What is neurotic behavior?

It is an automatic and exaggerated response to minor problems, stemming from a deep-seated anxiety. It can be divided into a rigid, hereditary personality trait or the result of psychological disorders that require diagnosis, such as depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder, without detachment from reality. Although this behavior is associated with negative effects like smoking and eating disorders, a balanced dose of it may stimulate practical excellence or adherence to a healthy lifestyle. To mitigate its negative aspects, experts recommend exercising, reducing caffeine intake, journaling thoughts, and consulting a physician. The roots of this concept date back to the 17th century, when it was used to describe irrational reactions. Although the American Psychiatric Association removed it from its diagnostic manual in 1980 to standardize criteria, its symptoms are now classified under anxiety disorders. It represents the boundary between normal, temporary anxiety linked to life’s responsibilities and persistent, obsessive anxiety that dominates and impairs the mind.

Source: WebMD