Complaining could be rewiring your brain for negativity. Here’s how to turn your bad habit into something constructive
While we all love to vent our thoughts, constant complaining shrinks the part of the brain critical to problem solving and intelligent thought. Experts say there are simple things you can do to control your negative commentary
Complaining, much like binge drinking, feels good at the time, especially after one of those stressful days. But we might want to rethink this knee-jerk reaction to vent. Recent reports from the mind-health field show that complaining can actually alter our brain.
Incessant complaining may also leave you with a diminished social life. Many mental health experts say this tendency turns people into “energy vampires”.
Robert, who does not wish to use his surname, works in the finance industry in Hong Kong. It wasn’t until a friend pointed out the he was being a total downer that Robert got help. “One of my friends once described me as morose,” Robert says. “That label not only stuck, it really sunk in.”
“I found myself in a rut and it was much easier to accept gloom as the norm rather than do anything about it.”
It’s lucky he did eventually get help. Incessant moaning and groaning (or even simple ruminating) about everyday frustrations – flaky friends, demanding family, lazy colleagues, bad drivers, the MTR at peak hour, rain, humidity, rude waiters, rent increases, long flights with screaming babies, your mean boss, tourists hogging the pavement taking selfies – actually can rewire our brain for negativity.
