<p>It is hard to argue that anxiety makes you more "selfish". Your definition of "extreme periods anxiety" is rather vague and hard to operationalize, same goes for selfishness in this context. The article you cited is not based on scientific literature but much rather a personal look on anxiety and selfishness. Therefore it is in no way conclusive evidence. </p>

<p>Anxiety is a natural body response to certain dangers. When anxiety becomes abnormal it can  be diagnosed as an Anxiety disorder (see DSM V for criteria for certain anxiety disorders). There has been a lot of research on General Anxiety Disorder (one of the anxiety disorders) and the worry-process. However, too my knowledge there are hardly any studies that describe individuals become more selfish. Like I said, this is also definition question. Certainly people with anxiety worry more and are more focused on the thoughts in their head. However, as far as I know there is no convincing evidence that people with strong anxiety do not care about others except for themselves. On the contrary some people with Anxiety disorders excessively call their loved ones to make sure that they are alright.</p>

<p>Further reading: Butcher, Hooley and Mineka, Abnormal Psychology 16th Edition, Chapter 6.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-08-17T06:56:40.773Z
I am confused. Where did you reference Butcher, Hooley and Mineka please?
Chris Rogers
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-08-17T12:58:57.050Z
I based my entire explaination on the information in Chapter 6 of Butcher, Hooley and Mineka. I am sorry if I am using references incorrectly. Perhaps you could inform me about the correct usage or refer to the place where I can find the usage of references.
Halls of Justice
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-08-17T13:20:22.583Z
Not a big issue.  Just that normally I personally would think a reference refers to a point of reference in a question or answer.  (Citing using author and year in brackets with full reference info. at the bottom).  Just as a suggestion I would say *”Further reading”* when the whole answer is covered in one piece of text. +1 now that’s clarified :-)
Chris Rogers
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-08-17T13:28:02.233Z
For an idea of how we **prefer** references to be provided (but not rigidly - as long as it is close it's fine), take a look at [this meta post](https://psychology.meta.stackexchange.com/q/8).
Chris Rogers
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-08-17T13:29:06.467Z
Thanks very much for you reply and the information you provided. So basically APA style is fine! I will take a look at the page you mentioned :)
Halls of Justice
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-08-17T13:31:21.363Z
Yes.  APA is the preferred style (or close to it with author and year at the beginning) some styles have author and/or year near the end which can be hard to follow
Chris Rogers
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-08-17T13:45:46.920Z
Ah okay, then I will stick to APA as much as I can! Thank!
Halls of Justice
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-08-16T11:50:54.290Z
2019-08-17T13:17:34.447Z
2019-08-17T13:17:34.447Z
Halls of Justice
<p>Does an individual going through a period of extreme anxiety, show increased levels of selfishness during that period ? </p>

<p>When this period ends, does the individual returns back to normal levels of selfishness ?</p>

<p>The following extract is from this  <a href="https://medium.com/invisible-illness/anxiety-makes-you-selfish-f0488589bfd0" rel="nofollow noreferrer">article</a>, which describes the personal experience of a person with anxiety/depression.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>When we’re anxious, we become lost in our own thoughts, waging a
  battle so distracting in its intensity that it makes it nearly
  impossible to notice the outside world. It’s not that we don’t care,
  but rather that we’re so distracted by our discomfort that it is only
  with great effort that we’re able to look out and truly see others.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>This somehow verifies my intuition, that extreme anxiety increases selfshiness. There is so much anxiety related activity in the head, that other aspects like other people, are neglected.</p>

<p>This is just a personal report though, I need more solid research data.</p>

<personality><anxiety>
Does selfishness increase in periods of extreme anxiety
DesignerAnalyst
# Does selfishness increase in periods of extreme anxiety

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-08-08)

Does an individual going through a period of extreme anxiety, show increased levels of selfishness during that period ?

When this period ends, does the individual returns back to normal levels of selfishness ?

The following extract is from this [article](https://medium.com/invisible-illness/anxiety-makes-you-selfish-f0488589bfd0), which describes the personal experience of a person with anxiety/depression.

> When we’re anxious, we become lost in our own thoughts, waging a
> battle so distracting in its intensity that it makes it nearly
> impossible to notice the outside world. It’s not that we don’t care,
> but rather that we’re so distracted by our discomfort that it is only
> with great effort that we’re able to look out and truly see others.

This somehow verifies my intuition, that extreme anxiety increases selfshiness. There is so much anxiety related activity in the head, that other aspects like other people, are neglected.

This is just a personal report though, I need more solid research data.

**Tags:** personality, anxiety


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2019-08-16. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

It is hard to argue that anxiety makes you more "selfish". Your definition of "extreme periods anxiety" is rather vague and hard to operationalize, same goes for selfishness in this context. The article you cited is not based on scientific literature but much rather a personal look on anxiety and selfishness. Therefore it is in no way conclusive evidence.

Anxiety is a natural body response to certain dangers. When anxiety becomes abnormal it can be diagnosed as an Anxiety disorder (see DSM V for criteria for certain anxiety disorders). There has been a lot of research on General Anxiety Disorder (one of the anxiety disorders) and the worry-process. However, too my knowledge there are hardly any studies that describe individuals become more selfish. Like I said, this is also definition question. Certainly people with anxiety worry more and are more focused on the thoughts in their head. However, as far as I know there is no convincing evidence that people with strong anxiety do not care about others except for themselves. On the contrary some people with Anxiety disorders excessively call their loved ones to make sure that they are alright.

Further reading: Butcher, Hooley and Mineka, Abnormal Psychology 16th Edition, Chapter 6.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: I am confused. Where did you reference Butcher, Hooley and Mineka please?  
> **username_1**: I based my entire explaination on the information in Chapter 6 of Butcher, Hooley and Mineka. I am sorry if I am using references incorrectly. Perhaps you could inform me about the correct usage or refer to the place where I can find the usage of references.  
> **username_2**: Not a big issue.  Just that normally I personally would think a reference refers to a point of reference in a question or answer.  (Citing using author and year in brackets with full reference info. at the bottom).  Just as a suggestion I would say *”Further reading”* when the whole answer is covered in one piece of text. +1 now that’s clarified :-)  
> **username_2**: For an idea of how we **prefer** references to be provided (but not rigidly - as long as it is close it's fine), take a look at [this meta post](https://psychology.meta.stackexchange.com/q/8).  
> **username_1**: Thanks very much for you reply and the information you provided. So basically APA style is fine! I will take a look at the page you mentioned :)  
> **username_2**: Yes.  APA is the preferred style (or close to it with author and year at the beginning) some styles have author and/or year near the end which can be hard to follow  
> **username_1**: Ah okay, then I will stick to APA as much as I can! Thank!  

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