Adrian Volenik
Happiness is closely tied to mental health. When you’re happy, you’re more likely to have lower levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. You have a shield against life’s tough moments.
Believe it or not, happiness can also have a positive impact on your physical health. Research suggests that happier people tend to have stronger immune systems, lower blood pressure, and even a reduced risk of chronic diseases.
Still, many men are deeply unhappy in life. But they also don’t even realize that their despair is on display to everyone around them because they show certain behaviors.
So, let’s jump right in and see what they are.
1) They withdraw from social interactions and spend more time alone
The sad reality is we should be happier than ever. But even after the Great Recession in 2009 ended, our happiness never rebounded to the levels it was at before.
And men aren’t spared of that. Society expects so much from us, yet when we want to express our grievances, we’re met with indifference.
This often results in emotional suppression, making it difficult for men to address and cope with their feelings in healthy ways, leading to inner turmoil, rage, and unhappiness.
It’s no wonder many men are withdrawing from society and spending almost all their time at home.
They struggle with feelings of loneliness or isolation, especially if they lack a strong support network or feel disconnected from others.
And without meaningful connections, it’s easy to feel adrift and unhappy.
2) Small things set them off easily, and they become grumpy or snappy
Picture your friend who snaps at you for the smallest things, like leaving a dish in the sink or asking a simple question. He’s on edge, like a rubber band stretched too tight, and anything can make him snap.
For deeply unhappy men, there are only two modes – indifference and aggression.
When their patience wears thin, it’s easier to snap than to take a deep breath and let it go. They find themselves grumbling about the weather, cursing at the slow Wi-Fi, or rolling their eyes at a coworker’s harmless joke.
It’s not that they want to be grumpy or snappy. It’s just that their unhappiness has turned them into emotional landmines, ready to detonate at the slightest provocation.
3) They lose interest in activities they once enjoyed, like hobbies or hanging out with friends
Think about that friend who used to be all about his guitar or hitting the basketball court every weekend. Now, he couldn’t care less about strumming a chord or shooting hoops. His spark just fizzled out.
It’s not just about the hobbies or friendships themselves either, but about what they represent: a sense of purpose, connection, and belonging.
For them, there’s a lingering sense of emptiness. A void left by the absence of activities and relationships that once brought them joy and fulfillment.
Yet, despite recognizing this void, they may feel powerless to bridge the gap or reignite the spark.
4) They feel tired or drained most of the time, lacking motivation to do much
Do you ever feel drained, like you’ve got no fuel in the tank to get through the day? Even after resting, you still feel exhausted, and everything seems like a chore.
I know I woke up this morning already feeling exhausted as if I never really slept at all. But luckily, I don’t feel like that very often.
Still, when you know there are so many things you should be doing – work, chores, hustles – the thought of doing them feels like trying to sprint through quicksand.
And the worst thing is that the things that once lit a fire in your belly now barely register on your radar.
Many men find themselves stuck in a never-ending cycle of exhaustion and disinterest. Each day blurs into the next, and the idea of mustering the energy to break free from this rut feels impossibly daunting.
They feel trapped in a room with no windows and no doors, suffocating under the weight of their own inertia.
5) They let grooming and personal hygiene slip, not taking care of themselves like they used to
When men let grooming and personal hygiene slip, it’s like watching a car slowly gather dust in the driveway.
They start skipping showers or shaving less frequently, letting their hair grow wild like a jungle.
It’s not that they don’t care about cleanliness, but it feels like they just can’t be bothered anymore.
6) They overindulge
When men are deeply unfulfilled in life, they often resort to overindulgence as a coping mechanism.
Whether it’s drowning their sorrows in a tub of ice cream or having one too many drinks, they’re using whatever they can to numb the pain, even if it’s not the healthiest choice.
Or especially then.
Overindulging might offer a quick fix, but it’s like slapping a band-aid on a broken bone: it doesn’t fix the real problem.
But you know what does? Recognizing the cycle. It’s the first step to finding healthier ways to cope and getting back on track to real happiness.
7) They put off important tasks or responsibilities
Ever put off doing something important until the very last minute? You feel like you’re playing a game of chicken with deadlines, and it usually ends in stress and regret.
Instead of tackling them head-on, unhappy men shove things like paying bills, finishing that project at work, or cleaning the home to the bottom of their to-do list.
Their pile of dirty laundry just keeps growing because they can’t be bothered to deal with it.
Maybe it’s because the tasks seem overwhelming, or perhaps it’s just easier to procrastinate and hope they’ll magically disappear.
But deep down, we all know they won’t, and that constant nagging feeling of unfinished business adds to the stress and unhappiness.
8) They always see the glass as half-empty
Picture your buddy who sees rain clouds even on the sunniest days. He’s always focusing on what could go wrong instead of what’s going right like he’s stuck in a perpetual gloom-and-doom forecast.
I can tell you firsthand that living in a world where everything’s half-empty is exhausting:
You can never fully enjoy the good moments because you’re too busy worrying about what could go wrong next.
And the thing is, we don’t even realize we’re doing it. It’s like second nature to see things half-empty, right?
It’s a knee-jerk reaction to see the downside of every situation. But until you learn to see the glass as half-full once in a while, you’re going to keep missing out on the sunshine, even on the brightest of days.
9) They blame external factors or other people
Think about your friend who never takes responsibility for his own actions. It’s always someone else’s fault – his boss, his ex, the economy – never his own choices or decisions.
But that’s no way to live life. Not if you want to be a pillar of society or even just a respectable and genuine man.
And perhaps the worst thing about it is that you never grow because of it. You never learn from your mistakes because, in your head, they aren’t your mistakes.
10) They’re avoiding facing problems or conflicts, hoping they’ll just go away on their own
Avoiding facing problems or conflicts, hoping they’ll just go away on their own is like sweeping dirt under the rug instead of dealing with it. It’s a temporary fix that only makes things worse in the long run.
It’s like pretending the elephant in the room isn’t there, hoping it magically disappears overnight.
Instead of tackling the issues head-on, unhappy men choose to bury their heads in the sand, hoping that ignoring problems will make them disappear.
However, what often happens is that the problem festers and grows, becoming even more challenging to deal with later on.
11) They feel lost or uncertain about their goals and purpose in life
Most men have dreams, goals, and aspirations in life. They want to make something out of themselves. But what when that well dries up?
Suddenly, every choice feels like a shot in the dark, and the uncertainty weighs heavy on your shoulders like a sack of bricks.
Instead of facing their problems head-on, some unhappy men turn to distractions like TV or video games to avoid dealing with reality.
These distractions give a temporary escape from life’s challenges and difficulties, but relying on distractions only delays the inevitable and prevents them from addressing the root causes of their unhappiness.
Final thoughts
Look, being unhappy can be just a phase in life. Often, you can change things around by just recognizing what you’re going through and working on making it better.
Get to the root cause of unhappiness and deal with it. There’s no other way!
