Dr Alexander Lapa (MBBS, PG Dip Clin Ed, OA Dip CBT, OA Dip Psychology, SCOPE Certified) – Clinical Psychiatrist at Nova Recovery considers the issue of status anxiety and how to tackle it.
Status Anxiety can be defined as insecurity concerning one’s perceived position within society. It typically involves an individual’s concerns that societally defined successes are either not being met, are hard to meet, or are becoming harder to meet.
The condition is quite often symbiotic with one’s job, but it can also be in other settings such as competitive sports or even social situations.
Why do we always want to be seen as prosperous or more successful than our peers?
We want to be seen as successful by our peers because we crave approval from them. Having a higher social status allows for greater influence, and increases the quality of life as well as wellbeing. Not to mention that status anxiety can negatively affect the physical and mental health of an individual.
The social aspect of fitting in and belonging also play a part in this. Often those who have status anxiety may feel a lack of belonging to a certain group or worthiness to be a part of it.
As humans, when we feel a sense of belonging, we have increased levels of happiness, and lower levels of anxiety and depression. This is backed by much research in the psychological field and is also the overlooked element of that when we succeed, our brain releases dopamine and testosterone. That will also be released when we succeed in conveying to our peers that we are successful.
Is there any group of people more susceptible to it?
Anyone can experience status anxiety. However, I would say that typically in areas when the divide between rich and poor is greater, that there is a greater chance of status anxiety.
Those with a higher propensity to suffer from mental health issues such as depression and anxiety are also more susceptible to it too. A lot of my clients have had a lot of success in their past, and due to various reasons have failed to keep up this level of success.
I would say in my experience that these people are at very high risk, I often find people in my clinic that have had tremendous success in life, turn to alcohol or other drugs as an escape from this status anxiety.
How do you deal with and conquer status anxiety?
There are many things that you can do to conquer status anxiety, but it all revolves around changing your own way of thinking. Of course, status anxiety isn’t all bad, for some, it can help us to succeed and aim for more, so remember that.
However, it’s important to remember that the particular status anxiety you feel is personal to you and that the image or feeling of your status is not necessarily felt with as much disdain by others.
Firstly, you need to remember that status is illusory and can change at any time. The societal ideals of status are constantly changing, but remember even the most successful in life may never fit into certain cliques.
You’ll also want to consider changing your perception of status. Remember that status is set by society but is society always right? Challenging the status quo can help you overcome status anxiety too as it can reveal that societal ideals do not necessarily match your own.
