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3 Main Types of Anxiety-Related Procrastination

December 6, 2013 Anthony D'Aconti

It's safe to say I've been a procrastinator for as long as I can remember. Before I learned about anxiety disorders, I always thought the single greatest driving factor behind procrastination was laziness. After discovering the truth about anxiety and procrastination, I now see the deeper meaning behind putting things off.

Anxiety and Procrastination: Types and Causes

There are three main types of anxiety-related procrastination. Each one brings added insight into the underlying causes behind your tendencies to postpone tasks for another time:

  1. Fear of failure
  2. Fear of success
  3. Perfectionism

In this video blog post, I dig deeper into the ways the three main types of anxiety related procrastination manifest in the mind. Perhaps you will find that your desire to put things off relates to a lot more than simply being lazy.

You can also find Anthony D'Aconti on Google+, Facebook, Twitter
and his website, Breathe Into the Bag.

APA Reference
D'Aconti, A. (2013, December 6). 3 Main Types of Anxiety-Related Procrastination, HealthyPlace. Retrieved on 2024, March 28 from https://www.healthyplace.com/blogs/anxiety-schmanxiety/2013/12/3-main-types-of-anxiety-related-procrastination



Author: Anthony D'Aconti

Zuzana
August, 28 2015 at 10:49 am

Hello,
Thank you for your blog. I think my husband needs to listen to it. He is a highly intelligent man, who procrastinate and it is killing him, me our marriage.
He is aware of it and I think your blog will help him realize he needs to do something about it.
Regards,
Zuzana

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

August, 28 2015 at 11:00 am

Hello Zuzana,
Anthony is no longer writing for HealthyPlace so is unable to respond to comments. At HealthyPlace, we strive to provide helpful information that people can use in their daily lives and in their relationships. I'm so glad that this was helpful and something that just might be good for your husband!

dj
July, 11 2016 at 4:04 am

Hello, I know from a previous comment that Anthony is no longer writing posts. I was just wondering if anyone had any advice for me? I procrastinate really bad to the point where I have failed a few of my college classes. I always plan to do the work but never seem to get around to it. I work, recently got married, and have school. I will allow myself to put things off because I feel horrible telling my husband or friends or family that I can`t spend time with them because I have homework, especially since I am always working. I tell myself I will do it after I get back. By the time I get back I am tired and feel that if I actually do my work it will not be my best work. The more I procrastinate the more I feel overwhelmed and I begin to avoid it. If the work becomes late I will become so scared to see the fail mark I will avoid logging into my online classroom. I have bipolar disorder and with that anxiety and want to know if this could be playing a factor on why I am having such a problem putting my foot down and getting my stuff done. Is there any advice anyone might have on overcoming my bad procrastination habits?

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

July, 11 2016 at 1:53 pm

Hello dj,
It is impossible to make any type of diagnosis or recommendation in this format/setting, so the following is merely an idea that you might want to look into. Have you ever thought about the possibility of ADHD? The things you mention sound like some of the aspects of ADHD. That said, the symptoms of ADHD can occur in the context of both bipolar and anxiety disorders. When that's the case, a separate diagnosis of ADHD isn't made. The diagnosis isn't actually what's important. What might be worthwhile to look into is strategies for managing ADHD. Whether or not you have the actual disorder, the management strategies could help you with procrastination. Simple Google, library, and bookstore searches will give you a lot of information. HealthyPlace also has a wealth of ADHD information (you can go to www.healthyplace.com and find it in the Communities tab, or Google "ADHD healthyplace". (I'd just give you links, but I'm unable to grab links right now.) The key is to search for techniques that will help you. You just might find some that you love!

Dr Musli Ferati
July, 16 2016 at 12:10 am

After this excellent observation on procrastination, I can repeat the economic icon: the most great risk is to haven't any risk. Indeed, the habit to procrastinate any new initiative and opportunity indicates the main factor of our dissatisfaction and emotional turmoil. In addition, the worst consequence of avoidance and reticent stand-point is our own personal and professional insufficiency with irreparable outcomes for our ongoing fate and career. It is welknown fact that some thing and issue require the exact time and place, because they didn't come again anymore. So it ought to be prepare and ready to accept without any doubt the new possibility that offer any person or any suiting circumstance. Derisive attitude to daily probabilities impede us from our global live development. Simply, it is better to accept and doing something than doing, even we fail to make it right. At least this bad experience should be good and due life. Passive and immobile lifestyling ruins and impairs our personal potentials and as repercussion we become more anxious and more miserable, as well. These and many others benefits of our personal daring to undertake new and daily likeness lets be our habits to go ahead. Otherwise, we should be in status quo with boring feeling toward oneself, toward others and toward the future. This triad is cardinal symptom of depression with fatal outcomes for our biopsychosocial welfare.

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