8 Reasons Why You Might Be Unhappy With Your Life

Feeling dissatisfied in your life? Surprisingly, it might be more than just your mindset that determines whether or not you achieve your dreams. Although having the right attitude does make a difference, there are a variety of factors that involve your physical health as well. By taking care of your body and in the process alleviating the ailments that inhibit you from pursuing your goals, you will live a much more satisfying life. Here are 8 factors that prevent you from getting the most out of life.

1. You are prone to infections

Your blood tests might indicate that nothing is wrong, and yet you often contract bacterial or viral infections including the flu, coughs and colds, bronchitis, pharyngitis (sore throats), and ear infections. Due to the constant stress you feel, the body increases the amount of cortisol it secretes, which in turn can weaken your immune system. Eating well and getting enough sleep and exercise can help boost your immune system and improve your health, making you less prone to infections.

2. You experience pains and muscle spasms out of the blue

You notice aches and pains in your muscles and joints that seem to have come from nowhere. The soreness is similar to a heavy workout, and yet you haven’t been to the gym. One of the culprits could be stress. Studies have found that an increase in adrenaline caused by stress can lead to joint pain, soreness, and involuntary muscle spasms. Of course, there are other potentially serious explanations, and for this reason it is best to see your doctor when you start feeling these symptoms.

3. You don’t have the energy to make it through the day

You are constantly feeling tired even when you haven’t exerted yourself. A physical exam, X-rays, and blood tests don’t indicate that anything is out of whack. This doesn’t eliminate the possibility that you have a health condition that needs to be further examined, but stress is a leading cause of lethargy. You are essentially burning yourself out because the constant stress saps your energy. Feeling tired and unfocused certainly prevents you from being the person you want to be.

4. You constantly feel depressed and anxious

Feeling depressed and anxious can be extremely debilitating. It makes it impossible to enjoy your life. The constant sadness and anger — whether conscious or not — come between you and the goals you want to achieve. When you find yourself in situations where you feel really down and can’t pinpoint the reasons for it, seeking professional therapy is a good first step.

5. You aren’t mindful of your gut feelings

There are times when you get the feeling in your gut that you’re doing something wrong. The result is tension and uneasiness in your stomach. Although it is important to trust your intuition and avoid situations that cause problems, there are also times when you experience the “good” kind of gut feeling; the ones that cause excitement, euphoria, and even butterflies. It is equally important to listen to your gut feelings as they might lead to something that is positively life-changing.

6. You eat too much and/or abuse alcohol and drugs

Consuming too much of anything is never a good thing, especially if it is fast food, junk food, candy, or alcohol and drugs. Although all of these things might make you feel better in the short-term, you will eventually build up a tolerance and will need more and more of these unhealthy foods and stimulants in order to feel content.

7. You have problems at work and in your private life

There are times when you might be convinced that others are to blame for your problems. On the other hand, you might over-rely on others to make you feel like you’re worth something. People often deal with this by getting in and out of relationships, constantly changing jobs, or even moving to new towns based on the assumption that these external factors are the cause of unhappiness. But in reality, the problems are coming from within.

8. You are trying to make it through life faking who you are

You convince yourself that you are something you aren’t. You might even ignore the things that you really want out of life because you’re afraid of what others will think of you. Ultimately, instead of being the person you ought to be, you end up being what other people in your life (your family, your significant other, your boss) want you to be. There is nothing more important than being true to yourself.