how do you deal with someone who always seems miserable and negative?

and ends up bringing you down..

Re: how do you deal with someone who always seems miserable and negative?

Don't talk to them anymore

Re: how do you deal with someone who always seems miserable and negative?

maybe ask them why they are like this. i have a friend who just cant see the positive side of ANYTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! it is annoying sometimes really.

Re: how do you deal with someone who always seems miserable and negative?

Walk away. We have a teacher in our school who is like that and everyone just stayyyyys away! You don't need that energy in your life!

Re: how do you deal with someone who always seems miserable and negative?

Leave them alone...who needs any more negativity in their life?!

Re: how do you deal with someone who always seems miserable and negative?

One of my oldest friends is like that... to be honest I always try to turn things around on her to make her see the positive of a situation and I only really talk to her once a week because more than that is a chore.

Re: how do you deal with someone who always seems miserable and negative?

My old boss taught me something that I feel is so true:

Negativity spreads negativity. It's like a cancer.

If that person is negative the only thing you can do is avoid them. They will continue to be negative and the worst they get the more it will effect you. Avoid them and remain positive.

Re: how do you deal with someone who always seems miserable and negative?

How close are you if it is someone you can't get out of your life then confront them... But if you are not close then don't talk...

Re: how do you deal with someone who always seems miserable and negative?

I am dealing with the SAME thing. I have a freind that is driving me nuts. All she does is complain, I mean every sentance is a complaint, and I cant handle it. I dont know how to talk to her about it.

Re: how do you deal with someone who always seems miserable and negative?

Be there as much as you can handle because they are negative for a reason and probably need people to be there for them. You cannot jeopardize your own well being, but being there for them as much as you can personally tolerate, because your positivity can maybe be what they need and all they get . . .

Re: how do you deal with someone who always seems miserable and negative?

I HAD someone like that in my life. I learned to slowly distance myself from them. I could not be their crutch anymore, especially when their negativity was having an impact on MY life.

The best thing you can do for yourself, is to be nothing but postive towards them, and hopefully their outloook will start to make a change for the better. If you've already BTDT, and they STILL haven't changed any, and are still very negative, then I'd say you've done all you can do, and it's time to walk away. You can't let someone else's negativity bring you down.

Re: how do you deal with someone who always seems miserable and negative?

Re: how do you deal with someone who always seems miserable and negative?

Re: how do you deal with someone who always seems miserable and negative?

I used to think I could "help" a friend like that. No matter what I did, no matter how much I listened or was there for support, their demeanor never changed. I came to realize you cant help someone who doesnt want to be helped. Some people (not all) do this for attention, and the more you give to them, the more they take. It is emotionally draining and will only bring you down to their level. You have to put your own well-being first, and cut them loose. If they truly want help, they can see a therapist.

Re: how do you deal with someone who always seems miserable and negative?

I have had negative people in my life and I have tried to help them. It's not the easiest thing to do in the world, but I usually try to think about what made them be so negative in the first place.
I have found that it can be exhausting though and the friendship usually begins to suffer

Re: how do you deal with someone who always seems miserable and negative?

I know tons of people like this. Sometimes it can be unbearable listening to them complain about EVERYTHING!! They are only happy when others are are down. Make the best of it, don't let them make you feel down. Be positive around them, maybe you'll wear off on them a bit.

Message edited 12/5/2005 12:04:37 AM.

Re: how do you deal with someone who always seems miserable and negative?

I'm EXTRA positive around them. In my opinion, there are people are happy being unhappy in life - nothing you can do about it. Don't let them drag you down.

Re: how do you deal with someone who always seems miserable and negative?

It depends...some people are just glass half empty people and other people are feeling low and have harder times seeing the brighter side of things. The glass half empty people are exhausting and relationships with them usually fizzle out. The people feeling low, I just be there for them in any way I can.

Re: how do you deal with someone who always seems miserable and negative?

I've recently decided to cut ties with not one but two negative people in my life. And what everyone has said is so true - their negativity really takes it's toll. It's so draining. If you are really close with them then it might be worth a shot to talk to them about it but in my opinion...I just say walk away. That's what I did.

Re: how do you deal with someone who always seems miserable and negative?

Posted by puppylove

I have a friend like this!! Sometimes it can be unbearable listening to her complain about EVERYTHING!! She is only happy when others are are down. She IS the defination of misery loves company. She couldn't be happy for someone who got a break in life if you paid her a million $$!!

Re: how do you deal with someone who always seems miserable and negative?

I don't. Life is too short. We all have our miserable moments- and we all have our miserable periods- but if somone is always miserable- there is nothing you can do but encourage them to get help elsewhere.

Message edited 11/7/2005 11:17:52 AM.