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Mental Health HomepageConditions LibraryConditions CategoryConditions CategoryWhy Are We So Afraid to Feel Happy?
Table of Contents:OverviewThe Root of Fears of Success and HappinessHow a Negative Worldview Affects You in the WorkplaceFear of Happiness in RelationshipsUnhappiness as a Vicious Cycle…… and How to Break this Cycle
Anxiety DisorderRead Time: 5 Minutes
Published On: September 26, 2018
Reviewed On: September 26, 2018
Updated On: November 1, 2023
OverviewMany people struggle with the fear of success, fear of closeness, or fear of happiness. Let’s say your father suffered from depression and ranted about the workplace being a dog-eat-dog environment where everyone has to watch his back.As a child, you, like all kids, want to think of your father as intelligent and perceptive. You listened to him and thought that his worldview made sense. Even if you later realized, as an adult, that your father was a very negative and depressed person, his impact on your own worldview may be very difficult to change.Although it isn’t rational, many people subconsciously steer themselves away from experiences where they feel good about themselves, or where they end up feeling happy. But why is this and what can you do about it?
Overview
Many people struggle with the fear of success, fear of closeness, or fear of happiness. Let’s say your father suffered from depression and ranted about the workplace being a dog-eat-dog environment where everyone has to watch his back.
As a child, you, like all kids, want to think of your father as intelligent and perceptive. You listened to him and thought that his worldview made sense. Even if you later realized, as an adult, that your father was a very negative and depressed person, his impact on your own worldview may be very difficult to change.
Although it isn’t rational, many people subconsciously steer themselves away from experiences where they feel good about themselves, or where they end up feeling happy. But why is this and what can you do about it?
The Root of Fears of Success and HappinessAnegativeor depressive worldview is often at the root of the fear of feeling good. There is a psychological phenomenon calledconfirmation bias, which means that people subconsciously seek out experiences that confirm the way that they already think of themselves and the world.If you grow up ina home where everyone felt and acted very negative, then it is probable that you currently view the world and yourself through a negative lens. This means that you are likely drawn to experiences that end up making you feel bad about yourself, or that confirm your preconception that the world is a bad place.
The Root of Fears of Success and Happiness
Anegativeor depressive worldview is often at the root of the fear of feeling good. There is a psychological phenomenon calledconfirmation bias, which means that people subconsciously seek out experiences that confirm the way that they already think of themselves and the world.
If you grow up ina home where everyone felt and acted very negative, then it is probable that you currently view the world and yourself through a negative lens. This means that you are likely drawn to experiences that end up making you feel bad about yourself, or that confirm your preconception that the world is a bad place.
How a Negative Worldview Affects You in the WorkplaceWhen you go to work, you may subconsciously be looking around for evidence that others are out to get you or want to harm you in some way.You may steer clear of evidence that would run counter to this worldview, which would mean that you don’t try that hard to socialize with people in theworkplace, and instead keep your guard up. You may turn down invitations to happy hour, and instead stick to your familiar mantra that you can’t trust anyone and you wouldn’t have enjoyed hanging out with those people anyway.
How a Negative Worldview Affects You in the Workplace
When you go to work, you may subconsciously be looking around for evidence that others are out to get you or want to harm you in some way.
You may steer clear of evidence that would run counter to this worldview, which would mean that you don’t try that hard to socialize with people in theworkplace, and instead keep your guard up. You may turn down invitations to happy hour, and instead stick to your familiar mantra that you can’t trust anyone and you wouldn’t have enjoyed hanging out with those people anyway.
Fear of Happiness in Relationships
In another common example, people who don’t think highly of themselves end up with partner or evenfriends who treat them poorly. If you think that you aren’t deserving of respect or love, then you subconsciously are attracted to people who act disrespectfully and unkindly.
Unhappiness as a Vicious Cycle…If you are used to feeling bad about yourself, then it is more comfortable and easier to continue putting yourself in unfulfilling situations. Taking the risk of aiming higher may feel too intimidating, as it could lead to potential disappointment.This is why so many peopleself-sabotagetheir chances for romantic, career, or social success. It is more familiar to lurk on the outskirts of life than to take a running jump into the middle of it, and potentially fail dramatically.
Unhappiness as a Vicious Cycle…
If you are used to feeling bad about yourself, then it is more comfortable and easier to continue putting yourself in unfulfilling situations. Taking the risk of aiming higher may feel too intimidating, as it could lead to potential disappointment.
This is why so many peopleself-sabotagetheir chances for romantic, career, or social success. It is more familiar to lurk on the outskirts of life than to take a running jump into the middle of it, and potentially fail dramatically.
… and How to Break this CycleIf you struggle with the fear of success, or the fear of happiness, agood therapistcan often help you understand why you keep getting in your own way. Often, when you work on yourself-esteemand are better able to respect and love yourself, opportunities for happiness and success will seem to almost magically arise.In fact, this isn’t magic, but just the same opportunities that arise for everyone, that have been there all along, but that you were refusing to allow yourself to see and act on.
… and How to Break this Cycle
If you struggle with the fear of success, or the fear of happiness, agood therapistcan often help you understand why you keep getting in your own way. Often, when you work on yourself-esteemand are better able to respect and love yourself, opportunities for happiness and success will seem to almost magically arise.
In fact, this isn’t magic, but just the same opportunities that arise for everyone, that have been there all along, but that you were refusing to allow yourself to see and act on.
Dr. Samantha RodmanDr. Samantha Rodman Whiten, PsyD, is originally from Brooklyn, New York and now lives in Potomac, Maryland with her husband and three children. She attended Columbia University for her BA, and received her PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Maryland at College Park. Dr. Whiten is a licensed psychologist seeing clients via phone and video. She has been working with individuals, couples, and families in her private practice since 2009.
Dr. Samantha Rodman Whiten, PsyD, is originally from Brooklyn, New York and now lives in Potomac, Maryland with her husband and three children. She attended Columbia University for her BA, and received her PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Maryland at College Park. Dr. Whiten is a licensed psychologist seeing clients via phone and video. She has been working with individuals, couples, and families in her private practice since 2009.
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