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Anxiety and high risk behaviour - A paradox.

I have noticed that all my friends who have been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder seem to engage in paradoxically risky behaviour.

Prime example my ex. He was crippled by anxiety and existential dread. He'd obsess about climate change, the end of the world, money, status, society, politics, cancer and death. He could barely function sometimes due to panic attacks. Super neurotic and obsessive over little things.

Yet he would also travel to dangerous places for fun, antagonise crazy people on purpose, break the law, take literally any drug offered to him by anyone, have risky sex, drive drunk, drive too fast, drive on ice etc.

He was afraid all the time but not remotely afraid of things that were actually dangerous. This is also true of a lot of other people I know with anxiety.

When I've asked they claim not to have a death wish. They genuinely don't see these things as potential risks.

by Anonymousreply 4December 9, 2022 3:10 PM

He sounds like he could have had some mental illness. Extreme risk taking behavior with the low self esteem. Hope he’s doing okay.

by Anonymousreply 1December 9, 2022 1:17 AM

He sounds bipolar

by Anonymousreply 2December 9, 2022 1:53 AM

None of those, so you know. My anxiety disorder makes me very cautious, actually.

by Anonymousreply 3December 9, 2022 2:57 PM

I've known several people with OCD who developed irrational phobias and restructured parts of their lives because of those fears while still engaging in riskier practices in other area of their lives. Even though it was odd on the surface, it was normal from the standpoint that we tend to pursue whatever makes us most comfortable.

by Anonymousreply 4December 9, 2022 3:10 PM
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