(upbeat music)
- [Narrator] Hey there, Psych2Go'ers.
We welcome you back to a brand new video.
Is there someone you know, who's been acting off lately?
Did a change in their tone or a shift in their attitude
leave you wondering why?
Are they dodging your frequent "how are you doing's"
or "is something wrong's"?
It might be the aftermath of having suffered
from a traumatic event or discovering something
that deeply pains them.
In this case, it's normal for them to activate
an invisible shield against you, or anyone for that matter,
as their primary defense mechanism.
Please note that this video is not made to target those
who may display these signs
or make them feel bad about themselves,
rather it's to understand them
and bring more awareness to the topic.
So here are seven signs
someone is hiding their pain from you.
Number one.
They're always busy.
Are they profusely working out?
Filling their calendar with many recreational activities
or doing loads of work without resting?
Instead of confronting whatever's troubling them,
humans may choose to keep themselves busy
mentally and physically.
For them, mental exhaustion
replaces the negative thoughts that occur in their mind,
allowing them to procrastinate,
dealing with their emotional struggles.
In a way, these mental and physical activities
can result in positive outcomes,
such as a healthier body or higher income.
However, after long periods of time,
they might develop unhealthy mindsets
or subconscious anxiety.
It's better to encourage them to confront their issues
as soon as possible so that they can continue on with life
without feeling burdened all the time.
Number two.
They isolate themselves from their closest people.
Have they started to avoid speaking with you
or being near you?
If so, it certainly isn't you or anything you did.
Withdrawing from those who matter the most to us
is a common coping mechanism.
Perhaps they don't want to become a burden
or be emotionally exhausted by revealing their issues.
Disconnecting with others
may bring a temporary peace of mind,
but when the emotional scars resurface,
they might be left dealing with the trauma on their own
only because they hope to bring you
as little trouble as possible.
In this case, it's important to let them know
of your kind intentions and that they're welcome
to share their thoughts when they feel comfortable.
A transparent, nonjudgmental relationship
is one that will be long-lasting.
Number three.
Their personality changes.
Did you notice slight changes in their behavior?
How they carry themselves or their general attitude?
When you ask them, if anything is wrong
do they just brush it off as nothing.
Relating to the previous point,
it helps when you create a welcoming atmosphere
when being around them.
Inform them that you care about their emotional needs
and that you're willing to be a loyal listener.
Otherwise, they may continue this newly developed persona,
refusing to share any of their intrusive thoughts
or critical life experiences.
Also, only be worried if their personality change
has occurred for a long period of time.
It's normal for humans to feel different emotions
and thus act differently from day to day.
Number four.
They become angry over trivial matters.
Do they blow up over insignificant things?
Perhaps you make a lighthearted joke
or accidentally look at them in an odd way.
Thinking, you know them well enough
to feel like those actions are acceptable,
but then they lash out at you.
Taking you completely by surprise.
They even bring up grudges that you never thought existed.
It might feel uncharacteristic of them,
but the hurt might leave you reeling.
This is because hidden feelings lead to misdirected anger.
So it's easy to mistake
their sensitive emotions for pettiness.
It is important to understand
that their anchor is rooted in a much deeper problem
and work towards rooting it out in a non imposing way.
Number five.
They have an overly optimistic attitude.
Sounds self contradicting to the previous ones, right?
However, these individuals may play
at both ends of the spectrum.
Now optimism does contribute
to psychological well-being and confidence.
Yes.
However, being overly optimistic,
informing unrealistic expectations
as a frequent habit is not good.
They always put a positive spin on their life obstacles,
no matter how difficult the situation may be.
They may show no negative emotions whatsoever,
even when they fail in overcoming the obstacle.
In psychology, we call it optimism bias.
Being wired to stay positive as a coping mechanism.
It's important to recognize that feeling down,
sad and exhausted are normal, acceptable feelings.
In fact, crying, an action usually involved with sadness
releases toxins and many stressful hormones,
helping the individual gain emotional stability faster.
Number six.
They choose flight over fight.
Have they started fleeing out of many social situations?
Out of the blue, are they ignoring your phone calls?
Leaving a video chat extremely early on?
Or wanting to end relationships?
By avoiding specific situations
they avoid facing the anxiety or emotional trauma
elicited by the things within this situation.
While it's crucial to give this individual
some time on their own,
perhaps to charge their social battery,
checking in on them often
and being persistent in your efforts
helps them overcome their dread.
When they regained their momentum
and eventually confront their issues,
they'll certainly thank you in the long run
for being the stable, emotional pillar
that they always needed.
And number seven.
They're taken over by irrational fear and anxiety.
This sign may frighten you the most.
Do they present an unusual amount of fear?
When you ask them about the source of his fear
do they stutter and fail to provide a realistic response?
Repressed emotional pain can resurface
in the form of paranoia and anxiety.
When experiencing irrational fear,
the individual may start to notice the minuscule details.
Their perception may become clouded,
which only enhances their sense of anxiety.
They develop a chronically negative mindset,
pointing out the flaws in every aspect of their life.
Reassuring them of your love and care for them
shows them that you accept them for who they are
and their circumstances.
If you become concerned about someone's behavior change,
be sure not to fret.
This only shows that you truly care about them
and are willing to help out.
When reassuring them and affirming your support for them,
remember to take note of your own mental health, as well.
It's normal to feel slightly down or offended
when you discover someone you care about
is hiding something from you.
Spark a conversation, maintain transparency
and your bond with them will be stronger than ever before.
Have you been noticing these signs lately?
If so, do you think this helped you
recognize and cope with them?
Feel free to leave a comment below with your thoughts,
experiences, or suggestions.
If you found this video helpful,
be sure to hit the like button
and share it with those out there
baffled at another's change in behavior.
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and as always, thanks for watching.