Ana Isabel Marin Jodar: "Anxiety in the family environment is very common".

Ana Isabel Marin Jodar talks to us about the management of anxiety and other negative emotions.

Anxiety is a relatively common factor in the day-to-day life of any person, to a greater or lesser extent.However, in most of the occasions it is not a problem.

However... how to react when it becomes an element of psychological wear and tear? We speak about it with Ana Isabel Marin Jodar.

Ana Isabel Marin Jodar: the regulation of anxiety and negative emotions.

Ana Isabel Marin Jodar is a coach specialized in anxiety problems, and works in Barcelona. In this interview she talks about the management of anxiety and negative emotions.

Is there a way to distinguish the moment when negative emotions go from being a normal part of everyday life to being a psychological problem?

We all have, to a greater or lesser extent, negative emotions that we have to deal with on a daily basis. It is true that the more you know yourself, the easier it will be for you to get to know these negative emotions and therefore ask for help from a professional.

I am going to describe several situations, so that it is easy to detect when these emotions start to be problematic and can affect our daily life. You have emotions or moods that go from 0 to 100 in seconds, and you find it impossible to control anger. After this internal storm you feel bad about yourself because you have not been able to manage your emotions assertively.

You are unable to communicate and express what you think and feel. Most of the time you don't dare to say "no" for an answer, even though it's what you really want. This can lead to feelings of frustration and sadness.

What aspects of the work context can provoke more anxiety problems?

Nowadays, anxiety at work is a common occurrence. We spend at least eight hours at our workplace and this can lead to situations that cause us stress, such as: not getting along with a colleague, feeling pressure from the boss, feeling of not getting to do what you are asked to do, not feeling recognized or valued, not adjusted salary/hours of work ratio, or too much workload.

As a consequence of these situations, work anxiety appears, which can limit us on many occasions and affect productivity, motivation and mood, blocking our ability to work.

And in terms of family life, what elements of living together often lead to excessive anxiety?

Anxiety in the family environment is very common, the person who suffers from it is usually always the one who carries more responsibilities.

For this reason to enjoy a home in harmony and free of tension, it is important to distribute the household chores and that each member of the family unit has assigned one or more responsibilities. This will make it easier to reduce disputes and enjoy a good atmosphere.

Good communication, empathy, collaboration and the establishment of limits are also necessary.

How are rumination and anxiety related?

Rumination is the situation in which a person concentrates on negative repetitive thoughts that cause anxiety and stress.

The first step to break this circle is to observe our mind to be aware of what kinds of thoughts are repeating themselves, so we can break this thought pattern.

What recommendations would you give to people suffering from anxiety, beyond going to therapy?

One of my recommendations is that first of all we have to accept all our emotions, including those we like the least, acceptance makes us allow them to flow and not stay stuck in the form of sadness, anger, etc ....

It is important to reserve at least half an hour a day to dedicate it to ourselves by practicing a hobby that connects us with our essence.

What are the strategies that you use the most to offer help with anxiety and excess of negative emotions?

The strategies used in consultation is to know first of all what is causing the anxiety or emotional discomfort, when we identify the problem we go deeper to heal and forgive.

When the person decides to take the step to go to therapy, is when he/she is really committed with him/herself to make the change that his/her life really needs.

It is very satisfying to see the change in the person, how he/she manages to perceive his/her life from another, healthier point of view.