Cat Harper
It’s surprisingly tricky to spot when women are unsatisfied with their lives, right? They have this unique ability to put on a brave face and act as though everything is fine, even when it’s not.
The thing is: no matter how much someone tries to hide it, if they’re not happy with life, little signs will tell you how they’re really feeling. Today we’re going to explore what 6 of those signs are so that you know what to look out for.
These signs aren’t just things I’ve seen with the ladies in my life, but they’re also backed up by psychology as key indicators that someone is unsatisfied in life.
Let’s see how many of these you recognize in women you know.
1) She’s always tired or lacking energy
One of the first signs that something is off is when a woman seems tired all the time.
It’s like she can’t even muster the energy to do things that she usually enjoys. You’ll hear her say things like “I’m too wiped to do anything today” or “I just don’t have the energy right now.”
Fatigue like this “isn’t the same as simply feeling drowsy or sleepy. When you’re fatigued, you have no motivation and no energy” notes health writer Krista O’Connell. It’s often a symptom of depression, anxiety, and burnout, all of which play a role in someone’s satisfaction with life.
It’s normal to be tired at the end of a busy week or a particularly hectic period at work, but if it’s all the time, it could indicate that a woman is feeling unsatisfied with life.
2) She’s more socially withdrawn than usual
When someone is less interested in spending time with friends and family than usual, it’s a warning sign you should take note of.
When it comes to socializing, most women have a pretty regular routine. Whether it’s catching up with friends on a Friday night, visiting her parents at the weekend, or hitting the gym with her bestie mid-week, she’s not likely to skip them unless something’s up.
One of the signs that “something in your life needs to change” is when “you’ve lost interest in your friendships and other relationships and have withdrawn socially,” as outlined by Kendra Cherry MSEd, psychology educator and author.
I found myself in this situation a few years back. I wasn’t satisfied with my job but the unhappiness quickly spread to other areas of my life.
When friends invited me for dinner, drinks, or even healthy stuff like going for a hike, my mood about work took over and I declined more often than not, pretending to be busy but really I just wasn’t up for being social.
If you notice a woman developing a habit of missing key social events in her calendar, it’s a telling sign that she’s feeling dissatisfied with some aspects of life, even if she’s hiding it well.
3) She’s constantly anxious and easily overwhelmed
When someone is feeling anxious and overwhelmed a lot, it shows. And it’s a sign that there’s more going on, below the surface.
Anxiety and overwhelm look different on different people but as outlined by Psychology Today, typical signs include constant worrying, restlessness, and being on edge as well as difficulty concentrating.
Most people experience some degree of anxiety or overwhelm when they’re dealing with big life events like becoming a parent, starting a new career, or dealing with grief, but it passes.
If you notice anxiety in someone who doesn’t typically suffer from it, and there’s nothing obvious causing it, it might be a red flag that she’s quietly unsatisfied with life.
4) She’s more emotional than usual
Some people are naturally more emotional than others. Some folks barely show any emotion at all, others get angry or teary-eyed at the slightest thing and most people fall somewhere in between. That’s life, right?
But what does it mean when a woman who isn’t normally quick to emotion is feeling triggered by every little thing? It’s like she goes from 0 to 100 quickly and has an emotional outburst about something seemingly trivial.
The truth is: the emotional reaction isn’t really about the trivial thing, there’s usually more going on than meets the eye. “Emotional outbursts are the result of long-present feelings that you have kept to yourself.” explains mental health writer Hope Gillette.
Although there are many causes of emotional outbursts, from chronic stress to underdeveloped coping mechanisms, when you see this in a woman, especially over a prolonged period, it’s a definite signal that something is going on that’s making her feel unsatisfied with her life.
5) She’s lost her enthusiasm for hobbies and passions
Have you ever noticed that when you’re feeling a little low and just dissatisfied with where you are in life, even things you used to enjoy just don’t seem fun anymore?
A few years ago, I was at a point in my life where I just wasn’t feeling satisfied. I wasn’t where I wanted to be in my career, I felt as though I hadn’t seen and experienced enough for my age and I didn’t know what to do next.
During this time, I wasn’t interested in the things that had brought me joy before. I stopped playing sports and couldn’t be bothered to read or write, things I previously loved to do.
But it’s not just me. This lack of interest or enthusiasm for everyday things is what the experts call apathy. Although sometimes caused by certain medical conditions, it can also be brought on by low life satisfaction and boredom or stress.
When a woman no longer finds joy in her favorite pastimes, it could be a subtle sign that she’s struggling with a sense of dissatisfaction in her life.
6) She’s not taking care of herself properly
The most obvious sign that a woman is quietly unsatisfied with their life is she stops taking care of herself properly.
If she’s usually well-dressed with her hair and nails done but starts showing up without these things, it’s worth noting. Even if she’s not into those things but usually looks neat, and you see her with unbrushed hair and wearing sweatpants a lot, it might be time to check in on her.
Self-care goes beyond outward appearance. If she’s skipping the gym, constantly eating junk food, or generally ignoring her health, these are all signs that something is going on with her and she’s just not satisfied with life, right now.
Noticing a woman in your life has stopped taking care of herself should be a trigger for you to reach out and support her as there’s usually a reason for her shift in priorities, even if she’s keeping it quiet.
Final thoughts
When women are discontent with life, they don’t usually want to shout it from the rooftops. They don’t want to burden others with their issues so they keep it to themselves and try to pretend that everything is fine.
If you recognize some of the signs we’ve shared today in a woman you know, chances are she might be struggling with something in her life right now.
She probably won’t ask for help, so why not reach out and let her know you support her and you’re there for her whenever she needs you? She’ll appreciate it more than you know.
