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Respected Contributor
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Registered: ā€Ž02-21-2014

šŸŒāš”ļø'When Venting Goes from Helpful to Harmful'

[ Edited ]

 

 

Very interesting!
Now I know why sometimes I feel better
if I "vent" or "rant" and sometimes I don't feel
better.

šŸ˜Š

 

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http://greatist.com/live/when-complaining-crosses-the-line

 

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"From job woes and relationship troubles to health problems and financial concerns (not to mention long lines, lukewarm coffee, and other daily annoyances), everyone's got something to complain about.


In some ways, this is a healthy and normal part of life. Voicing concerns, identifying pervasive stressors, and figuring out how to surmount the many minor frustrations our days bring us are all part of being a healthy, functioning human.

 

And if youā€™ve ever bonded with someone over a shared dislike (like the latest movie everyoneā€™s raving about that you hated), you know firsthand that group-level griping can be a quick route to feeling closer with others.

 

The problem:

 

Too much time spent focusing on the negativeā€”and drawing everyoneā€™s awareness to whatā€™s wrong in your lifeā€”can lead to some seriously un-fun consequences.

 

From pushing away friends (or making them equally miserable) to wrecking our own health or quality of life, complaining can go wrong in so many ways.

 

If you think blowing off steam helps you feel better, think again.

 

ā€œThere is no scientific evidence that venting helps us calm down,ā€ says Brad Bushman, Ph.D., professor of communication and psychology at Ohio State University.

 

In fact, his research shows that ruminating over remarks that angered you (or in his particular study, working out aggression by walloping a punching bag) only makes people angrier and more aggressive.

 

Itā€™s one thing to share with a close friend or S.O. something thatā€™s troubling youā€”even if all youā€™re looking for is a little sympathy.

 

Itā€™s another, says chair of psychology at University of Wisconsin-Bay, Ryan Martin, Ph.D., to elicit the same degree of angst, anxiety, or moral outrage that you feel in other people. (Guess which one is the healthier option.)

 

Storming into a colleagueā€™s office, getting into altercations with strangers (road rage, anyone?), nagging, and whining are all ineffective ways to express our emotions, Martin says.

 

(See also: rudeness, passive-aggression, swearing, hitting, or any other physical expression of frustration.)

 

This isnā€™t to say we should shut down or try to deny our emotions. As Bushman notes, suppressing our feelings can also lead to heart issuesā€”as well as negative effects on our emotional well-being.

 

A much safer betā€”for our own sake as well as others'ā€”is to learn how to know when your griping is making things worse.

 

How to Spot Ineffective Complaining

 


1. Notice when youā€™re not doing yourself any favors.

 

If youā€™re itemizing your woes to a person who canā€™t do anything to help, youā€™re not interested in seeking a solution, or youā€™re totally avoiding any and all attempts to process how youā€™re feeling, youā€™re likely not complaining effectively, Martin explains.

 

2. Check in with yourself at the bodily level.

 

Does your heart rate or blood pressure remain cranked up well after youā€™ve aired your presumed grievances? Are your face, shoulders and jaw feeling tense, or has your breathing grown shallower?

 

All of these are signs youā€™re increasing your own misery rather than truly alleviating it.

 

3. Take note of others' reactions.

 

Do people draw away from you, cower, or react angrily in response to your griping? ā€œIf others become defensive around you, this may be a sign youā€™re coming on too strong,ā€ Bushman says.

 

4. Pay attention to long-term outcomes.

 

Have you been ruminating over the same problem(s) for weeks or months with no solution in store, or are unable to make any headway in solving those issues?

 

If so, you may need to get clearer on what, exactly, you need to feel betterā€”and how youā€™re going about getting it, says San Bolkan, Ph.D., professor of communication studies at California State University, Long Beach.

 

The Better Way to Complain

 

1. Figure out what you actually want.

 

Bolkanā€™s research on consumer complaints shows that many people skip the crucial step of stating how theyā€™d like to see a recent wrong redressed. Do yourself a favor and clarify what you see as the issue and what you envision the best solution might be. (Writing these basic facts down and consulting with a trusted friend can help aid this process.)

 

2. Talk to the right person.

 

Once youā€™ve figured out whatā€™s upsetting you and what youā€™d like to change, youā€™ll have a better idea of who can actually help make things right, Bolkan says. Approach them with your grievance rather than offloading your unhappiness onto people who canā€™t resolve your problem, and youā€™re much more likely to get your needs met.

 

3. Donā€™t be hostile.

 

No matter how rightfully P.O.ā€™d you are, being a jerk is not only unnecessary, it can make people far less willing to assist you and more likely to keep their distance. ā€œWhen people are hostile, they can trigger defensive reactions as opposed to reactions that might better facilitate the resolution of a problem,ā€ Bolkan says.

 

Be mindful of the tone of your voice, your body language, and your inclination to blame a particular person (i.e., not yourself).

 

 

Remember: The less overwhelmed others feel by our emotions, the more willing they are to listen.

 

So be mindful of the tone of your voice, your body language, and your inclination to blame a particular person (i.e., not yourself).

 

Most importantly, remember to thank whoever offers you any assistance. Not only will this reinforce their willingness to help you out in the future, but being grateful also helps free you from ruminating and, as a result, helps make your problem-solving more effective.

 

The Takeaway

 

Negativity can spread faster between people than the most viral video of hamsters eating tiny burritos.

 

Save yourself (and your loved ones) from further misery by working on self-regulation and seeking clearer solutions to resolve whatever it is you see wrong.

 

Not only will this benefit all your relationships, but the better you become at avoiding rumination, anxiety, and rage, the healthier youā€™ll be in the long haul."

 

šŸ˜Š

 


ā€¢ā€¢ā€¢ Please adopt don't shop ā€¢ā€¢ā€¢ Save a life adopt a pet ā€¢ā€¢ā€¢
Honored Contributor
Posts: 13,913
Registered: ā€Ž03-10-2010

Re: šŸŒāš”ļø'When Venting Goes from Helpful to Harmful'

 

I don't ever feel the need to vent. Two things I have working for me are my mind and and my body. I do not "yell" at computers/talk incessantly about "poor me"/slam doors or break things.

 

For me I see no gain, but many conceivable down sides. For those that feel the need to vent?  I enjoy reading some of them, but others, I say, HUH?

 

 

hnj

 

 

hckynut(john)
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Posts: 17,892
Registered: ā€Ž07-03-2013

Re: šŸŒāš”ļø'When Venting Goes from Helpful to Harmful'

I feel better after venting.  I limit my vent to a handful of people.

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Re: šŸŒāš”ļø'When Venting Goes from Helpful to Harmful'

It depends in what the venting is about, and to whom. It can be helpful, and calming to vent about quite a few things to family and friends, as long as you don't beat it into the ground and turn them off. A little sympathy is a good thing.

 

Venting or ranting to virtual strangers (which includes discussion forums) can easily become a type of road rage with raging verbalizations, and #s 1 and 3 come into play. At that point, nothing is or can be accomplished that is good for anyone. But just as with true physical road rage, the person may lack the control to break away and draw back.

Life without Mexican food is no life at all
Valued Contributor
Posts: 699
Registered: ā€Ž02-16-2011

Re: šŸŒāš”ļø'When Venting Goes from Helpful to Harmful'

Boy I wish I could get some people who work at my company to read this Smiley Tongue

 

I am certainly not a polyanna, but there is nothing worse than someone that is constantly complaining.  It drags everyone else down.  One negative person can really ruin the morale of a whole team. 

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 5,839
Registered: ā€Ž03-09-2010

Re: šŸŒāš”ļø'When Venting Goes from Helpful to Harmful'

I feel better after venting. But I don't do it to everyone. I only confide in my husband and my best friend depending what it is.

 

Personally, I think its better to vent then to hold things in. I know some people that hold things in and they ended up on nerve pills or anti depressants. So I will keep venting if I need to!

And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make~ The Beatles
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Re: šŸŒāš”ļø'When Venting Goes from Helpful to Harmful'

'I don't know' (again, lol) ..... I'm thinking that it's better to vent than to keep it in.  Maybe while walking with friends, etc.  Lots of folks now-a-days have complaints about 'this and that'.  Less expensive to just chat our feelings away with friends, rather than expensive professionals.  We're always complaining about something on walks.  Dog poop, gardener blowing leaves and dirt everywhere, all kinds of world-wide topics to vent about. 

'More or less', 'Right or wrong', 'In general', and 'Just thinking out loud ' (as usual).
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Registered: ā€Ž01-30-2015

Re: šŸŒāš”ļø'When Venting Goes from Helpful to Harmful'

There are those who feel that venting about similar brings them  together...gives them a common bond...

 

I try to avoid those people.

Respected Contributor
Posts: 3,358
Registered: ā€Ž02-21-2014

Re: šŸŒāš”ļø'When Venting Goes from Helpful to Harmful'

[ Edited ]

 

Thanks for your posts @Moonchilde

@GCR18 @Tantallum @Shorty2U @hckynut @ROMARY

@ROMARY!

šŸ˜Š

 

The takeaway is not saying that we

never should

vent but just there are good ways and bad

ways as many of you said.

 

thanks again!!!

šŸ˜Š


ā€¢ā€¢ā€¢ Please adopt don't shop ā€¢ā€¢ā€¢ Save a life adopt a pet ā€¢ā€¢ā€¢
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Re: šŸŒāš”ļø'When Venting Goes from Helpful to Harmful'

I try very hard not to vent because it seems once I start I just go on and on.  I need to back off,  run things through my mind  before I  speak to anyone else about whatever the vent is about.