11 Characteristics Of A Bitter Person

Have you ever wondered what makes people bitter? You may have tried everything to help someone see the brighter side of life, but their bitterness only seems to grow. Every word they speak and every action they take is filled with negativity.

It can be draining. You might find yourself questioning why they are this way and where all the bitterness stems from.

But more importantly, you might be wondering what you can do to help them.

1. They hold a grudge like their life depends on it.

They never forget a grudge. They prefer to keep their distance from others to avoid being hurt again. They are constantly on the lookout for warning signs in everyone they meet, as they can’t afford to risk further pain. Holding onto grudges is their way of protecting themselves from further harm.

For them, it’s a matter of survival. They haven’t processed or healed from past traumas, so they hold onto grudges to ensure they won’t be hurt again.

2. They’re always complaining.

They focus solely on the negative aspects of life and always find something or someone to complain about. They believe that life is full of negativity and people are inherently bad.

When asked to think positively or find something good in their life, they may view it as “toxic positivity” and reject the idea of being more positive. They see any attempt to encourage positivity as an invalidation of their pain, which leads to more complaints and negativity.

3. They’re not grateful for the good in their life.

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They often fail to appreciate the good things in their life as they are too focused on the negative. They resist any suggestion to practice gratitude, viewing it as a dismissal of their past sufferings and a refusal to let go of their pain.

Expressing gratitude feels insincere to them when their outlook on life is predominantly negative.

4. They want only bad things for those who have hurt them.

Once someone has wronged them, forgiveness is out of the question. They hold onto grudges indefinitely and wish ill upon those who have hurt them. They take pleasure in hearing bad news about their offenders and may even feel gleeful about their misfortunes.

However, their satisfaction is dampened if they fail to witness the suffering of those who have wronged them.

5. They’re jealous of anything good that happens to others.

They harbor jealousy and resentment towards those who experience positive events, especially if it involves someone who has wronged them. They wish for misfortune to befall those they are angry with and perceive any good that happens to them as an insult.

If given the chance, they would turn blessings into curses, as their mindset is more focused on negativity rather than positivity.

6. They can’t share in someone else’s joy.

Sharing in the joy of others is a challenge for bitter individuals. They struggle to celebrate with those they care about, as someone else’s happiness can trigger feelings of exclusion and bitterness within them.

Even if the person experiencing joy is someone they love, the bitter person may find it difficult to empathize and join in the celebration. They are more likely to feel offended or left out rather than share in the happiness.