Ever know anyone who wallowed in misery?

[Bob Of Burleson]

Not everyone wants
cheering up,
new study suggests

ScienceDaily.com

You may want to rethink cheering up your friends who have low self-esteem because chances are they don't want to hear it.

People with low self-esteem have overly negative views of themselves, and often interpret critical feedback, romantic rejections, or unsuccessful job applications as evidence of their general unworthiness. A new study from researchers at the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University found that they likely don't want you to try to boost their spirits.

"People with low self-esteem want their loved ones to see them as they see themselves. As such, they are often resistant to their friends' reminders of how positively they see them and reject what we call positive reframing-expressions of optimism and encouragement for bettering their situation," said Professor Denise Marigold, from Renison University College at Waterloo, and lead author of the study.

These individuals usually prefer negative validation, which conveys that the feelings, actions or responses of the recipient are normal, reasonable, and appropriate to the situation. So a friend could express understanding about the predicament or for the difficulty of a situation, and suggest that expressing negative emotions is appropriate and understandable.

The researchers found no evidence that positive reframing helps participants with low self-esteem. And in fact, the people providing support to friends with low self-esteem often felt worse about themselves when they attempted to cheer up their friend.

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[Trixie]

And suck the ever living life out of you.

Makes me tired just thinking about them!

[Jami]

There is soooo much of that on FB.

[bodine]

There is soooo much of that on FB.

That's why we are here!!!

[ann jusko]

Oh yeah! Sometimes you just want to say "Suck it up, buttercup!"

[dublusk]

Yeah, well, but my life is REALLY hard!!

[LibraryLady]

I know a few people like this.
It is not fun to be around them. Perhaps if I encourage the whining, they will be more cheerful.