19 Habits that Chronically Unhappy People Have

Chronically unhappy people are the way they are because of their negative outlook on life and self-destructive habits. What are some of the most common habits displayed by these kinds of people? You’ll find 19 of them in this article. 

Overthinking

Photo Credit: Marcos Mesa Sam Wordley/Shutterstock.

People become very unhappy when they begin to overthink everything. They analyze everything they say and the way they say it. They try to read into everything that other people say. All of this overthinking is unhealthy, and consequently, the person finds it hard to relax when engaging in normal conversations. 

Perfectionism

Photo Credit: nimito/Shutterstock.

Another habit that makes people unhappy is perfectionism—that is, expecting too much from yourself and trying to do everything right. “Perfectionism becomes the culprit that prevents us from trying new things, which can lead to procrastination that can cause anxiety as well as severe negative self talk,” says Forbes.

Being Doubtful

Photo Credit: hotoroyalty/Shutterstock.

A person who is chronically unhappy is likely to be very doubtful. They don’t trust the things that other people say and do and try to look for ulterior motives in everything. They find it hard to trust even those who are closest to them, such as friends and family. 

Judging Others

Photo Credit: eldar nurkovic/Shutterstock.

Judging others is a trait that makes us sad because it pushes us to concentrate on people’s shortcomings and the things they’ve done wrong. Constantly judging others can make us feel disappointed with our own achievements in comparison. Those who judge others are normally unhappy with their own lives.

Putting Others Down

Photo Credit: fizkes/Shutterstock.

Some people think that putting others down will make them feel better, but that’s not the case. Those who look down on and talk badly to others are usually jealous of the other person. Putting them down makes them look powerful on the outside, but it’s a facade. 

Addictive Behaviors

Photo Credit: M-Production/Shutterstock.

Addictive behaviors such as substance abuse are common in chronically unhappy people. People use substance abuse as an outlet for their pain or a distraction from it, but the resulting destructive behavior and the consequences that come with it make them feel even worse. This intensifies their pain.

Raising Their Voices

Photo Credit: CREATISTA/Shutterstock.

You might think that a person who raises their voice to win an argument feels happy about themselves afterward, but they don’t. Unhappy people are the ones who raise their voices and start shouting matches. All of this actually causes them a great deal of stress. 

Stress

Photo Credit: Shutterstock.

According to statistics from the American Psychological Association, “an alarming proportion of adults reported that stress has an impact on their day-to-day functioning, with more than a quarter (27%) saying that most days they are so stressed they can’t function.” Stress is common among those who are chronically unhappy.

Pessimism

Photo Credit: fizkes/Shutterstock.

People who are chronically unhappy also tend to be pessimistic. They see the glass as half empty rather than half full. They have a negative view of the future and find it difficult to think positively about how events will unfold. Their negativity can easily rub off on others.

Unrealistic Expectations

Photo Credit: Antonio Guillem/Shutterstock.

Chronic unhappiness can stem from unrealistic expectations. That is, expecting too much from others or yourself. When events don’t turn out the way the person imagined they would, they feel disappointed. It’s better to expect less and get more than to expect too much and be let down.

Bottling Things Up

Photo Credit: wavebreakmedia/Shutterstock.

A person can’t truly be happy if they never let others know how they feel. A bottler is a person who doesn’t share their feelings with others but rather keeps them close to their chest. With time, this makes them feel weighed down, anxious, and even exasperated.

Sarcasm

Photo Credit: New_World/Shutterstock.

The Cambridge Dictionary says that sarcasm is “the use of remarks that clearly mean the opposite of what they say, made in order to hurt someone’s feelings or to criticize something in a humorous way.” People who have a sarcastic attitude might find themselves criticizing every aspect of life. 

Anxiety

Photo Credit: Antonio Guillem/Shutterstock.

It’s natural for all of us to feel a measure of anxiety when going through certain situations in life, but too much anxiety isn’t a good thing. People who are overly anxious aren’t happy, and they easily become stressed. High levels of anxiety can make a person shut down. 

Quitters

Photo Credit: Shutterstock.

People who easily give up on tasks are normally unhappy. They never try to stick to anything, and as a result, they never get feelings of accomplishment. They view themselves as failures and don’t see the point in really trying to do anything because they’re convinced they’ll fail. 

Lying

Photo Credit: Shutterstock.

Chronically unhappy people are often this way because they lie. They’re constantly having to think on their feet and cover their tracks. They can’t relax when conversing with others because they’re always thinking about which version of a story they need to tell and how to make it credible. 

OCD

Photo Credit: Antonio Guillem/Shutterstock.

The National Institute of Mental Health says that “obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a long-lasting disorder in which a person experiences uncontrollable and recurring thoughts (obsessions), engages in repetitive behaviors (compulsions), or both. People with OCD have time-consuming symptoms that can cause significant distress or interfere with daily life.”

Self-Centered

Photo Credit: Antonio Guillem/Shutterstock.

People who go out of their way to help others feel satisfied with their lives and happy with themselves. But people who live self-centered, egotistical lives don’t get these elated feelings. They’re always thinking about what they can get out of life and rarely try to put others first. 

Unorganized

male sad tech
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.

When your life or living space is unorganized, it’s hard to feel good about yourself. The chaos around you reflects onto your mood. So when someone lives in a messy environment or fails to coordinate their day effectively, they end up feeling frustrated with themselves and everyone around them. 

Resentful

Photo Credit: Nikitaat Yermakov/Shutterstock.

A resentful person is someone who finds it hard to let go of things. Feelings of resentment eat away at a person while the person you’re angry with continues with their life, blissfully unaware of your feelings. Resentment doesn’t lead to happiness and can make a person physically sick.

Read More: 19 Common Behaviors of Highly Intelligent People

Photo Credit: Roman Samborskyi/Shutterstock.

Intelligent individuals often display a range of behaviors and qualities that set them apart from others. When exploring these characteristics, it’s crucial to comprehend that intelligence is a multifaceted attribute. Here are 19 essential behaviors and qualities frequently observed in highly intelligent people.

19 Common Behaviors of Highly Intelligent People

17 Things We Were Taught in High School That We Now Know Aren’t True

Photo Credit: Jacob Lund/Shutterstock.

Well, this one may depend on when you went to high school, but for this millennial, these are the things we were taught in high school that have been proven not to be true. Personally, I still want to go back and correct every teacher who told me I wouldn’t always have a calculator in my pocket; the joke is on them.

17 Things We Were Taught in High School That We Now Know Aren’t True

16 Reasons Why Trump May Not Get a Second Term

Photo Credit: Aaron of L.A./Shutterstock.

Though Republican frontrunner Donald Trump thinks his trip back to the Oval Office is all but guaranteed, there are some real hurdles he has to get past. Here are the 16 obstacles that may stand in the way of a second term.

16 Reasons Why Trump May Not Get a Second Term

17 Most Dangerous Places to Live in the US – Cities to Avoid

Photo Credit: Sean Pavone/Shutterstock.

Everyone wants to find a safe place to buy a house and put down roots in the US, but some cities are more dangerous than others. In this article, we’ll look at 17 cities that you may wish to avoid, according to recent findings.

17 Most Dangerous Places to Live in the US – Cities to Avoid

People Who Had Unhappy Childhoods Usually Develop These 18 Traits

Photo Credit: Aleshyn_Andrei/Shutterstock.

People who go through a lot of traumatic experiences while they’re young can find themselves developing traits that stay with them through adulthood. What are these traits? You’ll find 18 of them in this article.

People Who Had Unhappy Childhoods Usually Develop These 18 Traits