self-pity
Under self-pity one is human behavior understood to react negatively to mishaps own failure and inability (in the extreme, "everything has conspired against me").
description
Although the main focus of self-pity is on the self and one's emotions , it also has a strong interpersonal component. In addition to loneliness , those affected may feel envy, guilt, anger, and hostility towards others. People who suffer from self-pity often also distract criticism of themselves. They are usually unable to self-reflect and blame external factors such as bad luck or other people's alleged resentments for their bad situation.
Effects
The subject of self-pity has been poorly understood, but the research available shows that self-pity can be an effect of a stressor to a dramatic event. Aspects of one's own personality can also have an impact on self-pity. This can be combined with antagonistic views against others, since compassion for yourself turns into jealousy of those around you. Even if this can be diagnosed from an event, it is not limited to just that, as anyone can become a victim of compassion for themselves.
Psychologically, people who respond to experiences with self-pity tend to be moody and experience feelings such as fear, anger, loneliness, etc. In other words, people who are viewed as mentally unstable are more likely to feel self-pity for most of their lives. There is also evidence that self-pity may be gender-related, with women being more vulnerable and more likely to suffer from it.
consequences
Self-pity affects feelings and thinking, and therefore behavior. The self-pitying tends more and more to negative thinking, feels like the victim of difficult circumstances, neglected and unloved by others. Feelings of sadness , anger, fears and hopelessness characterize his emotional world.
The behavior shown becomes more and more passive and increasingly shaped by resignation . The interest in the environment diminishes and in extreme cases the person withdraws completely.
It can happen that addictive substances are resorted to in order to be able to endure negative thoughts better.
Other side effects can also occur in the form of physical complaints such as weakness, sleep disorders and a lack of appetite.
In the most extreme cases, self-pity can lead to major depression .
treatment
It has been shown that happy thoughts can reduce the effects of self-pity. Research makes it possible to differentiate between a person with anxiety and a person with depression . In some cases it also makes sense to seek external help, for example from a therapist.
See also
Web links
- Self-pity on Lebenshilfe-ABC.de
- Self-pity - why we're not doing ourselves a favor
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b Self-pity ↔ When is it useful & when is it harmful? Retrieved May 7, 2020 .