A thin skin or the proclivity to take umbrage at others commentsyou look good today is interpreted as, you mean, I didnt look good yesterday?, Judgmentalism, or the tendency to impute negative motivations to others innocent actions; thus, guests who dont compliment a meal are judged as uncouth brutes who dont deserve future invitations., Diffidence: A sense of helplessness about ones ability to deal with lifes challenges, leading to anxiety in facing those challenges, and to, Demanding nature: Although negative people are diffident about their own abilities, they nevertheless put pressure on close-others to succeed and make me proud and not let me down.. This also usually comes with other symptoms, like fatigue, general irritability, inability to look forward to the future, and other more serious manifestations. Go out to lunch with your mom, plan a birthday party for your friend, or join a running or walking club or even a sport so that you still feel like youre living a full and healthy life around positive people even if your spouse cant be that person at the moment. Engage in activities and things that bring you joy. What all of this means is that it can be excruciatingly difficult to deal with negative peoplepeople who bring your mood down with their pessimism, anxiety, and general sense of distrust. Our references consist of resources established by authorities in their respective fields. 3. How To Deal With A Negative Spouse (11 Positive Things) Finding it difficult to deal with others' negativity suggests that there is a. How To Deal With A Negative Spouse? (5 Steps To Freedom) But if you arent responsible, you should not be a scapegoat for your spouses negativity. Sometimes, even though we know our spouse just seems negative all of the time, its hard to bring this up with specific examples and it can feel like youre attacking them with no evidence. Has your spouse suddenly faced unemployment? Your spouse has a Jekyll & Hyde personality. But of course, theres no paradox here. Therefore, some insight can help them. When you are self-aware, you can clearly understand your locus of control. How to Deal With a Negative Spouse - YouTube The fact that you find it difficult to deal with others negativity suggests that there is a seed of negativity in you. Remember, no one has power over you. Therapy sessions can even help you find ways to tackle your spouses negative attitude and change their outlook towards life. If your spouse has a particularly stressful career, he/she may be prone to feeling negative about their life. Check out this quick video for getting some tips on how to help your negative counterpart: Every individual in this world comes with their own share of baggage. Do not mimic their feelings. Often, when we carry this weight on our shoulders and take on their stress and worry, we can feel overwhelmed and run down. Its precisely because negative people dont feel respected and loved enough, and dont feel sufficiently in control of their own life that they demand others respect and love, and seek to control others. Some signs of a negative spouse include grumpy, judgmental, and dismissive. So, as the negative person absorbs positivity from your presence, he will like himself better, and this hopefully will lead to a virtuous cycle of greater trust in others and optimism about the future. Its up to the other person to decide if they want to be in the relationship enough to work on this part of their personality or attitude, but no one deserves to spend their whole lives listening to someone grumble and complain when there is a big, beautiful world out there to explore. How to Survive in An Unhappy Marriage | Psych Central They are so wrapped up in their bad energy that they can't see how miserable they are making themselves, let alone grasp the toxic effect they have on others. Unlock the mysteries of romantic attraction by deciphering the logic behind the spark. Start a discussion to understand why they feel the way that they feel. Convey your love and care to your son by reciting a heartfelt poem on his birthday. In short, she was able to save their marriage. Awareness of your own feelings and your partner's feelings are the keys to a healthy relationship. When it comes to an understanding of how to deal with a negative spouse, as important as it is to establish healthy boundaries, you also need to open a channel of communication with your spouse. The second elementof taking personal responsibility for your own positivityinvolves doing what it takes to protect your own happiness. 1. Practice forgiveness and do not be angry with them for too long. If someone is suffering from depression, getting them to a therapist or agreeing to try virtual therapy through somewhere like Better Help is one of the best things you can do for them, even if it takes them awhile to come around to the idea. -, (Exactly) What to Say To Someone Who Has Lost a Pet, (Exactly) What to Say to Someone Graduating, How to Self-Publish a Book: An Essential Step-By-Step Guide, 29 Encouraging Words for a Friend Feeling Down. Develop trouble sleeping or focusing due to the stress of these interactions. They feel expectations could make them vulnerable. MomJunction's articles are written after analyzing the research works of expert authors and institutions. So, how does one deal with negative people? Compassion is a great way to express your love and help a negative person. Instead of picking a fight with them, try to understand the reason behind their behavior. The following two tabs change content below. Of course, the best solution for dealing with a negative spouse is to stop the negativity at the source. Negative wife? Here's how to stop the cycle! - Shaunti Feldhahn Negative people always imagine the worst out of a situation. For example, negative people have strong preferences on what and how their children should eat, what type of car their spouse should drive, and so on. If she agrees that the house can be sold, send a letter to your lawyer. For instance, whenever you feel they are trying to pick an argument, do not argue back, instead agree to everything they say. 1. Give up trying to convince someone you know what is best for them or making judgments in your own mind. Instead, hold on firmly to your positivity to enable smooth and quick conflict resolution. You could also calmly point out what research shows: it is important to trust people to form deep and meaningful relationships. ? can help you protect yourself. Rachael enjoys studying the evolution of loving partnerships Read more and is passionate about writing on them. It often happens that when you listen to someones bad experience, you may connect with them and absorb negative energy. This means that there are really only three other options left. She provides inspiration, support, and empowerment in the form of motivational articles and essays. Dealing with Difficult Family Relationships - HelpGuide.org Click here for additional information. When we think that we know better and try to change our partner, not only does it often backfire, it also allows their energy to infiltrate ours. Psychology Today 2023 Sussex Publishers, LLC. A decision not by choice but by obligations. But this is easier said than done; while we could always walk away from the bartender with a bad attitude or the airline agent with an anger-management problem, we cant walk away from a parent, sibling, spouse, colleague, or friend with a negative attitude. Do not heap tons of fake praises for a minor accomplishment. For instance, if your spouse is showing signs of depression, youre going to want to work together compassionately and understand that the negativity is not coming from them, but from a mental health issue. If she offers to switch weekends, send her an email confirming this. To counteract this, Gupta recommends focusing on taking good . When people sometimes set unrealistic goals, they often try to change themselves to achieve them. Want to have a happier, healthier marriage? 20 Signs of Disrespect in a Relationship And What to Do But love is not symmetrical, and most of us don't realize how lopsided it can be. A person who has been exposed to physical, emotional, or sexual abuse is highly susceptible to develop a negative attitude. They may even mock you for your positive attitude or call you naive when you see the good in things and others. How to deal with a negative spouse? This is imperative for learning how to deal with a negative spouse. How To Connect Emotionally With Your Partner. If your spouse is a negative person, do not dismiss them for their attitude but try to help them. Healthy boundaries are anyway essential to make a relationship loving, respectful, and long-lasting. The fact is, people like being around positive people, so the negative person will, even if only grudgingly, have to appreciate your positive outlook and attitudes. Why? When they complain about something, try to avoid invalidating what it is they're trying to express, and try to listen to what's really going on instead. However, if you find any incongruencies, feel free to write to us. If, on the other hand, youre pretty sure your spouse is negative because theyve just turned into an overall miserable grump yelling at kids to get off their lawn or wanting to always see the worst in everything to be contrary, then you can approach the situation with a little bit more sternness and inclination to put your foot down against their behavior. Everything. You can even soften the blow with something like, I know youre not trying to be, but the way youre reacting to this suggestion of us going on a date night is incredibly negative and not like you. But, what if your spouse is a pessimist. We also become less effective in helping them if we are both operating at an emotionally low level. She believes that everyone should make room for love in their lives and encourages couples to work on overcoming their challenges together. They also seek comfort in negative comments on other peoplethat acts as a brief consolation about their shortcomings. How Do I Deal With Her?. How to Negotiate with your Wife During a Divorce 14. Don't get affected by their pessimism. One obvious solution is to walk away from them. By continuing to use the service, you agree to our use of cookies. 1. Imagine being constantly discouraged from pursuing your dreams because very few people make it big. Or imagine being constantly warned against learning a new skilllike Scuba diving or horseback ridingbecause its too dangerous. Likewise, imagine being routinely exposed to negative judgments about other people (I cant believe you told our neighbors that you failed your driving testnow theyll never respect you). Often, negative people find it difficult to seek help from others. Get it in writing. No matter how much you love and care about someone, you are not responsible for their happiness. It is more like a way of living or habit, so they do not see any wrong in it and do not change it. Infographic: Why Is Your Partner Always Negative? If you feel disconnected or frustrated about the state of your marriage but want to avoid separation and/or divorce, the marriage.com course meant for married couples is an excellent resource to help you overcome the most challenging aspects of being married. Believe it or not, these strategies do work! In another post, I had suggested some tips for taking personal responsibility for your own happiness. As children, people innately know how to play, but this often gets lost in the busyness of adult lives. 2. If she agrees that you get the kids every Thanksgiving, have her send you a letter stating that. Suffer from lack of emotional or financial support during hard times. Have they lost a loved one? Specialty: Mental Health Counseling, Mental Health Promotion, and Mindfulness, Ashley Cairns is the CEO of A Change for Better (ACFB) and a mental health counsellor working in New Zealand. For instance, blaming the negative person for making you feel negative is not going to help; indeed, it would be particularly ironic if you advised the negative person to stop blaming others for your negativity if you are blaming them for bringing your mood down! Youre building up a layer of defense, except this time its mental and it has to do with not giving in to their negative thoughts or attitude (you might think that it wont happen to you, but spend long enough around a negative person and it absolutely will). What steps can I take to make my spouse become more optimistic? When discussing relationships with your parents, you must ensure that you do it right. How To Deal With A Negative Spouse While Staying Positive - YourTango Your partner's initial positive mood turned negative is definitely hard to keep up with. She seems to be angry about everything, all the time, Attempting everything you can to make her happy, what you really need to understand about women, She has the tendency to be an asshole to other people, more than willing to follow ANY order you give her, She discourages you from chasing your goals and dreams, She never supports you in anything you do, She never becomes intimate first its always you, She wants both of you to be the perfect couple, but hates that youre not the , She almost never apologizes for her mistakes even when its obvious that its her fault, She blames you for bad things that happen to her, Youll come home to a happy household every single time, Youll never have to worry about her emotional swings anymore, She can take care of herself and not rely on you that much, She supports you and the household wholeheartedly, and when she has her dramatic moments, shes more than manageable, Giving her treats that make her life easier, Making the household as stress-free for her as possible, Shes the one youre doing all that work for, and. Ignoring the insult. The first and more serious cause of negativity in anyone could be a mental health issue, like depression. As a content writer at MomJunction, Ratika writes insightful and informative articles on marriage, relationships, and baby names. Resist the urge to judge or assume. A more practical approach to dealing with them is to start by understanding the reasons for their negativity. It is possible that she is triggered by "needy" people, regardless of your contribution, due to unmet needs in her childhood. Why? Often, when you have dedicated your life to your marriage and children, you may lose yourself. Dealing With Negative People | Psychology Today If you want to know how to deal with a negative spouse, this article can be very helpful for you. Finding it difficult to deal with others negativity suggests that there is a seed of negativity in oneself. How To Deal With A Negative Spouse - YouTube There is nothing sweeter than a tight hug and unfeigned love of a niece. Sometimes your unintentional actions could hint at incorrect cues in a relationship. 10 Things to Do When Your Spouse Doesnt Put You First, 50 Heart Touching Anniversary Wishes for Husband, 200+ Playful Truth or Dare Questions for Couples, Treading Carefully: Getting Back Together After Separation, 15 Signs You Have an Unexplainable Connection With Someone, 6 Ways to Tell if Someone is Lying About Cheating, How to Handle Psychological Effects of False Accusations in a Relationship, Twin Flame Telepathy: The Symptoms, Techniques and More, 15 Ways on How to Build Trust in a Relationship, 15 Best Ways to Emotionally Detach From a Narcissist. Take a moment to really think about this question. Getting inked together is the new love language. Keep this mantra at the front of your mind at all times: You cannot control your partner's mood. Negative people (or temporarily negative people) often dont realize how their attitude has an impact on others. 20 Signs of Disrespect in a Relationship And What to Do Updated May 17, 2023 by Regain Editorial Team A successful marriage will most likely be built on signs of love and communication, and not disrespectful communication. What is the single biggest determinant of your happiness? Your choices here are fairly limited, and, strangely, acceptance is always the best choice. However, the, challenge of dealing with a spouse who has a negative or pessimistic mindset. Originally from New York, Ashley has worked professionally in the US, Canada, and New Zealand, helping those suffering from anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. Your positive energy is the most powerful tool you have to live a happy and fulfilled life, so protect it! Causes of Negativity in a Spouse Below are some possible reasons or causes behind the negativity of your spouse: Increased negativity bias Communication issues, misunderstandings, and unresolved conflicts That will put an unreasonable amount of pressure on you. Dont do that to yourself. It can even change a persons outlook on life and develop a negative attitude. This is because youll be caught up in attending to what you think is wrong with your husband or wife. They are not the victims. It's exhausting to feel like your mood is being jerked around by an angry spouse's negative attitude or negative thoughts. One moment they may be warm and fuzzy, but the next might produce unwarranted rage and anger toward you. All these are the signs of a disrespectful wife. Read less. Listen How to handle criticism from your husband, wife or partner Constant criticism from your husband, wife or partner is oh so tiresome! MomJunction provides content for informational purposes only. Is your spouse bringing you down with their negativity? Some people thrive on the positivity of empathy. If only people were nicer and the world wasnt fraught with danger. Mental Health Counseling, Mental Health Promotion, and Mindfulness, Reasons Why Your Spouse Could Be Negative, How To Deal With A Negative Spouse And Help Them Overcome Negativity. Because negativity is contagious! Know when your hopes are well-founded and how to turn your deep desires into results. Firstly, lets try to understand that to know how to deal with a negative spouse, you need to know that they may be going through mental health issues such as depression or depressive tendencies. Effective communication and professional counseling can help change their attitude. When you do feel like you are responsible for a situation, accept it. A judgemental mindset is counterproductive when it comes to knowing how to deal with negative spouse. When it comes to an understanding of how to deal with a negative spouse, as important as it is to establish healthy boundaries, you also need to open a. while protecting yourself. Dealing with negativity or a negative mindset from your husband or wife can put a major strain on a marriage. How Do I Deal With Her?" Are you married to a woman you love but she's being negative, bitter, or unhappy? Your partner may be negative due to their life experiences but you don't have to give them the power to affect you. Criticism is a deep emotion that is invoked to defend ourselves or to attack our spouse. When you are self-aware, you can clearly understand your locus of control. They are constantly fearful of the future and do not enjoy their lives to the fullest. Relationship Advice: 6 Tips to deal with a negative partner To deal with his negative energy more effectively, she tried not reacting at all, instead saying, "Youre probably right," before carrying on about her business. Ignore what they say and let them realize their mistake. It is entirely possible for you to be concerned and care for your spouse while staying positive and happy. Looked at from this perspective, their negativity is a thinly disguised cry for help. Create a boundary and do not compromise on it. They constantly judge you and brutally bash your self-esteem whenever they get a chance. Note: this does not apply to healthy relationships or people, as expressing negativity is part of being human and having bad days! But when you can refocus on your own needs, your spouse and your marriage will see benefits as well. How To Stay Positive When Your Partner Is Being Negative When negativity is directed at you, do your best to shake it off as quickly as possible. Has your spouse suddenly faced unemployment. Calm yourself down before calming your partner. Experience fear and anxiety surrounding family or holiday events. First, you can grit your teeth and accept the negativity, and hope that things will improve. Read on and enrich yourself and protect your marriage to make it last! Accept that you are in a difficult situation, dealing with a very difficult relationship. Start a discussion to understand why they feel the way that they feel. However, in this specific situation, it is absolutely imperative. Feeling good also puts you in a much better position to help your spouse. I agree to receive email updates and promotions. How To Deal With A Negative Spouse Who Complains About Everything Theyre alone in their negative world, believing that you can just keep on being Sunny Sunshine even if they are pouring out all of their negative energy into the relationship. If possible, ignore their comments and move on. Your email address will not be published. See additional information. Negative people always imagine the worst out of a situation. Just because someone blames you, it doesnt mean you have to accept the blame. They may have depression or they may be habitually negative. Learning how to deal with a negative wife is all about learning how to deal with yourself. Sometimes, mental health issues might also result in persistently negative thinking. 5. If so, this guide should help. Temporary narcissism Automatic negative attributions Victim Identity Breeds Entitlement Resentful and angry people see themselves as merely reacting to an unfair world. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/psychology/emotional-contagion#:~:text=Emotional%20contagion%20refers%20to%20the,Panksepp%20and%20Lahvis%2C%202011). And, of course, if there is no clear reason for the negativity that you can see, the first step in fixing it is to have a calm discussion with them and see what they think the root of it is (or if they even understand theyre being negative). It is easy to identify and label a person as negative, but not everyone makes an effort to understand why or how a person develops a negative attitude. As per our strong editorial policy requirements, we base our health articles on references (citations) taken from authority sites, international journals, and research studies. Practice mindfulness together and help them indulge in positive self-talk. Planning for your eight-year-old's birthday bash just got easier with this comprehensive list of themes and activities. Only use this if your spouse seems to have fallen into a trap of being negative more frequently than they are positive. This is because merely recognizing ones negativity is not sufficient; its important to fix the subconscious thought patterns that underlie the negativity. Spend Time Away From Your Spouse If you're trying to figure out how to deal with a negative spouse, you need to understand that change takes time. In order to stay positive and protect yourself from a negative spouse's bad energy, you need to first understand that your own good energy is everything and I mean everything! in place is to accept that youre not going to be the one to come up with novel solutions for your spouses emotional turmoil. Such people feel that life is unfair to them. 01 /8 How to deal with a negative spouse Having to live your life with a negative person is far more frustrating than tolerating it. When you are compassionate, you will choose to validate how theyre feeling without putting yourself through the strain of actually feeling what your spouse is feeling. It is easy to see how, from the perspective of someone operating from such fears, it makes sense to question the wisdom of pursuing dreams (failure seems all but guaranteed) and to be averse to taking risks even if it is obvious that doing so is necessary to learn and grow. Reviewed by Lybi Ma. Originally from New York, Ashley has worked professionally in the US, Canada, and New Zealand, helping those suffering from anxiet more, Specialty: Love, Marriage and Relationships, Ratika holds a master's degree in commerce and a post-graduate diploma in communication and journalism from Mumbai University. It also involves never lecturing or preaching to them about the sources of their negativity. 15 Tips for Dealing with a Toxic Ex-Spouse When Children Are Involved If you are responsible, be responsible and rectify the situation, but dont allow yourself to be their scapegoat otherwise. Instead of connecting, hear them out. And we say weigh everyone down because unfortunately, a persistent negative attitude doesnt just effect the person who has it, but everyone around them. If we're sad, depressed, stressed, and frustrated, its much more difficult to listen to others and find solutions. Dealing with negative people requires compassion, taking responsibility for one's own happiness, and maturity. Our website services, content and products are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The answer to this question, as you probably already know, is not wealth, fame, beauty, or power. Unfortunate events such as the loss of a loved one, sudden loss of job, separation from a partner, and similar events can have a tremendous impact on a persons mind. Although emotional intelligence is a part of working on your self-awareness, it needs special attention. In a nutshell, this option involves three elements: compassion for the negative person, taking responsibility for your own happiness despite the other persons negativity, and maturity in how you interact with the negative person. 16 Signs Of Emotionally Abusive Relationship And Tips To Handle, How To Deal With A Spouse Who Blames You For Everything, 11 Effective Ways To Fix A Broken Relationship, Adverse childhood experiences leads to perceived negative attitude of others and the effect of adverse childhood experiences on depression in adulthood is mediated via negative attitude of others. You're depressed. Living With a Resentful or Angry Partner | Psychology Today You may be able to understand how to deal with a negative spouse only if you know the reason behind their negativity. Remember that you and your spouse are both adults! Another great option is to go for couples therapy. (Hopefully, there wont be any such instances and if there are a few, it may mean that the negative person is rightperhaps you are more trusting than you should be.)
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