Hiddenโ Distress Signals: 11 Common Phrases That May Mask Deeper โฃStruggles
New York, NY -โข A seemingly innocuous “sameโฃ old, same old” or a quick “I’m just busy” โcould be a sign someone is โbattling โขinternal difficulties they’re hesitantโฃ to โshare,โฃ according to relationship and psychology experts.While often โขdismissed as casual conversation, these phrases can serve as subtle indicators of hidden emotional distress.
The tendency to โdownplay struggles stems from a desireโ to appear strong โand avoid vulnerability,particularly if individuals fear โtheir problems โwon’t be understood,asโฃ highlighted in a recent YourTango report. Shutting others out, while a coping mechanism, can ultimately be hurtful, evoking feelings of abandonment.โ Expertsโ suggest a simple acknowledgmentโ of hardship – “I’mโค going through something, but I’d ratherโ not talk about it now”โค – is a healthier alternative to complete silence.
Here โคare 11 phrasesโค that may signalโค someone is strugglingโ more than they let on:
- “Same old, same old.” despite the casual delivery,โข this phrase can mask a secret struggle, a desire to portray a facade of normalcy whileโ privately dealing with unseen problems.
- “I’m just busy.” โฃ While often true, consistently usingโ busyness as an excuse can be a โsign โsomeone is avoiding deeper issues โandโ neglecting their own need โfor rest and โคemotional โคprocessing. Psychologist Elizabeth Sadock notes that โsuppressingโค emotion isโ akin to denyingโข hunger, inevitably resurfacing later.
- (The articleโ continues to โฃlist 9 additional phrases, but does not provideโข themโค in the provided text.)
The article,โ authored by Marielisa Reyes, a writer with a bachelor’s degree inโข psychology, emphasizes the importance of recognizing these subtle cues and approaching lovedโ ones โwith โขempathy and understanding. Reyes covers topics in self-help, relationships, career, family, and โastrology.
