When faced with hard times, do you become “over-functioning” or “under-functioning”?
What do you do?
“When experiencing stress and anxiety, humans tend to cope by over-functioning or under-functioning.
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The over- and under- functioner enable each other,” the post reads.
Under-functioners, on the other hand, totally freeze.
Why are these categorizations so important?
“They are also more likely to be perfectionists and struggle to ask for help or set boundaries.
“Under-functioners avoid things as a stress response,” she says.
So, can falling into one of these two extreme categories exacerbate any current issues?
“It can absolutely worsen your stress and anxiety,” confirms White.
“For under-functioners, avoidance increases anxiety.
Over-functioners often feel resentful of others who are not contributing.
This can hurt their relationships.
“The bottom line here is more about awareness,” says Mass.
Sometimes, we fall into behavior patterns out of habit.
Try some new coping strategies on for size and see how they feel.
These are just experiments!
Ask yourself how you feel before, during, and after.”
