Neuroticism is one of the main categories of personality, and everyone has some degree of neuroticism. However, this is different than suffering from a neurotic mental health illness. Those with a neurotic personality and individuals with a neurotic disorder may experience some of the same thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. The main difference is in the degree of intensity.
Those with the neurotic illness have more extreme reactions, such as anxiety, anger or panic attacks, when things aren’t working the way they prefer. These emotions and reactions can interfere with relationships and work responsibilities and have a negative impact on the person’s quality of life.
For example, we all know someone — or perhaps, we are that someone — who believes the dishwasher should be loaded a certain way. They may express frustration when someone doesn’t load it properly, but after that, they move on until it happens again. They don’t spend hours or days thinking about it, and they don’t get angry or upset to the point of damaging their relationships.
However, someone with a neurotic illness may experience so much anxiety that they can’t let anyone else load the dishwasher. If someone does load it incorrectly and runs it, they have to take the clean dishes out, reload them the “right” way and then rerun the dishwasher.
This an example of how intensity can be a deciding factor between a preference or quirk and an actual mental health issue. It’s very common in today’s world to hear statements like “I’m a little OCD.” However, these are gross generalizations of these types of disorders and how badly they can impact those suffering from true mental health issues.
The bottom line: If you feel that your thoughts and behaviors are keeping you from living the life you want — or if your loved ones have expressed concern — it’s a good idea to talk to a mental health care provider. A professional can help you identify what you’re going through and offer possible paths forward.