of human life is constantly accelerating, and this leads to the fact that people sleep less and work more. Information, emotional overload and stress become constant companions both at home and at work. Even the most restrained people break down, because the accumulated irritability finds a way out sooner or later. Frequent stimulants of nervous breakdowns are family conflicts and difficulties at work.
Definition of the concept of "neuroses and neurotic states"
The World He alth Organization has released statistics showing that 400 million people are experiencing some form of mental illness. According to the same organization, neurosis and neurotic conditions are considered the most common disorder.
The state of neurosis isfunctional disorder of the psyche, which is characterized by reversibility, provoked by prolonged or acute traumatic factors of the external or internal environment. A neurotic syndrome in a person is expressed in a state of dissatisfaction and psychological distress.
Characteristics of neurosis
Human neuroses, like any other disorder, have their own characteristics and properties.
Firstly, the source of neurosis is psychogenic. Secondly, the disorder is reversible in time. Thirdly, the form of the course of the disease is protracted. Fourth, neuroses and neurotic states do not lead to progressive personality changes. Fifth, the patient is adequate and critical of his condition.
The concept of neurosis in the Western and domestic scientific world
Domestic scientists have developed a classification and identified three basic elements. So these types of neuroses are: obsessive-compulsive disorder, neurasthenia and hysteria. Soviet psychiatrists in the 70-80s of the twentieth century added to the presented typology such a neurotic syndrome as neurotic depression.
Western scientists also include fear neuroses, hypochondria, anxiety and neurotic phobia to this disorder.
Neurotic states in children are also not so rare. The child inherits some character traits and habits of the mother or father, which have destructive tendencies. Inadequate educational measures (too strict ortoo kind parents, indulging their children, lack or excess of love).
In adults, neurotic reactions can appear as a result of a serious illness, prolonged stress, loss of a loved one, problems in personal or family life, extreme use of physical and mental resources without a corresponding break. Alcohol in large doses and the use of drugs also contribute to the development of neurosis.
Symptoms of neurosis
Interesting is the fact that the patient for many years may not recognize the symptoms of neurosis as pathological patterns of his body. And only when he becomes ill, he will turn to a specialist. What's the matter? The answer is simple: after all, people are accustomed to perceive fatigue, inexplicable anxiety as something normal, and not as a neurosis. Patients' feedback on their condition gives us a picture of this disorder. If the listed symptoms begin to interfere with life more and more, the person understands that, probably, something is wrong with him. Also, the neurotic will have an unstable mood. Vulnerability, indecision, resentment, poor resistance to stress - all this tells us about the disease.
The most important characteristic that determines the essence of a neurotic disorder is the contradictions in the human value system, which give rise to the absence of a specific worldview, fluctuations in desires and aspirations, an unstable attitude towards oneself and the world around.
Specific mental illnesses often become companions of neuroses(obsessions, compulsions, binge eating, bulimia, anorexia, depression).
Three main types of neuroses
Types of neuroses identified by Soviet scientists, we will consider in more detail. Let's start with the first kind.
Neurasthenia (asthenic neurosis)
This disorder is characterized by the following asthenic manifestations:
- High levels of mental and physical fatigue.
- Distraction.
- Lack of ability to focus.
- Poor performance.
- Increased need for rest to help recuperate.
It should be noted that a high level of mental exhaustion and hyperesthesia (high excitability) are also present in neurasthenia. Neurasthenics cannot restrain their emotions, they are rather quick-tempered, they are characterized by constant internal tension. Little things that a person simply did not notice before are now very annoying and cause a storm of emotional reactions that can end in tears.
Headache, sleep disturbance and various psychosomatic disorders of the systems are signs of such a disease as asthenic neurosis. Symptoms and treatment will be assessed by a specialist and will help the person recover.
Obsessional neurosis
The clinical picture of this neurosis are numerous "obsessions". Neuroses and neurotic conditions in this category include such various phobias: agoraphobia, social phobia, fear of disease, claustrophobia, etc.
The presented disorder tends to be protracted when compared with other types of neuroses. In the case of conservation of symptoms, that is, when new symptoms do not appear, the patient adapts to the phobia and tries to avoid situations where fear can manifest itself. It turns out that the disease does not change the way of life of a person much.
Hysteria
The disorder has motor and sensory impairments, and also manifests itself in problems of autonomic functions that mimic anatomical and physiological disorders (conversion).
Motor disorders include hysterical paralysis and paresis, tics, tremors, and various other voluntary movements. It turns out that a person can be both immobilized and move arbitrarily.
Sensory disorders include the occurrence of anesthesia, excessive sensitivity (hypersthesia) and hysterical pain (headache that squeezes the temples).
Anorexia nervosa, enuresis and stuttering are also neurosis. Symptoms and treatment are determined by a doctor who specializes in human psychology.
Causes of a neurotic state
The cause of any neurosis is a conflict that can come from both the internal and external environment or from both at the same time. Conflicts provoked by the external environment are conflicts of interpersonal relations and the confrontation of a person with the outside world. In order for the situation to be resolved, sometimes it is enough just to change the situation, which will bring more psychological comfort than the previous one. But if a person also has an intrapersonalconflict, then a change of atmosphere is a temporary and short-lived measure.
The second type of conflict - internal - often proceeds latently and may not be realized at all by a person, but this does not mean at all that its destructive influence will be less, on the contrary, even stronger. This happens because the individual acts under the influence of conflicting desires and aspirations.
An internal conflict situation arises when the children's attitudes laid down by the parents begin to conflict with reality, the needs and desires of the individual. Each person who has a neurosis is characterized by his own individual picture of conflicts and contradictions.
Prevention and treatment
In order to get rid of a neurotic condition, doctors recommend making changes to your lifestyle. For example, a person can spend more time walking, exercising, stop drinking alcohol, eat fast food. A new environment, for example, new cities, countries, travels, has a beneficial effect on the nervous system. Scientists say that people who have hobbies feel much better than those who are not fond of anything.
There are times when, in moments of excitement and anxiety, a person washes dishes, windows, floors, cleans, that is, does something, thus releasing internal energy. Yoga and autogenic training help maintain mental he alth.
Doctors advise to take more walks in the park, forest areas, work in the garden, because greencolor has a positive effect on the nervous system of a patient with neurosis. Green shades calm a person, eliminate irritability, help to disappear fatigue, insomnia and establish spiritual harmony. In psychiatric clinics, green is used in the treatment of hysterical patients.
Also, in specialized institutions for the treatment of neurosis, doctors use various diets, vitamins, physical activity, nootropic drugs, antidepressants and tranquilizers. There is also psychological help. Psychologists and psychotherapists work with patients, conducting individual consultations and trainings. The psychotherapist must create such conditions that will contribute to the development of a new attitude in the patient.
Conclusion
Drug treatment of neurotic disorders is not highly effective. Taking drugs, a person can suffer from the disease for several years or even decades. The danger of such treatment lies in the possibility of dependence on tranquilizers or other drugs. Therefore, psychotherapy is a mandatory element of treatment.
Physicians can use both short-term techniques to relieve the intensity of the symptom, and long-term psychotherapy, which will help determine the source of the neurosis and resolve the conflict. A person in the process of work personally grows and develops new patterns of behavior. Such therapy can last for two to three years. It depends on the complexity of the individual story.patient.
Life with a person who has developed a neurotic condition can be very difficult, and sometimes simply impossible. The neurotic is very demanding. All your attention and love should belong only to him. If you reduce the concentration of love and care, then the reaction in the form of resentment will be immediate. He begins to find fault and thereby discourages the partner's love and desire to take care of him.
Such a person constantly whines and complains to people around him, talks about his fears and burdens close and dear people, without realizing it. People generally do not understand such complaints, because before them is a he althy-looking person, and he says that everything is bad. But this is just the tip of the iceberg. In fact, the neurotic suffers greatly and experiences his condition. In this regard, it is better not to delay, but immediately contact a specialist and undergo a course of psychotherapy, understand yourself, your thoughts, desires. Only man himself can help himself.
