Integritus Prime

In a previous post, we looked at what negativity was, how it manifested itself in people and the signs that alert us to negative people. These are the topics we address in our Beyond Medicine series on Facebook. In this blog, we take a deeper look at what surrounds chronic negativity in some people. Most of the causes of negativity are based on past experiences, events and feelings.

Some of the issues and factors surrounding negative people include:

1. Over-analysis and indecisiveness. They think too much about things and dwell on the negative outcomes, hence are unable to make a decision or move forward.
2. Ruminating on past experiences, especially the bad things that happened and projecting that the future will be similar or the same.
3. Directing their anger outwards at anyone who remotely looks like someone who hurt them in the past, or are hurting them physically, emotionally, verbally, sexually or otherwise.
4. Fear of the future, as the future is almost always unpredictable. This causes anxiety.
5. Negative self- criticism, not only focusing on weakness but forgetting to look at strengths. This may lead to the next issue.
6. Lack of self-confidence – this is usually related to being over critical of oneself – giving more attention to the weaknesses rather than focusing on the strengths or positives in life.
7. Jumping to conclusions, assuming what other people think of you instead of actually asking them. Thinking the worst about oneself from anything remotely negative that other people may have said.
8. Self-blaming for everything that goes wrong, even when that may not have been in one’s control.
9. Catastrophizing or assuming the worst outcome of any situation. Even though other outcomes maybe possible. This is also related to fear of the future.
10. Labeling oneself negatively, including taking the blame for something that goes wrong, such as a broken relationship. Then labeling oneself as ‘being no good at relationships’.
11. Mental health disorders such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and depression may also cause negativity.

Negativity affects a person’s emotions, causes stress and anxiety and can lead to depression. There are healthy ways to develop positive thinking and a more balanced perspective of life and its challenges. In the next blog on this topic, we will address how negative people can help themselves to think more positively about life and events.

Share with us your experience with negative people and negativity.