Who Is A Pessimist?
When you see a glass with water in it, what do you think ? Is it half full, or half empty? If you think it is the second one, you’re probably a pessimist. Literally doped out from the Latin word meaning “the worst”, pessimism is a way of thinking that can be described as a way to see the worst aspects of things. Pessimism can refer to a fetish on the darker aspects of conditions, to the anticipation of a negative result, or to a lack of hope for the future. Those who lean toward pessimism may also feel susceptible and believe that any actions taken are improbable to have an impact on a negative result. They may believe themselves to be passive movers in the world and largely attribute any chance of success to external factors that cannot be controlled.
Some examples of pessimism include:
A person hears the phone ring and presumes the caller will be a bill collector or telemarketer.
A person going to a party presumes the function will be boring or otherwise unpleasant.
Someone interviewing for a job believes the interview will be unsuccessful or that the job will be given to someone else for reasons unrelated to interview performance.
PESSIMISM AS A PERSONALITY TRAIT
Pessimism can manifest as a personality trait, as research show it may be at least halfway persuaded by genetics. Genetic form can influence an individual’s perception of the world by elaborating negative experiences and emotions. Person who is pessimistic may also be more likely to observe potential risks and chops anxiety or worry. However, environmental factors and epigenetic also play important role in whether one leans toward pessimism.
Dr. R.K. Suri, best psychologist in India says some people may also be more likely to pessimism bias, meaning they are more prone to overrate the probability of negative results. Some study has pointed out that pessimism bias may be more frequent in women than in men. It’s also been shown to happen more frequently in person who experience depression.
In 2013 research, pessimism is more affiliated with the right portion of the brain, while optimism is interrelated to the left portion. Lower self-esteem was also bound to the right side of the brain. This research indicates that both pessimism and optimism are mandatory for an individual’s existence and that communication between the right and left hemispheres of the brain could help people find a healthy equipoise between a pessimistic and optimistic overlook.
Albeit pessimism can be a wide opinion that impacts general worldview, it is not inevitably a stable trait that remains unchanged throughout one’s lifetime. Study mentions that people can master to be more optimistic.
PESSIMISM, DEPRESSION, AND WELL-BEING
As the concept of positive psychology has escalated in popularity, much has been written about the ways in which conserving a positive, hopeful overlook can enhance mental and physical health. However, study about the effects of pessimism on physical health is somewhat antipodal: While some studies have found that an optimistic overlook can lead to a longer life, others have found that pessimism about the future can actually increase life span. The tendency to anticipate negative results may lead a person to take more preventives, which may in turn lead to progressive health.
Pessimism has been related to mental health problem such as anxiety, stress, and depression. Do visit the best psychologist in India if you are dealing with any mental health issue. Some studies relate pessimism to swelling and lower immunity. One research even detected high pessimism as a suicide risk in adults.
A person who constantly expects negative results can have more chances to feel sad or worried, but a pessimistic overlook does not inescapably lead to the development of mental health concerns. In fact, a concept known as defensive pessimism clarifies how pessimism can be a good thing. People who are defensively pessimistic imagine what might go wrong in order to investigate their potential reactions to the negative situation or occurrence. They may be more trained to deal with hard emotions than those who do not learn to consider possible negative results, and they may also be more supposable to consider a variety of strategies helpful for eluding and solving problems.
HOW TO OVERCOME PESSIMISM
While some portion of pessimism is ineludible and can even serve a defensive function, too much pessimism or unbalanced pessimism may direct to depressed mental health and can cause people to limit themselves, leading to the mislaying of opportunities for growth and success.
Some ways that may help people to be less pessimistic include:
Challenge cognitive distortions. A cognitive distortion may direct people to see reality from a perspective that does not exist with reality. Challenging non realistic pessimistic thoughts, such as, “There’s no way I’ll get that job,” or “Nobody understands me” can help people discover that some of their pessimistic beliefs are not rooted in reality.
Make a list of advantages and disadvantages. Make a list of advantages and disadvantages about a situation, and if possible, challenge yourself to come up with at least one “advantage” for every “disadvantage” on your list. While this strategy might not apply in over extravagant circumstances, it may help you find a balanced perspective in many conditions.
Seek out optimistic friends. Talking with a friend or loved one who leans toward optimism can reveal a pessimistic individual to more optimistic perspectives. These people may help you analyze ideas or opportunities you might have ruled out due to over pessimism.
Consider the past. Think about a time when things went better than expected. More frequently than not, pessimism may lead us to have unbelievably negative anticipations. When we rank these anticipations up with examples from our own lived happenings, an excessively pessimistic approach may appear to be less of a reasonable perspective.
If an excessively pessimistic overlook is causing problems in your life or relationships, you don’t have to handle it alone. A qualified and understanding therapist can guide you to overcome mental health indications connected with pessimism and exceptional thought patterns that lead to pessimism. Find the right therapist for you at Psychowellness Center - a complete mental health wellness clinic.
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