Is anxiety contagious?
By miamilady
@miamilady (4910)
United States
September 4, 2009 12:08pm CST
Okay, I know that's it's not something you can "catch".
Not like a cold or the flu.
But do you think if you spend enough time around a person or people who are anxious, that it can rub off on you?
The good news, is that my son is doing MUCH better than a year ago.
He's not 100 percent better, but he's about 80 percent better.
He is going to school and staying in class.
He still needs me to reassure him that I am remaining in the area of his school during the day.
One thing that always seemed to increase his anxiety during his school day would be when it rained. Usually if it rains, the students don't change classes because this school has a number of portables.
When they don't change classes, it was contributing to his feeling of being "trapped". Well, so far, in the past few weeks it's rained a number of times.
He seems to be doing "okay" with it. Not "great", but okay. That works for me! At least it's an improvement.
Now it's my turn! I think it's going to be pretty short lived, but I've had a few "moments" over the past week.
The biggest moment was somewhat understandable. As the VP of the PTSA (I resigned as president because I felt another woman on the Board would be a bit more effective) I had to stand up and give a "report". This is only one of the few times that I've had to speak in front of a group of people. And this is the most talking that I've had to do since high school.
While I was speaking I became short of breath. I got through it, but it was definitely a little difficult.
Then yesterday, in the middle of a conversation with a parent, I felt myself becoming short of breath again. I think it was because I was talking about something that perhaps made me feel a little overwhelmed.
I'm juggling a lot of things right now, and sometimes it just becomes a bit too much.
Today after dropping off my children at school and doing some errands, I knew I needed to take a break, but it took me quite a while to be able to slow things down.
Maybe it's just natural to get the way sometimes, but it just made me wonder if how we react to stress is influenced by those around us.
What are your thoughts?
5 people like this
14 responses
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
11 Oct 09
I think it is definitely because I have found myself becoming
stressed if people around me were very uptight themselves/
but I know that if I pretend there is a big bubble around'me
that other's stresses cannot get through I can handle most
things without feeling Like I am trapped or going to pass
out from stress. I learned this in a diabetes seminar from
a diabetes nurse educator and it really does work.
@joygracia (1325)
• Philippines
18 Sep 09
yup.. its so contagious alright! Every time I see my people get so anxious and stuff I tend to become anxious myself.
@moneyandgc (3428)
• United States
5 Sep 09
I have suffered from anxiety for much of my life. My husband and I definitely "catch" one anothers anxiety. There have been many times that one or the other of his has been anxious and it seemed to rub off on the other. We realize that this happens though and really try hard to help quell the anxiety of the other person rather than to take it on ourselves.
@hotsummer (13837)
• Philippines
5 Sep 09
i think it depends who is the source of anxiety and the cause of anxiety. but i think that it can also be contagious. but it also depends on the personality of other around the person experiencing anxiety. if there are too much negativity and the person experiencing are good in expressing and convincing others of what he was anxious of that he can in a way influence and transfer that anxiety to other people. and so sometimes i make sure that i know the truth that there is nothing to be anxious of so that what ever negative or fear that the person is displaying that i will not absorb some of it.
@AndrewFreyne (6281)
• United Kingdom
5 Sep 09
I think that there's definitely some truth to this! When you are in the presence of someone who is very anxious or let's say that they have a negative frame of mind, then the other person can start to pick up those vibrations, the atmosphere becomes very tense! I that the energy thing has something to do with this as well. I think that we communicate energy whether it be good or bad towards other people. Andrew
@gracefuldove (1668)
• Malaysia
5 Sep 09
Anxiety pangs? It happens. If you are going to a thing for the first time, it will be there.It is only natural. Whether it is your case or your son's case,I would not be too worried about it. It will be a concern initially but soon he will get over it, rain and potholes too. As for you, breathlessness may be symptomatic of anxiety.However, since you speak very few times in public, it is not unusual to feel this way. All this fright will go away if you regularly do it. So it is a natural phenomena to be anxious. All first timers faced them. No great concern.
@cloudwatcher (6861)
• Australia
4 Sep 09
Anxiety, depression, bad moods, good moods, joy and laughter - yes, all moods and attitudes are contagious. Isn't it difficult to be blue when with a bubbly, enthusiastic person? Isn't even a smile contagious? I'm sure that being with a depressed person constantly would have a "rub-off" effect.
It's great to hear of the improvement in your son. You have evidently been a great support for him. Now it is time to look after yourself as well. Make sure you get some quality "ME" time. You will be no good to him if you don't hold up, so put yourself number one during times when he is occupied.
@DavidReedy (2378)
• United States
4 Sep 09
Yes, studies, and if I may suggest, common experience, do indicate that behaviours, and attitudes, are easily "transmitted" from one person to another--we are all influenced, to some degree, by the feelings of those around us, especialy the more aware of them we are on some level.
DR...
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
4 Sep 09
I am so glad that your son is doing better. I always dreaded the first day of school. i wold get a stomach ache just thinking about . but by the time I had made some good friends and I Knew what was expected , i was fine.I don' hink anxiety is contagious but a person can be real senstive to family and friends and begin to worry. A true anxiety attack is far worse than what you described. I think yo just have a little too much on your plate right now and your body is telling you to slow down. Try to relax this weekend. Are you going away or staying home? If you are staying home and you ned to talk , shoot me a private message, I will be online here and ther all weekend. take care.
@jillmalitz (5131)
• United States
4 Sep 09
I don't know if literally it is true, but I know that people can pick up moods from others.
@sid556 (30959)
• United States
5 Sep 09
HI there, Miamilady,
I do think that it is possible that being around an anxious person can possibly create anxiety in another. I mean when you think about it, isn't that the way it is with most moods? If I'm around someone in a bad mood, it won't take long before I feel my good mood fading. Likewise with a happy person. If I'm in a bad mood, sometimes just being around someone happy and positive will lift my spirits. I also know that some anxiety afflictions are inherited. I am what is known as Selective Mute. The most noticeable symptom is the inability to speak in certain places, settings or around certain people. It is really just like a panic attack. The whole body pretty much freezes up. One of my daughters got diagnosed with it as well. I'm older and have done things without meds to overcome my anxiety. My daughter is 23 now and has also come a long way with it. Best of luck to both you and your son.
@celticeagle (168126)
• Boise, Idaho
5 Sep 09
I think you can become anxiety ridden if you are around those that let that get to them. It is hard not to. I would be mortified to even think of speaking infront of a group of people. I take anxiety medicine. I think people you associate with certainly do have a very definite affect on you.
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
5 Sep 09
Hi miamilady! I think that you are definitely allowed to feel
a bit stressed! You are carrying around a great deal on your
plate! You are dealing with alot of issues, one being worrying
about your own son's stress which could definitely by contagious!
I do believe that anxiety is contagious! I have been with people
who have been anxious when I was calm and ended up after spending
time with them feeling all stressed out! One person was a close
friend of mine! Everytime I was around her I would feel the negative
vibes and anxiety and by the time I was with her for only a short
period of time I was a wreck! I am no longer friends with this
person, but that in itself is a very long story! But, I do believe
this is quite common to feel this kind of a feeling, but in your
case you just have too much going on all at once! You are doing
an unbelievable job and are a wonderful parent so don't ever doubt
it! Your kids are very lucky to have a Mom like you! Hugs, Opal
@dbabcook (388)
• United States
5 Sep 09
I don't know that I would use the term "contagious" along with the word anxiety. I don't think that it is contagious by any means but I do believe that it can carry over to another individual that is around you frequently. I have been around people who are suffering from major anxiety and have listened to them telling me what is causing them the anxiety when the next thing I know I am beginning to get the anxiety feelings. Kind of like when you are chatting with an individual who is from another state and carries an accent, most people after chatting with these individuals will catch themselves using some of the same slang and starting to hear that persons accent within their voices and speaking.
