<p>Neuroticism can lead to hostility:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.academia.edu/download/41438138/Neuroticism_and_agreeableness_differenti20160122-10012-16dfc06.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Egan &amp; Lewis (2011): &quot;Neuroticism and agreeableness differentiate emotional and narcissistic expressions of aggression&quot;</a></li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
<p>A key finding in this study is the influence of N on a variety of
distress types; Suls and Martin (2005) have observed the ‘neurotic
cascade’ produced by N. Hyper-reactivity, differential exposure to
negative events because of the environments high-N persons select and
create for themselves, differential appraisal for events (e.g.,
perceiving experiences as more troubling than they really are),
negative emotional transfer, and problems changing maladaptive ways of
coping with distress and challenges <strong>all combine to upset a high-N
person, which may make them hostile</strong>. However, high N does not drive
outwardly directed narcissistic aggression.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>However, I am not clear about the difference between anxiety and neuroticism, as well as between hostility and aggression.</p>
<h2>References</h2>
<p>Egan, V., &amp; Lewis, M. (2011). Neuroticism and agreeableness differentiate emotional and narcissistic expressions of aggression. <em>Personality and Individual Differences, 50</em>(6), 845-850. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2011.01.007" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2011.01.007</a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-03-04T09:55:21.307Z
Thanks for the link. While your link is interesting, it doesn't really answer my question - please see my question with more emphasis on what I am actually asking
Chris Rogers
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-03-04T10:07:28.200Z
@ChrisRogers understood
Starckman
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-03-02T11:17:33.423Z
2021-03-12T08:00:27.870Z
2021-03-12T08:00:27.870Z
Starckman
<p>I know that anxiety leads to high blood pressure due to elevations of adrenaline.</p>
<p>It also can also increase cortisol levels which as <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/stress/art-20046037" rel="nofollow noreferrer">the Mayo Clinic points out</a>:</p>
<ul>
<li>curbs functions that would be nonessential or detrimental in a fight-or-flight situation</li>
<li>alters immune system responses</li>
<li>increases sugars (glucose) in the bloodstream and</li>
<li>suppresses the digestive system, the reproductive system and growth processes.</li>
</ul>
<p>According to Jayne Leonard in Medical News Today (<a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/327212" rel="nofollow noreferrer">2019</a>):</p>
<blockquote>
<p>having long-term high blood pressure — which doctors refer to as hypertension — can cause people to feel anxious about their health and future.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>And, while interestingly she points out that:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>some medications for anxiety can increase blood pressure</p>
</blockquote>
<p>I am not talking about fears about health after being diagnosed with high blood pressure due to <a href="https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/atherosclerosis/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">arterial atherosclerosis</a> for example.</p>
<p><strong>What I am referring to is the possibility of stress/anxiety being caused by the high blood pressure</strong>, maybe creating an elevation of adrenaline or cortisol through some kind of neural connection with the heart and blood supply.</p>
<p>Is this possible?</p>
<p>Anxiety can lead to <a href="https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/controlling-anger/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">aggression</a> and/or other behaviours — as an example (as @starckman pointed out in the comments) there is a study by Kouchaki &amp; Desai (<a href="https://doi.org/10.1037/a0037796" rel="nofollow noreferrer">2015</a>) that showed a link between anxiety and unethical behavior in the workplace — and <strong>I was wondering if high blood pressure not caused by mental health problems could lead to those mental health problems and possibly elevate the blood pressure problems in a vicious cycle</strong>.</p>
<h2>References</h2>
<p>Kouchaki, M., &amp; Desai, S. D. (2015). Anxious, threatened, and also unethical: How anxiety makes individuals feel threatened and commit unethical acts. <em>Journal of Applied Psychology, 100</em>(2), 360–375. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1037/a0037796" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://doi.org/10.1037/a0037796</a></p>
<p>Leonard, J. (2019). What is the link between anxiety and high blood pressure? <em>Medical News Today</em> <a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/327212" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/327212</a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-03-02T10:22:14.847Z
In the link for "aggression", I didn't find the statement that "Anxiety can lead to aggression", although I am very curious to know the link between the two. Thanks for your question btw
Starckman
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-03-02T10:34:34.477Z
I can see what you mean @starckman - it is not mentioned in the strict sense - but it does elude to it when saying *"Support is also available if you're finding it hard to cope with stress, anxiety or depression"*. I will try and find a more direct link to it
Chris Rogers
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-03-02T10:38:56.100Z
There is a study that showed a link between anxiety and unethical behavior in the workplace (https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2Fa0037796)
Starckman
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-08-04T15:25:39.747Z
Maybe you should refer to experts/ literature in somatopsychic medicine.
drabsv
<neurophysiology><anxiety>
High blood pressure can lead to anxiety?
Chris Rogers
# High blood pressure can lead to anxiety?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-03-02)

I know that anxiety leads to high blood pressure due to elevations of adrenaline.

It also can also increase cortisol levels which as [the Mayo Clinic points out](https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/stress/art-20046037):

* curbs functions that would be nonessential or detrimental in a fight-or-flight situation
* alters immune system responses
* increases sugars (glucose) in the bloodstream and
* suppresses the digestive system, the reproductive system and growth processes.

According to Jayne Leonard in Medical News Today ([2019](https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/327212)):

> having long-term high blood pressure — which doctors refer to as hypertension — can cause people to feel anxious about their health and future.

And, while interestingly she points out that:

> some medications for anxiety can increase blood pressure

I am not talking about fears about health after being diagnosed with high blood pressure due to [arterial atherosclerosis](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/atherosclerosis/) for example.

**What I am referring to is the possibility of stress/anxiety being caused by the high blood pressure**, maybe creating an elevation of adrenaline or cortisol through some kind of neural connection with the heart and blood supply.

Is this possible?

Anxiety can lead to [aggression](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/controlling-anger/) and/or other behaviours — as an example (as @starckman pointed out in the comments) there is a study by Kouchaki & Desai ([2015](https://doi.org/10.1037/a0037796)) that showed a link between anxiety and unethical behavior in the workplace — and **I was wondering if high blood pressure not caused by mental health problems could lead to those mental health problems and possibly elevate the blood pressure problems in a vicious cycle**.

## References

Kouchaki, M., & Desai, S. D. (2015). Anxious, threatened, and also unethical: How anxiety makes individuals feel threatened and commit unethical acts. *Journal of Applied Psychology, 100*(2), 360–375. <https://doi.org/10.1037/a0037796>

Leonard, J. (2019). What is the link between anxiety and high blood pressure? *Medical News Today* <https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/327212>

**Tags:** neurophysiology, anxiety

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: In the link for "aggression", I didn't find the statement that "Anxiety can lead to aggression", although I am very curious to know the link between the two. Thanks for your question btw  
> **username_0**: I can see what you mean @starckman - it is not mentioned in the strict sense - but it does elude to it when saying *"Support is also available if you're finding it hard to cope with stress, anxiety or depression"*. I will try and find a more direct link to it  
> **username_1**: There is a study that showed a link between anxiety and unethical behavior in the workplace (https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2Fa0037796)  
> **username_2**: Maybe you should refer to experts/ literature in somatopsychic medicine.  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2021-03-02. Score: 1

Neuroticism can lead to hostility:

* [Egan & Lewis (2011): "Neuroticism and agreeableness differentiate emotional and narcissistic expressions of aggression"](https://www.academia.edu/download/41438138/Neuroticism_and_agreeableness_differenti20160122-10012-16dfc06.pdf)

> A key finding in this study is the influence of N on a variety of
> distress types; Suls and Martin (2005) have observed the ‘neurotic
> cascade’ produced by N. Hyper-reactivity, differential exposure to
> negative events because of the environments high-N persons select and
> create for themselves, differential appraisal for events (e.g.,
> perceiving experiences as more troubling than they really are),
> negative emotional transfer, and problems changing maladaptive ways of
> coping with distress and challenges **all combine to upset a high-N
> person, which may make them hostile**. However, high N does not drive
> outwardly directed narcissistic aggression.

However, I am not clear about the difference between anxiety and neuroticism, as well as between hostility and aggression.

## References

Egan, V., & Lewis, M. (2011). Neuroticism and agreeableness differentiate emotional and narcissistic expressions of aggression. *Personality and Individual Differences, 50*(6), 845-850. <https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2011.01.007>

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thanks for the link. While your link is interesting, it doesn't really answer my question - please see my question with more emphasis on what I am actually asking  
> **username_1**: @ChrisRogers understood  

---

