What Does It Mean to ‘Overfunction’?
“Normal” functioning can look like doing chores, abiding by a bedtime routine, doing work assignments and being timely, to name some examples. So, “overfunctioning” is doing more of that than is necessary or typical. “To overfunction is to fulfill emotional or practical responsibilities that are beyond what is appropriate or expected for a particular role or developmental level, especially to the point of experiencing negative physical or psychological consequences,” says Dr. Natalie Anderson, PhD, a clinical psychologist with MedStar Health.For example, children may take care of their younger siblings, manage household tasks or even provide emotional support to their parents.“We often see this in ‘parentified children,’ which is common in families where the primary parent or caregiver is not able to provide their full caregiving abilities due to mental health or other challenges, including substance use,” addsDr. Dylan Ross, PhD, an organizational psychologist and the Chief Clinical & Strategy Officer at PsychHub.Related: If You Always Feel Like the Family Peacekeeper, Psychologists Say You Might Have These 2 Main Traits
Unsplash
9 Traits of People Who ‘Overfunctioned’ in Childhood, According to Psychologists
Feeling like you’re responsible for everything—including things out of your control—is a common trait in these adults. They may “own” problems at work, for example, that aren’t theirs. This, in turn, affects their mental health.“We see this show up in ways such as chronic guilt, resentment, overapologizing or the person feeling like they have failed when something goes wrong, even though they did everything right,” Dr. Ross says. “This happens because, as children, they learned that everything depended on them and that any issue in the family was somehow their fault or their responsibility to fix.”
2. Anxious
Hypervigilance is an increased sense of awareness and alertness, and it’s another big indicator. “People who overfunctioned as children often have nervous systems that are constantly scanning their social environment for problems, causing it to be difficult for them to rest, relax and be present because they're always awaiting the next crisis,” Dr. Ross says.
4. They want to feel 'in control'
Setting and maintaining boundaries can be difficult for many of us. In adults who overfunctioned as kids, the main boundary concern is not knowing what their boundaries are. “When a child spends a large portion of their childhood focusing on other people’s needs, they don’t get enough practice in figuring out what they actually want, need or even how they feel,” Dr. Ross explains. “This can show up in adults as people-pleasing, challenges in setting boundaries with others or a sense of performing a role instead of living authentically.”
6. Emotional suppression
People who have codependent patterns typically feel like their worth and stability are deeply tied to other people—how they're doing, their feelings of worthiness and so on.“It is difficult for them to distinguish where they end and another person begins,” Dr. Ross describes. Additionally, this means they may struggle to maintain their own identity, and they may experience anxiety or emptiness when they don’t feel actively needed by another person.Related: How To Stop Being Codependent, According to a Trauma-Informed Therapist
8. Perfectionist
9. High-achieving
This trait builds on perfectionism and wanting to feel in control. “Those who have overfunctioned may be seeking a felt sense of being ‘good enough’ or completely prepared for any potential negative outcome, often leading to incredibly high standards and expectations of themselves,” Dr. Anderson says.Certain successes (such as social validation, awards, getting the highest grade and extra financial security) can provide that temporarily.Related: Adopting This One Simple Phrase Can Prevent 'High Achiever Burnout,' According to Career Experts
Related: If You Can’t Relax When Someone Is Upset With You, a Psychotherapist Says You Probably Possess These 9 Traits
Sources:
Dr. Natalie Anderson, PhD, is a clinical psychologist with MedStar Health.Dr. Dylan Ross, PhD, is an organizational psychologist and the chief clinical and strategy officer at PsychHub.The Busier the Better: Greater Busyness Is Associated With Better Cognition, Frontiers in Aging NeuroscienceHence then, the article about people who overfunctioned as children probably have these 9 traits as adults psychologists say was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( People Who 'Overfunctioned' as Children Probably Have These 9 Traits as Adults, Psychologists Say )
Also on site :