12 Irrational Beliefs That Make People Neurotic

"Neuroticism" is an emotional instability considered by psychologists to be a maladaptive type of behavior that lead to dysfunctional and non-productive ways of living. Individuals who score high in "neuroticism" are often emotionally reactive, are more likely to perceive commonplace events as threatening, get sick frequently, interpret minor challenges as utterly difficult, are often in a bad mood, and tend to lack rewarding interpersonal relationships.

The difficulties that "neurotic" people experience in managing their emotions frequently reduce their ability to make rational decisions and successfully deal with pressure and stress. Also, when they allow their issues to persist for long periods of time, their problems tend to get even worse.

Personal issues may arise out of numerous causes, but perhaps the only problem why people don't cope too well is that they don't realize they are being "neurotic". Sometimes the only thing one needs to do in order to find ways to solve one's problem is to become aware about one's own behavior and "beliefs".

Albert Ellis, an American psychologist who in 1955 developed Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), identified a number of "irrational beliefs" that people often hold on to and which cause and sustain their "neurotic" disorders.

According to Ellis, even if your experiences are relatively valid and have caused you real suffering, it is your "irrational beliefs" that generate enduring problems. The best solution is to disprove your "irrational beliefs" in order to regain your sense of worth and get the chance to recreate your own life.

Ellis often mentions twelve examples of false and irrational beliefs:

* It is a dire necessity for adults to be loved by significant others for almost everything they do.
* Certain acts are awful or wicked, and that people who perform such acts should be severely damned.
* It is horrible when things are not the way we like them to be.
* Human misery is invariably externally caused and is forced on us by outside people and events.
* If something is or may be dangerous or fearsome, we should be terribly upset and endlessly obsess about it.
* It is easier to avoid than to face life difficulties and self-responsibilities.
* We absolutely need something other or stronger or greater than ourselves on which to rely.
* We should be thoroughly competent, intelligent, and achieving in all possible respects.
* Because something once strongly affected our life, it should indefinitely affect it.
* We must have certain and perfect control over things.
* Human happiness can be achieved by inertia and inaction.
* We have virtually no control over our emotions and that we cannot help feeling disturbed about things.

Try contemplating on the above mentioned beliefs and determine if you are harboring any one of them. When you do find out that you are holding on to one or more of these beliefs, then perhaps you are suffering from neurosis. Ask yourself if you have any reason for holding on to such beliefs. Make a list of all the negative things these beliefs are causing you and all the positive things that might happen if you let go of them, and then use this list to convince yourself in changing your perspective in life.

References

* The Essence of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy, by Albert Ellis, Ph.D. Revised, May 1994.
* http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/ellis.html