The absence of happiness is one of the most common clinical conditions in the world’s population. It is common that there are often unpleasant sensations that prevent enjoyment in social, family and work situations, as a result of an underlying problem. Some people live with high levels of frustration and discomfort in various activities they carry out throughout their daily lives. Although it is impossible to obtain complete happiness because life is not perfect, it is important to try to perceive the positive side of circumstances. In this sense, some people live with permanent regret at all times.
In this PsychologyFor article we will explain What is chronic dissatisfaction and how to overcome it
What chronic dissatisfaction
Chronic dissatisfaction consists of a mental state characterized by the presence of a profound discomfort for a prolonged period of time. In other words, it is a clinical condition in which a person believes that he could have carried out other types of actions in specific situations.
In this sense, it is important to mention that the perception of people with chronic dissatisfaction is altered because the final evaluation is negative. This is independent of any event that has arisen in the course of daily life, since it also applies to pleasant moments.
Causes of chronic dissatisfaction
To understand this mental alteration in greater detail, it is essential to take into consideration the origins that give rise to the symptoms of the condition. Next, we will see the causes of chronic dissatisfaction:
- Environmental factors : unpleasant experiences in the past play a fundamental role in processing the situations that occur. This may include disappointments in love, family losses, work difficulties, unfinished projects, among others. The common feature that these circumstances have is the impossibility of enjoying moments of everyday life. In turn, family mandates are directly linked to the understanding of reality. For this reason, if any member of the family environment has chronic dissatisfaction, there is a high probability that the person will suffer the same fate.
- Genetic factors : the transmission of genes by parents should not be left aside. Furthermore, there may be a predisposition to process the external stimuli of reality in an unfavorable way due to an absence of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and/or endorphins, hormones responsible for the feeling of happiness. This can be detected through a DNA study.
- Other mental disorders : The presence of clinical conditions such as anxiety and depression gives rise to chronic dissatisfaction, since the perception of reality is negatively affected. In this article you will find other Types of mental disorders and their characteristics.
Symptoms of chronic dissatisfaction
To detect this problem, it is necessary that a series of thoughts and criteria, both behavioral and emotional, be met. Next we will describe the main symptoms of chronic dissatisfaction:
- High self-demand.
- Disagreement.
- Mood alterations
- Constant frustration
- Low self-esteem.
- Lack of enthusiasm.
- Catastrophic thoughts
- Discomfort in social places.
- Fatigue.
- Headaches.
- Gastrointestinal difficulties.
It should be noted that the isolated presence of any of these symptoms does not have to represent chronic dissatisfaction. Therefore, it is necessary that the diagnosis be made by a mental health professional who evaluates the clinical characteristics of each patient according to aspects such as age, sex, genetic background, pre-existing diseases, evolutionary history, among others.
Treatment of chronic dissatisfaction
Although this pathology entails various obstacles that may arise in the development of common activities, there are some solutions that can improve the person’s quality of life. In this section we will explain some treatments for chronic dissatisfaction:
- Psychological therapy : The therapeutic approach is the first tool that should be used to confront this problem. Therapy attempts to locate the origin of conflicts to obtain a global understanding of each person’s situation. In this way, it is possible to establish resources that allow us to cope with situations of fear or anxiety in a more enjoyable way.
- Social support groups : Going to crowded places where interests can be exchanged usually has a relieving effect on the person. Likewise, listening to life stories allows us to reflect on the virtues of each human being and improve self-esteem.
- Avoid perfection : behind chronic dissatisfaction, there is an implicit search for ideal scenarios that do not have flaws. However, this represents a trap, as no one can have a smooth life. In this way, accepting that things can have flaws is relevant information. For example, a person may choose to enjoy having a home even though he or she lacks a mansion.
- Focus on positive aspects : This can be achieved through techniques that emphasize the present and gratitude. One of the most paradigmatic examples is mindfulness.
- Remove consistency from other people’s opinions : Many times, people try to achieve extremely complex and exhausting goals to obtain other people’s approval. Taking distance from this point is illuminating to reflect on what you want in life. An example of this could be preventing the opinion of a family member from influencing the decision to form a couple.
This article is merely informative, at PsychologyFor we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
If you want to read more articles similar to What is chronic dissatisfaction and how to overcome it we recommend that you enter our Clinical Psychology category.
Bibliography
- Sánchez Elena, MJ, García Montes, JM, Valverde Romera, M., Pérez Álvarez, M. (2014). Chronic illness: life satisfaction and adaptive lifestyles. Clinical and Health Magazine, 25 (2), 85-93.