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Anxiety disorders can be as diverse as the people they affect.How anxiety looksand feels for one person can be very different from the shape and form it takes for another. Part of the reason for these differences is that anxiety can be, in some ways, linked to individual personality.

For some people, anxiety is like a little pinch thatpropels them to do somethingthey have been avoiding; while for others, it is an overwhelming crush of terror. For many, the experience of anxiety falls somewhere in between these extremes.

The potential explanations for whatcauses generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)are also varied. While biological explanations usually take center stage, researchers are finding that how we experience anxiety might also be related to our learned style of dealing with our feelings and the world around us.

Here’s what you should know about how your personality might influence how you experience anxiety, as well as some tips for how to cope.

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Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

A person who has generalized anxiety disorder experiences worry that is persistent, excessive, and intrusive. Some people develop GAD during childhood while others don’t have symptoms until they are adults.Regardless of when it starts, people often experience GAD as a lifelong condition. It is also not unusual for it to co-occur with other mental health conditions, such asmood disorders.

Often,anxiety disorders(including GAD) can be managed with a combination of medication and psychotherapy. Certain lifestyle changes, coping skills, and relaxation techniques can also be useful for some people with GAD.

Symptoms

There are many possibleGAD symptoms. Some people will experience most of them while others will have just a few. Some of your anxiety symptoms might be mild and fairly easy for you to cope with, while others might be intense and even make it difficult for you to function in your day-to-day life.

Symptoms you might have if you have generalized anxiety include:

Anxiety is not “all in your head.” Many people also feel anxiety in their bodies. Some people have physical signs and symptoms of anxiety, such as:

Getting to Know The Physical Symptoms of Anxiety

Mental health conditions like anxiety are usually multifactorial—which means there is not just one cause, but typically many factors, that contribute. It’s believed that biological and genetic influences can have a strong influence on conditions like anxiety, but mental health professionals also tend to find that it is worth exploring how a person first learned to deal with the world to uncover additional contributing factors.

For example, if someone is taught (either directly or indirectly) that feelings of anxiety tend to encourage them to produce successful outcomes or that it is the “default” feeling to experience, then anxiety can easily become part of their disposition. It then will influence how they deal with work,relationships, and other aspects of their lives.

In this sense, anxiety can be thought of as apersonality traitor even a personality style. On the other hand, research has also indicated that having certain personality traits (including social inhibition, emotional instability, and introversion) can make it more likely that someone will develop an anxiety disorder.

Trait Anxiety vs. State Anxiety

Researchers sometimes use the terms “trait anxiety” and “state anxiety” when they are discussing the influence of personality on mental health. For example, a person who has trait anxiety might feel anxious more often and more intensely than people who do not. State anxiety, on the other hand, is when a person feels anxious about a specific situation that they are in—it is a temporary “state” of anxiety as opposed to the persistent trait of being anxious.

How Different Personality Types Handle Anxiety

Everyone, regardless of their underlyingpersonality type, experiences anxiety at one time or another. However, a person’s personality might influence how anxiety feels to them as well as how they deal with it.

While there are many variations ofpersonalityand no two people are exactly alike in how they experience and respond to the world, there are four personality categories that are often discussed. These types exist on a spectrum that most people can find themselves on somewhere—even if they’re somewhat “in the middle” rather than at one end or the other.

These are just a few broad examples of how certainpersonality traitsor dispositions might influence the way you experience anxiety as well as how you cope with it.

There are many more personality variations than type A or type B and introversion or extroversion, but these are four categories that are most people are familiar with and can provide an illustration of how personality can influence the experience of anxiety.

An Overview of Personality Psychology

Type A

People with a"type A" personalityare generally described as being high-achievers, competitive, organized, ambitious, and (at times) impatient and aggressive. Some psychological researchers use the term “neurotic” or “neuroticism” to describe the behaviors and tendencies of people with type A personalities.

People who are type A personalities are often described as “workaholics.” In some cases, being under pressure or stress is motivating for people with this personality type—though, at the same time, research has shown that this personality type is more likely to have job-related stress than other types, and might not be that satisfied with their work (even if they are succeeding or achieving).

When under stress, type A personalities might be more likely than other personality types to engage in self-defeating behaviors, such asprocrastinationor poor lifestyle habits. In a sense, when type A personalities become overwhelmed, they can “get in their own way” if their anxiety goes unchecked.

Research has found that type A personalities are more likely to develop stress-related illnesses than other types. This risk is believed to a direct consequence of their dominant emotions, behaviors, and coping mechanisms, which tend to raise the level of stress hormones in their bodies.

What It Means to Have Type A Personality Traits

Type B

At the opposite end of the spectrum from high-alert, high-stress, and hypervigilant type As are the laid-back, low-stress, and less competitive"type B" personalities. In almost every way type A’s opposite, type B personalities tend to carry on with their work and often succeed without being as strongly focused on achievement or “winning.“

Type Bs report less stress in all areas of their lives—not just at work—and tend to be more tolerant and patient with the people around them than type As. However, it’s not always rosy for type Bs. Some research has found that they are more likely to havesubstance use disordersthan type As.

Studies have also demonstrated that a core difference between type As and type Bs is how they define success—which, for many people, can be tied to anxious feelings. Likely because they are inherently more competitive, type A personalities tend to have higher criteria for defining what it means to succeed than type Bs.

As they work toward achievement, type As have been found to use strategies that let them internalize success while externalizing failure (in other words, placing the blame for the failure on an outside factor rather than seeing it as a reflection of themselves) more so than type Bs.

When under stress, type B personalities have also found to be more likely to take preventative steps or precautions compared to type A personalities.

Introversion vs. ExtroversionThe primary difference between introverts and extroverts comes down to a person’s preference for becoming energized.A person who is introverted needs time alone to “recharge” away from social activity, but this does not necessarily mean that they dislike being around others.Conversely, extroverts get their energy from being around others—though that does not mean that they never want to have time alone.

Introversion vs. Extroversion

The primary difference between introverts and extroverts comes down to a person’s preference for becoming energized.A person who is introverted needs time alone to “recharge” away from social activity, but this does not necessarily mean that they dislike being around others.Conversely, extroverts get their energy from being around others—though that does not mean that they never want to have time alone.

The primary difference between introverts and extroverts comes down to a person’s preference for becoming energized.

A person who is introverted needs time alone to “recharge” away from social activity, but this does not necessarily mean that they dislike being around others.

Conversely, extroverts get their energy from being around others—though that does not mean that they never want to have time alone.

Introverts

People who are introvertedtend to need time alone to process their experience of themselves and the world around them. When they are under a great deal of stress, being forced to be in a social setting can be extremely challenging and exhausting.

Introverts need to have time away from others to reflect, recharge, and potentially even reframe their feelings, perceptions, experiences, and thoughts. If they do not get this time (or don’t get enough of it), they are less likely to function optimally.

However, research has also indicated that introverted personalities often report that they oftenreach out to mental health professionalsor engage in healthy behaviors to relieve their stress, such as exercise.

Stress Management for Introverts

Extroverts

People who are extrovertedfind that being around others gives them energy. They find that engaging in social activity is essential to their experience of themselves, the world, and their relationships with the people around them.

If extroverts are isolated from others, it can be difficult for them to get what they need to process experiences and feelings. If they are under a great deal of stress, having too much time alone or not being able to reach out and be with others can make it much more difficult for them to function.

Research has found that extroverts tend to have an easier time relaxing than introverts. Several studies have hypothesized that the neural structure of an extrovert’s brain is “wired” to relax more quickly from a state of arousal than an introvert’s brain—which can be extremely helpful in times of stress.

Extroverts are also more likely to confront problems than introverts, and while this can certainly lead to conflict, addressing the source of stress can also be a healthy coping mechanism.

While personality can influence how stress feels to you as well as what methods of coping are effective, there are also other variables. Research has also found that sex, gender, age, intellect, experiences, and other elements of who are as an individual shape your stress response.For example, how likely you are to take risks, how comfortable you are with uncertainty, how open you are with new experiences (and how often you seek them out), and howconscientiousyou are toward others can also influence your response to anxiety.

While personality can influence how stress feels to you as well as what methods of coping are effective, there are also other variables. Research has also found that sex, gender, age, intellect, experiences, and other elements of who are as an individual shape your stress response.

For example, how likely you are to take risks, how comfortable you are with uncertainty, how open you are with new experiences (and how often you seek them out), and howconscientiousyou are toward others can also influence your response to anxiety.

How Your Personality Can Affect Your Health

When Anxiety Is Not Anxiety

If someone is having feelings that are uncomfortable or difficult to express, these emotions might also be transformed into anxiety. Many people struggle to absorb, process, express, and understand these feelings and honor their intent (to express dislike, ask for forgiveness, accept a loss, etc.). Instead, a person might become focused on (and anxious about) specific aspects of a situation (such as every detail of how an upcoming event might go).

In reality, being preoccupied and worried about the fine details of something that is causing someone anxiety is not as important as addressing their underlying feelings—however messy, difficult, and uncomfortable they might be.

Healthy Ways to Cope With Uncomfortable Feelings

What You Can Do

Then, you also need to figure out if certain aspects of your personality (including learned behaviors and poor coping mechanisms) are contributing to the confusion and whether or not these are things you can (and are ready to) work on.

Both of these goals are often part of thetreatment for GAD. If they resonate with you, it’s worth asking your healthcare provider or mental health professional about how you can address your anxiety.

There are different modalities of treatment for anxiety disorders, and some of them might appeal to you more than others. Developing an understanding of how certain aspects of your personality might be affecting your anxiety can help you choose a method to try. Discuss your unique traits, tendencies, and preferences with your provider as you consider different options for treating your anxiety.

If you or a loved one are struggling with generalized anxiety disorder, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

If you or a loved one are struggling with generalized anxiety disorder, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

The Best Online Therapy ProgramsWe’ve tried, tested and written unbiased reviews of the best online therapy programs including Talkspace, Betterhelp, and Regain.

19 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Golisano Children’s Hospital, University of Rochester Medical Center.Generalized Anxiety Disorder.National Institutes of Health.Generalized anxiety disorder.Jensen D, Kind AJ, et al.Intolerance of uncertainty and immediate decision-making in high-eisk situations.JEP. 2014;(5)2:178-190. doi:10.5127/jep.035113National Institute of Mental Health.Anxiety Disorders.University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.Generalized anxiety disorder.United States National Library of Medicine.Generalized anxiety disorder.Brandes M, Bienvenu OJ.Personality and anxiety disorders.Curr Psychiatry Rep.2006;8:263-269. doi:10.1007/s11920-006-0061-8Wilt J, Oehlberg K, Revelle W.Anxiety in personality.Personality and Individual Differences. 2011;50(7):987-993. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2010.11.014Leal PC, Goes TC, da Silva LCF, Teixeira-Silva F.Trait vs. state anxiety in different threatening situations.Trends in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy. 2017;39(3):147-157. doi:10.1590/2237-6089-2016-0044Suinn RM.Evidence for Anxiety Management Training. In:Anxiety Management Training. Springer Science & Business Media; 2013:80-86.Janisse M, Yerama C, Yeh E, Moser C, Dyck D.Type A Behavior and the Processing of Causal Attributions of Success and Failure. In: Spielberger C, ed.Stress And Anxiety. Taylor & Francis; 2014.Feuerstein M, Labbe E, Kuczmierczyk A.Coronary Heart Disease. In:Health Psychology. New York: Springer Science & Business Media; 2013:323-361.Rhodewalt F, Vohs KD.Defensive Strategies, Motivation, and the Self: A Self-Regulatory Process View.In Elliot AJ, Dweck CS (Eds.),Handbook of Competence and Motivation(p. 548–565). Guilford Publications: 2005.Korotkov D, Perunovic M, Claybourn M, Fraser I, Houlihan M, Macdonald M.The type B behavior pattern as a moderating variable of the relationship between stressor chronicity and health behavior.J Health Psychol. 2011;16(3):397-409. doi:10.1177/1359105310380082Joyce D.Clinical Applications of Temperament Assessment. In:Essentials of Temperament Assessment. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons; 2010:123.Sharma HK.Stress and relaxation in relation to personality.SAGE Open. 2011;1(2). doi:10.1177/2158244011418533Carver CS, Connor-Smith J.Personality and coping.Annu Rev Psychol. 2010;61(1):679-704. doi:10.1146/annurev.psych.093008.100352Sehlmeyer C, Dannlowski U, Schöning S, Kugel H, Pyka M, Plfiederer B.Neural correlates of trait anxiety in fear extinction.Psychol Med. 2011;41(4):789-798. doi:10.1017/S0033291710001248American Psychiatric Association.What Are Anxiety Disorders?.Additional ReadingKotov R, Gamez W, Schmidt F, Watson D.Linking “big” personality traits to anxiety, depressive, and substance use disorders: A meta-analysis.Psychological Bulletin. 2010;136(5):768-821. doi:10.1037/a0020327Lewis GJ, Bates TC, Posthuma D, Polderman TJC.Core dimensions of personality broadly account for the link from perceived social support to symptoms of depression and anxiety.J Pers. 2014;82(4):329-339. doi:10.1111/jopy.12064

19 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Golisano Children’s Hospital, University of Rochester Medical Center.Generalized Anxiety Disorder.National Institutes of Health.Generalized anxiety disorder.Jensen D, Kind AJ, et al.Intolerance of uncertainty and immediate decision-making in high-eisk situations.JEP. 2014;(5)2:178-190. doi:10.5127/jep.035113National Institute of Mental Health.Anxiety Disorders.University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.Generalized anxiety disorder.United States National Library of Medicine.Generalized anxiety disorder.Brandes M, Bienvenu OJ.Personality and anxiety disorders.Curr Psychiatry Rep.2006;8:263-269. doi:10.1007/s11920-006-0061-8Wilt J, Oehlberg K, Revelle W.Anxiety in personality.Personality and Individual Differences. 2011;50(7):987-993. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2010.11.014Leal PC, Goes TC, da Silva LCF, Teixeira-Silva F.Trait vs. state anxiety in different threatening situations.Trends in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy. 2017;39(3):147-157. doi:10.1590/2237-6089-2016-0044Suinn RM.Evidence for Anxiety Management Training. In:Anxiety Management Training. Springer Science & Business Media; 2013:80-86.Janisse M, Yerama C, Yeh E, Moser C, Dyck D.Type A Behavior and the Processing of Causal Attributions of Success and Failure. In: Spielberger C, ed.Stress And Anxiety. Taylor & Francis; 2014.Feuerstein M, Labbe E, Kuczmierczyk A.Coronary Heart Disease. In:Health Psychology. New York: Springer Science & Business Media; 2013:323-361.Rhodewalt F, Vohs KD.Defensive Strategies, Motivation, and the Self: A Self-Regulatory Process View.In Elliot AJ, Dweck CS (Eds.),Handbook of Competence and Motivation(p. 548–565). Guilford Publications: 2005.Korotkov D, Perunovic M, Claybourn M, Fraser I, Houlihan M, Macdonald M.The type B behavior pattern as a moderating variable of the relationship between stressor chronicity and health behavior.J Health Psychol. 2011;16(3):397-409. doi:10.1177/1359105310380082Joyce D.Clinical Applications of Temperament Assessment. In:Essentials of Temperament Assessment. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons; 2010:123.Sharma HK.Stress and relaxation in relation to personality.SAGE Open. 2011;1(2). doi:10.1177/2158244011418533Carver CS, Connor-Smith J.Personality and coping.Annu Rev Psychol. 2010;61(1):679-704. doi:10.1146/annurev.psych.093008.100352Sehlmeyer C, Dannlowski U, Schöning S, Kugel H, Pyka M, Plfiederer B.Neural correlates of trait anxiety in fear extinction.Psychol Med. 2011;41(4):789-798. doi:10.1017/S0033291710001248American Psychiatric Association.What Are Anxiety Disorders?.Additional ReadingKotov R, Gamez W, Schmidt F, Watson D.Linking “big” personality traits to anxiety, depressive, and substance use disorders: A meta-analysis.Psychological Bulletin. 2010;136(5):768-821. doi:10.1037/a0020327Lewis GJ, Bates TC, Posthuma D, Polderman TJC.Core dimensions of personality broadly account for the link from perceived social support to symptoms of depression and anxiety.J Pers. 2014;82(4):329-339. doi:10.1111/jopy.12064

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Golisano Children’s Hospital, University of Rochester Medical Center.Generalized Anxiety Disorder.National Institutes of Health.Generalized anxiety disorder.Jensen D, Kind AJ, et al.Intolerance of uncertainty and immediate decision-making in high-eisk situations.JEP. 2014;(5)2:178-190. doi:10.5127/jep.035113National Institute of Mental Health.Anxiety Disorders.University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.Generalized anxiety disorder.United States National Library of Medicine.Generalized anxiety disorder.Brandes M, Bienvenu OJ.Personality and anxiety disorders.Curr Psychiatry Rep.2006;8:263-269. doi:10.1007/s11920-006-0061-8Wilt J, Oehlberg K, Revelle W.Anxiety in personality.Personality and Individual Differences. 2011;50(7):987-993. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2010.11.014Leal PC, Goes TC, da Silva LCF, Teixeira-Silva F.Trait vs. state anxiety in different threatening situations.Trends in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy. 2017;39(3):147-157. doi:10.1590/2237-6089-2016-0044Suinn RM.Evidence for Anxiety Management Training. In:Anxiety Management Training. Springer Science & Business Media; 2013:80-86.Janisse M, Yerama C, Yeh E, Moser C, Dyck D.Type A Behavior and the Processing of Causal Attributions of Success and Failure. In: Spielberger C, ed.Stress And Anxiety. Taylor & Francis; 2014.Feuerstein M, Labbe E, Kuczmierczyk A.Coronary Heart Disease. In:Health Psychology. New York: Springer Science & Business Media; 2013:323-361.Rhodewalt F, Vohs KD.Defensive Strategies, Motivation, and the Self: A Self-Regulatory Process View.In Elliot AJ, Dweck CS (Eds.),Handbook of Competence and Motivation(p. 548–565). Guilford Publications: 2005.Korotkov D, Perunovic M, Claybourn M, Fraser I, Houlihan M, Macdonald M.The type B behavior pattern as a moderating variable of the relationship between stressor chronicity and health behavior.J Health Psychol. 2011;16(3):397-409. doi:10.1177/1359105310380082Joyce D.Clinical Applications of Temperament Assessment. In:Essentials of Temperament Assessment. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons; 2010:123.Sharma HK.Stress and relaxation in relation to personality.SAGE Open. 2011;1(2). doi:10.1177/2158244011418533Carver CS, Connor-Smith J.Personality and coping.Annu Rev Psychol. 2010;61(1):679-704. doi:10.1146/annurev.psych.093008.100352Sehlmeyer C, Dannlowski U, Schöning S, Kugel H, Pyka M, Plfiederer B.Neural correlates of trait anxiety in fear extinction.Psychol Med. 2011;41(4):789-798. doi:10.1017/S0033291710001248American Psychiatric Association.What Are Anxiety Disorders?.

Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Golisano Children’s Hospital, University of Rochester Medical Center.Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

National Institutes of Health.Generalized anxiety disorder.

Jensen D, Kind AJ, et al.Intolerance of uncertainty and immediate decision-making in high-eisk situations.JEP. 2014;(5)2:178-190. doi:10.5127/jep.035113

National Institute of Mental Health.Anxiety Disorders.

University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.Generalized anxiety disorder.

United States National Library of Medicine.Generalized anxiety disorder.

Brandes M, Bienvenu OJ.Personality and anxiety disorders.Curr Psychiatry Rep.2006;8:263-269. doi:10.1007/s11920-006-0061-8

Wilt J, Oehlberg K, Revelle W.Anxiety in personality.Personality and Individual Differences. 2011;50(7):987-993. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2010.11.014

Leal PC, Goes TC, da Silva LCF, Teixeira-Silva F.Trait vs. state anxiety in different threatening situations.Trends in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy. 2017;39(3):147-157. doi:10.1590/2237-6089-2016-0044

Suinn RM.Evidence for Anxiety Management Training. In:Anxiety Management Training. Springer Science & Business Media; 2013:80-86.

Janisse M, Yerama C, Yeh E, Moser C, Dyck D.Type A Behavior and the Processing of Causal Attributions of Success and Failure. In: Spielberger C, ed.Stress And Anxiety. Taylor & Francis; 2014.

Feuerstein M, Labbe E, Kuczmierczyk A.Coronary Heart Disease. In:Health Psychology. New York: Springer Science & Business Media; 2013:323-361.

Rhodewalt F, Vohs KD.Defensive Strategies, Motivation, and the Self: A Self-Regulatory Process View.In Elliot AJ, Dweck CS (Eds.),Handbook of Competence and Motivation(p. 548–565). Guilford Publications: 2005.

Korotkov D, Perunovic M, Claybourn M, Fraser I, Houlihan M, Macdonald M.The type B behavior pattern as a moderating variable of the relationship between stressor chronicity and health behavior.J Health Psychol. 2011;16(3):397-409. doi:10.1177/1359105310380082

Joyce D.Clinical Applications of Temperament Assessment. In:Essentials of Temperament Assessment. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons; 2010:123.

Sharma HK.Stress and relaxation in relation to personality.SAGE Open. 2011;1(2). doi:10.1177/2158244011418533

Carver CS, Connor-Smith J.Personality and coping.Annu Rev Psychol. 2010;61(1):679-704. doi:10.1146/annurev.psych.093008.100352

Sehlmeyer C, Dannlowski U, Schöning S, Kugel H, Pyka M, Plfiederer B.Neural correlates of trait anxiety in fear extinction.Psychol Med. 2011;41(4):789-798. doi:10.1017/S0033291710001248

American Psychiatric Association.What Are Anxiety Disorders?.

Kotov R, Gamez W, Schmidt F, Watson D.Linking “big” personality traits to anxiety, depressive, and substance use disorders: A meta-analysis.Psychological Bulletin. 2010;136(5):768-821. doi:10.1037/a0020327Lewis GJ, Bates TC, Posthuma D, Polderman TJC.Core dimensions of personality broadly account for the link from perceived social support to symptoms of depression and anxiety.J Pers. 2014;82(4):329-339. doi:10.1111/jopy.12064

Kotov R, Gamez W, Schmidt F, Watson D.Linking “big” personality traits to anxiety, depressive, and substance use disorders: A meta-analysis.Psychological Bulletin. 2010;136(5):768-821. doi:10.1037/a0020327

Lewis GJ, Bates TC, Posthuma D, Polderman TJC.Core dimensions of personality broadly account for the link from perceived social support to symptoms of depression and anxiety.J Pers. 2014;82(4):329-339. doi:10.1111/jopy.12064

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