People Who Are Mentally & Emotionally On Edge Usually Have 9 Subtle Habits That Keep Them Stressed Out
Migma__Agency / ShutterstockIt doesn’t take much for stress to turn into a vicious cycle. Some people become hypervigilant and get stuck in fight-or-flight mode even when there’s nothing dangerous happening, leaving them feeling constantly on edge.
People who become mentally and emotionally tense often develop habits that don’t seem like a big deal but actually make life even harder and get them feeling more anxious than they already did.
When people are mentally and emotionally on edge, these subtle habits often keep them stressed out
1. They overthink every decision they need to make
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It’s good to not make impulsive choices, especially when they come with heavy consequences. People who aren’t in a good place mentally and emotionally tend to take this too far, though.
When someone spends too much time making a decision because they’re overwhelmed, it becomes analysis paralysis. This just makes them even more stressed, but they think they’re doing the right thing because they’re doing everything they can to make the perfect choice.
2. They isolate themselves from people who care
Everyone reacts to hard times differently. Some people will want to discuss what they’re facing in detail, while others will want to do whatever it takes to distract themselves. If their loved ones try to get them to handle it differently, withdrawing could feel like the safest option.
Social isolation just leads to more mental health problems over time, though, so even if it feels more comfortable at first, it won’t stay that way. No one should feel forced to talk about things they don’t want to, but they do need support.
3. They procrastinate basic chores
Unless someone is using procrastination strategically because they work best under pressure, it’s not going to lead to anything good. People put off chores that don’t need to be done right away because of stress, but they end up feeling even more stressed later on because of that.
It’s understandable that folding laundry would feel like less of a priority when someone is struggling, but it’s just going to literally continue to pile up. That will give them something even more overwhelming to deal with later.
4. They dwell on their mistakes too long
Some people can acknowledge they messed up without obsessing over it, but that’s harder to do when someone is extremely stressed. That will make them more susceptible to ruminating on the past, which will then make their mental health even worse.
No one can get out of a pit by burrowing into it even deeper, which is what makes this thought pattern so dangerous. It’s a cycle of negativity that is hard to break.
5. They don’t give themselves permission to rest
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A lot of people think the best way to cope with stress is to ignore it, or at least try to. We all know it’s easier to focus on what’s bothering us when we don’t have anything else to distract us, but some people react to this the wrong way by filling their time as much as they can.
Even if someone is getting enough sleep, they might not be getting enough of the other kinds of rest they need. It’s hard to slow down and accept that has to happen, but the alternative is complete burnout.
6. They stay up way too late
Sticking to a regular sleep schedule isn’t easy, but it’s vital for staying healthy. This gets really complicated when stress is involved, though.
Anxious thoughts can creep in really easily when someone is lying in bed trying to fall asleep, which can keep them up later. Or, they might stay up late watching TV or scrolling on their phone to avoid having those worries. Either way, continuing to push back the time they fall asleep isn’t good for them.
7. They don’t eat enough or eat too much
Feeling on edge impacts pretty much every aspect of a person’s life, including their eating habits. Some people have a decreased appetite in this situation, while others turn to overeating for comfort.
When someone is overwhelmed, they’ll probably feel like whichever extreme they’ve turned to is out of their control, which is a sign that professional support would be helpful.
8. They criticize themselves really harshly
It’s bad enough when someone is criticized by another person, but having their own mind get stuck on those same thoughts can be even more hurtful. People who feel like they don’t measure up are likely to turn to negative self-talk, but that’s obviously not going to help them feel any better.
Self-criticism is one of the best examples of a habit that happens on a loop. It starts when people are at a low point emotionally, and it just drags them even lower from there.
9. They scroll through social media for hours
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Screen time isn’t just a boundary that parents need to set for their children. People who spend too much time looking at screens can also have problems with things like memory and sleep.
A lot of people feel like scrolling through social media is a good way to distract themselves from whatever’s stressing them out. Even if it does numb the pain temporarily, spending too much time on screens, and especially on social media, is never a good coping mechanism.
Mary-Faith Martinez is a writer with a bachelor’s degree in English and Journalism who covers news, psychology, lifestyle, and human interest topics.
