Dissatisfaction in non-conformist people

Do you feel dissatisfied with your life, as if nothing fulfilled you? Do you keep complaining and find it difficult to enjoy your achievements? You may be a nonconformist person who is not satisfied with what you have.

Dissatisfaction makes dissatisfied people yearn for more, without enjoying the joy of having achieved what they have achieved. This feeling is intolerable for many, which is why they are always looking for new experiences that can fill them with fulfillment.

Before delving into this topic, it is necessary to clarify that Dissatisfaction and non-conformity are not bad or negative in themselves. Both have their benefits; It all depends on the balance we give it.

In this article we will focus on addressing the dissatisfaction of nonconformist people from its problematic spectrum: when it begins to affect the well-being and quality of life of individuals. Let’s dig deeper.

For nonconformist people, nothing fills them and nothing satisfies them. The feeling of dissatisfaction floods their lives.

Characteristics of nonconformist people

Nonconformist people are those who feel trapped in an endless cycle of dissatisfaction, they never manage to be fulfilled with what they have or have achieved. Next, we will explore some of its most common characteristics:

They complain because nothing pleases them. They abandon activities because they do not satisfy them. They have unrealistic dreams and goals that they never manage to achieve. They are rigid and do not give in to anything. They think dichotomously, in terms of all or nothing. They have emotions of sadness, anger , frustration. They compare themselves with others and envy what others have. They are self-demanding. They see the world in a negative and unoptimistic way.

All these characteristics end up reinforcing and confirming their non-conformity. In one way or another, everything they do leads them to validate their dissatisfaction and the reasons why they are never satisfied or satisfied with anything.

Dissatisfaction in non-conformist people

Dissatisfaction in nonconformist people can be described as a feeling of unhappiness and disgust with the current life situation. It arises when needs or desires are frustrated or cannot be satisfied as expected.

Lack of satisfaction can occur in different areas of life: work, social, family, academic, emotional, romantic, etc. However, it does not have to be a general condition. There are dissatisfied people who only feel this way in their work or in their passionate or romantic dimension. Others have some degree of dissatisfaction in different areas.

Now, we should not take dissatisfaction as something negative in all cases, since it is a common feeling in all people. Likewise, we should not see nonconformity as an undesirable evil, because in good doses it can be very favorable. It’s all about balance.

With the above, we want to highlight that being dissatisfied or non-conformist is not always negative, because it can motivate the individual to look for new solutions and work towards their objectives. Thus, not settling can become a stimulus for his personal growth.

However, when dissatisfaction in nonconformist people is excessive and irrational, it can lead to negative consequences, such as stress, frustration, sadness, and chronic dissatisfaction.

When the dissatisfaction of nonconformists becomes chronic

When the lack of satisfaction interferes with emotional well-being and daily functioning, and is also insatiable and constant all the time, we are facing a chronic condition. In these cases, psychotherapeutic intervention is necessary.

Chronic dissatisfaction can appear in nonconformist people, who They don’t find satisfaction in anything they do. It is a persistent and intense feeling of discontent that considerably affects your quality of life.

Unlike normal dissatisfaction, Chronic dissatisfaction is widespread and constant. At no time or circumstance is anything enough for the chronically dissatisfied. Furthermore, he does not usually enjoy or rejoice in what he has achieved, and feels overwhelmed, restless and desperate to find the satisfaction he longs for.

It is believed to be caused by mental disorders (such as depression or anxiety), by a lack of meaning or purpose in life, or by low self-esteem that does not allow the subject to feel worthy of what they have achieved. Likewise, this dissatisfaction can give rise to mental health problems, such as depression. As can be seen, the causal relationship is still very diffuse.

Causes of dissatisfaction in non-conformist people

The origin of dissatisfaction in non-conformist people is not very clear, however, below we will name some factors that, depending on each person, can cause it:

Depression or other mood disorders, such as bipolar disorder. In these disorders, the dissatisfaction that the person feels in various areas of their life (work, family or social) appears associated with sadness and apathy. On the other hand, in cases of chronic depression, the appearance of a feeling of emptiness has also been observed. Absence of perceived self-realization. In this case, dissatisfaction arises as a consequence of the discrepancy between an ideal (self-actualization) and the reality that is being experienced. Generally, this feeling is accompanied by anger or sadness, due to the impossibility of not getting what you want. Little by little, the person can also become demotivated.Need for novelty and stimulation. This is typical of those people who need to continually pursue a goal. Well, once achieved, they either lose interest in it, or experience an unbearable existential emptiness, not knowing what to do from now on. This last case is typical of individuals with low tolerance for uncertainty. Very high expectations. Dissatisfied people have very high expectations that are not easy to achieve. Consequently, they feel dissatisfied because they cannot meet their own standards.Perfectionism. There are non-conformists who are too perfectionistic. Nothing satisfies them because perfection is a difficult criterion to achieve for anyone, especially if they have high expectations about the expected results.Social comparison. Another factor that triggers the dissatisfaction of nonconformist people is their tendency to compare themselves with others. They generally equate themselves with individuals who are better off than them, which makes them feel dissatisfied with what they have.Lack of meaning or purpose in life. By not having a purpose or a goal to fulfill, the feeling of dissatisfaction increases because there is no clear objective that can trigger joy when it is achieved.

The etiology of dissatisfaction in nonconformist people is multiple and complex at the same time. Therefore, the best way to discover it is by attending therapy with a mental health professional, since each case is unique and has its own story behind it.

What are the consequences of nonconformity?

As we have said before, in some cases, dissatisfaction causes depression, this being the consequence and not the cause. Whatever the situation, nonconformist people often experience feelings of sadness, helplessness, apathy and anhedonia.

Dissatisfaction can negatively affect the person’s work, academic and social life. For example, the nonconformist individual may frequently change jobs or careers in order to find something that satisfies them. However, upon achieving his goal, the illusion fades, because it no longer attracts him or it is not what he expected.

At the work level, a study published in Psychological Medicine found that dissatisfaction is related to a higher risk of work disability as a consequence of psychiatric and non-psychiatric problems in healthy people.

Likewise, it has been found that dissatisfaction is linked to higher mortality from diseases, especially in men who consume a lot of alcohol. Dissatisfaction with life can serve as an indicator of health risk in cases where unhealthy behaviors occur.

A relationship has also been observed between dissatisfaction and risk of suicide. Research published in the American Journal of Psychiatry found that People who reported being dissatisfied over several years had a higher risk of suicide than those who reported being satisfied.

On the other hand, boredom, apathy, and experienced dissatisfaction can motivate some people to carry out activities that prevent them from reasoning critically; either look for situations and individuals that awaken strong emotionsas an attempt to fill, in a fictitious way, that dissatisfaction they feel.

For example, some people find comfort in psychoactive substances such as drugs and alcohol, or in compulsive eating. When this lack of satisfaction is not addressed, they may feel empty inside, therefore, they will try to feel strong emotions to compensate.

However, none of these alternatives are definitive solutions, they are momentary cures that only serve to further increase the feeling of inner emptiness and dissatisfaction.

How to deal with dissatisfaction in non-conformist people?

Dissatisfaction, especially if it is chronic, usually generates mental health problems in non-conformist people. Therefore, The most advisable thing is to go to a specialist that can offer the necessary tools to overcome the situation, as the case may be. Don’t wait for the discomfort to intensify to receive the help you need. Below we leave you some guidelines to deal with dissatisfaction if you are a dissatisfied individual.

1. Recognize your dissatisfaction

“Acceptance of what has happened is the first step to overcoming the consequences of any misfortune,” says William James, American philosopher and psychologist. With this statement the author refers to the fact that The first step to overcome what happens to us is to accept that we have a problem.

Instead of rejecting what is happening to you or trying to hide it by taking refuge in harmful behaviors, it is more appropriate to start by accepting that you feel dissatisfied and that you need to find meaning in life or lower your unrealistic expectations.

2. Allow yourself to be dissatisfied

Let what you feel wash over you. If you need to cry, cry; If you need to get angry, go ahead and get angry. Remember that Giving space to negative emotions can help you feel better.

To give way to your emotions, it can be very helpful to do a short meditation on…