(bright music)
- [Amanda] Hey, PSych2Goers
and welcome back to another video.
Are you always feeling the blues,
but you're not sure why?
Happiness is proven to be a subjective
rather than an objective topic.
As the famous saying goes,
"Happiness is a direction, not a place."
So for each, the road is different.
Science has no sure-fire formula
to attain happiness.
But, interestingly enough,
science plays a huge role
in the research conducted on
what makes you unhappy.
Causes for unhappiness are often mutual
and easily distinguished.
They're subtle troublemakers
that creep up on you without notice.
And before long, you're in unhappy waters.
It doesn't take a genius to work out
that tiredness, stress, and loneliness are lead causes.
Recognizing these is half the battle.
There are many other subtle things
that can slowly make you feel unhappy,
and you might not even realize
that it's affecting you until it's too late.
Please remember this video is not designed
to diagnose any mental health condition
associated with the feelings of sadness.
If you are experiencing persistent
unhappiness, sadness or episodes of feeling low,
be sure to seek professional help right away.
With that said,
here are eight subtle things
that slowly make you unhappy.
Number one, social media.
Facebook, Instagram.
Ring any bells?
do you find yourself scrolling
through social media for hours on end?
If so, it could be contributing to your unhappiness.
A study conducted at the University of Michigan
by psychologist Ethan Kross
found a direct correlation
between time spent on social media sites
and feelings of dissatisfaction, loneliness, and isolation.
Other studies are blaming
the compare and despair, envy effect,
of social media sites for sparking
jealousy and suspicion in relationships.
Oh, boy.
Social media is everywhere
and is filled with messages about
how we should look, feel, think, and behave.
Considering digital detox,
to resist and focus on your own mental wellbeing,
can be helpful in reducing the negative side of it.
Two, over analyzing situations.
Do you spend ages worrying about
whether you've made the right decision?
Researchers have linked questioning decisions
with stress and unhappiness.
In 2011, Dr. Joyce Ehrlinger
and her team at Florida State University
identified two types of decision makers.
Maximizers, individuals who obsess
over decisions, big or small,
and then fret about their choices later;
and satisfiers, those who tend
to make a decision and then live with it.
People who consistently overanalyze situations
end up, over time,
experiencing episodes of unhappiness.
Number three, having too many choices.
Isn't it always nice to have options?
But as they say in life,
too much of anything is never a good thing.
So is the case with choices.
a 2010 research paper from Stanford University's
Department of Psychology
discovered that having too many choices
makes us miserable.
Scientists at the university
looked into the cultural ideas surrounding choice,
and found that freedom and choice
are less important
or mean something different in various cultures.
Some people find
that having too much variety
can then be followed by uncertainty and regret
about whether they'd made the right decision.
Number four, talking badly about yourself in your head.
Are you a pro at self-talk?
Do you hold long debates in your head?
Most people have a form of self-talk in their heads,
which can also help guide them
and offer positive affirmations on a daily basis.
But what happens when you experience
negative self-talk?
This can slowly have an impact
on your wellbeing and unhappiness.
The reason for such harsh negative self-talk
is because, as children,
it's taught that being tough on yourself is motivating,
and the best way to force yourself
to be disciplined and get things done.
But it's important to take time
to be kind to yourself
and not put such high expectations on yourself.
Learning how to be realistic
can work towards building a more positive sense
of self-worth and happiness.
Number five, being materialistic.
The saying goes that money can't buy you happiness.
And apparently, research supports this.
In fact, some research has shown
that very wealthy people actually suffer
from higher rates of depression.
Studies also stated that other research
has indicated that a desire
for wealth and material possession
is linked to a need to mask their inner discontent.
The constant pursuit
leaves one desolate and dissatisfied.
Number six, having a poor relationship with siblings.
Are arguments the only form of communication
between you and your siblings?
Do you find it difficult to get along with them
and have a good relationship?
A 2007 study in the American Journal of Psychiatry
found that men who had very poor relationships
with their siblings during childhood
are at significantly greater risk
for depression in adulthood
compared to those who get along
better with their brothers and sisters.
Furthermore, in 2012,
psychologists at the University of Missouri
concluded that teenage siblings
who argue over two topics in particular,
personal conflicts and fairness issues,
are more at risk of suffering
depressive symptoms, low self-esteem and anxiety.
Researchers believe that
good sibling relationships in childhood
could help children socialize
and relate to their peers
during the course of their development.
So not having a good relationship with your siblings
could also be contributing
to your unhappiness.
Number seven, having a wandering mind.
Are you an avid daydreamer?
Can you count the number of novels
you've written in your head to date?
It's perfectly normal
to daydream throughout the day,
but a 2010 study from Harvard researchers
identified mind wandering
as a major cause of unhappiness.
According the research,
only 4.6% of people's unhappiness
could be attributed to what they were doing.
But 10.8% of it was caused
by what they were thinking about at the time.
And people consistently reported
being happiest when their minds
were on what they were doing.
The findings are backed up
by the age old philosophy
that living in the here and now
leads to greater happiness.
If you feel like your wandering mind
is contributing to feelings of unhappiness,
then now might be a good time
to engage in some mindfulness exercises.
So you can practice on working
on being in the present.
And number eight, negative work environment.
Feeling overwhelmed at work?
Researchers at the Department of Clinical Medicine
at RS University found a link
between workplace depression and our environment.
They concluded that the work environment
and the feelings of being treated unfairly by management
can most dramatically alter an employee's mood.
Furthermore, the researchers found
that perceived unfair treatment
led to higher rates of the stress hormone cortisol.
Overall, unhappiness and depression
appear to be caused by management behavior
and work environment
rather than workload.
We hope we were able to give you insight
into some of the things
that may be the root cause
of your unhappiness.
Do any of these apply to you?
What other things do you think are making you unhappy?
Let us know in the comments below.
If you found this video helpful,
be sure to hit the like and subscribe button,
and share it with others out there
navigating the murky waters of unhappiness.
Thanks for watching.
And we'll see you real soon.