Listening To People Complaining All The Time Costs You Energy

Did you know that listening to people who complain all the time costs you energy? Our modern lifestyle has become so demanding that everyone, at some point, will inevitably complain about the things they have to deal with.

This is a natural response that makes it possible to release tension in complex or painful situations. But, sometimes – and without recognizing it – it steals your energy.

It’s not bad to feel empathy when your friends are going through a tough time. Yet it is more harmful than you can imagine to constantly hear people complaining about almost everything.

The most disturbing aspect is that this behavior can become so toxic and manipulative that you begin to think that you are insensitive or selfish just because you no longer want to be there.

Therefore, it is important to learn to identify a chronic complainant, one who complains all the time, and understand the effect of their negativity on your life.

The profile of the complainant

This person lives in denial of the life they lead. He or she always tries to be the victim by complaining about what they have or do not have. Above all , they never do anything to change the things that bother them the most.

It may seem normal to begin with. But over time, you realize that,  instead of being the result of a difficult situation they are going through, their complaint comes from a habit that is already part of their lifestyle.

It is either a conscious or unconscious form of manipulation. Through it, the complainant tries to generate guilt, compassion or solidarity to avoid taking responsibility for his own life.

Suddenly you feel it is your duty to help them solve their problems, or at least be there to wipe their tears at all times.

The consequences of being around people who complain all the time

People who complain all the time are so negative that you can suddenly start to feel that you are charged with much more than you should be.

Even if you have the ability to give advice or help to this type of person, being exposed to their nature is enough to steal a significant portion of your energy.

While it may be difficult for you to see this, it causes your brain to undergo changes due to the emotions that are generated as a result of other people’s situations.

Emotions such as frustration, guilt and sadness change the processes in the brain that release hormones. This increases the risk of suffering from:

• Emotional imbalances
• Difficulty solving problems
• Reduced concentration
• Negative thoughts

What can you do to confront a complainant?

Not everything in life is as you planned it to be. After all, you often have to face challenges that you did not want or even expected.

However, it is useless to lock yourself in frustration and bitterness. After all, it is the attitude that prevents you from dealing with the situation and moving on.

The energy you spend complaining is just what you need to overcome situations that seem like obstacles.

For this reason, in addition to avoiding becoming someone who complains all the time, it is important that you also understand that you do not have to sit there and listen to those who are.

You can not pretend that you can solve other people’s problems when you need that energy to handle your own life.

So what can you do?

Get some distance

Whenever possible, try to avoid these people because they will just try to manipulate you.

The less you pay attention to them, the faster you understand that you do not have to invest energy in listening to their negative thoughts.

Make them understand that their problems are their own

Even if you take the time to listen to their complaints, let the person know that they have these issues because of their way of thinking.

And most importantly, make sure the situation does not start to affect you, and advise them to take steps to resolve it in their own way.

3. Do not show weakness

These people have shown their ability to manipulate others with their negative attitudes. Therefore, it is important to have a shield up to show that you are not willing to help them with every problem that arises.

Although empathy is sometimes unavoidable, you can try to control the situation so that you do not feel the need to help when the problem does not even concern you.

4. Set boundaries

Finally, remember that you have the right to demand that a person not share their tragedies and complaints with you. If you are tired of hearing all their negative thoughts every day, tell them that you do not care about it and you do not prefer to be their shoulder to cry on.

Do you have a friend or relative who complains all the time? It’s time to act! Avoid doing as they ask. Otherwise, at some point you will begin to feel that all their negativity is disrupting your own life.