You feel suffocated and weighed down by some kind of invisible force. And you don’t really know why, but this force is relentless … No matter what you do, you carry this knotted heaviness inside everywhere you go.

You look at your life and marvel at how it doesn’t feel like ‘yours’ at all. You desperately want to escape, you badly want to do something … but you’re terrified of destroying everything you’ve built so far.

You feel paralyzed. All of us will feel trapped at some point, whether that be in a job, house, neighborhood, financial circumstance, religion, family, or relationship.

Usually, feeling trapped can be easily remedied by simply doing something new – but it’s not always that easy. When feeling trapped becomes a persistent problem, one that makes you feel hopeless, then it’s time to take a serious look at your life.

In other words, feeling trapped can create anxiety and depression, which further reinforces the feeling of being trapped. And so the cycle continues.

Anxiety and depression may trigger this experience, and also be the byproduct of it, but what actually creates the anxiety and depression.

Passivity is often a learned behavior that we’re taught in childhood by our parents, teachers, and societies. For example, being headstrong is generally a trait that is discouraged in society because it makes you less governable, meaning that others have less influence over you.

As such, in childhood, many of us were taught to be submissive, compliant, and docile because these traits made us “good members” of a society that revolves around control and power. As young people, how many of us felt empowered and encouraged to take a proactive approach to our life, and to be and do whatever we desired, even if that went against “the norm”.

Of course, most people pay lip service to this “empowerment” ideal (such as our teachers and even parents), but only within the confines of doing socially acceptable things like going to university, chasing after money and status, and getting married and having kids.

When we’re passive, we’re literally giving others the permission to make our decisions and dictate our existence on this earth. When we’re passive, we’re resigned to accepting our “lot” in life, without realizing that it is actually in our hands to create a life of our own choosing.

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If you have just realized that you’ve taken a passive approach to life, don’t worry. Most people on this planet have.

But with this new knowledge, you can pull off the blindfold and start consciously being proactive and self-sovereign with your life again. See: How to Embrace Being a Lone Wolf and Walk Your OWN Path ».

As human beings, we are forever changing, evolving, and transforming.

When species, ecosystems, and even business and trends don’t evolve, they fade away into oblivion. This natural law is evolution in process.

And the same goes for us as people: we are changing each and every day. We might not be consciously aware of it (because we’re usually evolving in minuscule ways), but we are not the exact same person as we were this time yesterday.

Feeling trapped is therefore often a product of simply outgrowing your current life. Perhaps you don’t have much in common with your friends anymore, your career interests have changed, or you just don’t relate as deeply to your partner anymore.

This is all completely normal, yet as humans, we tend to pathologize change. We become neurotic and fearful about it because we desperately want to control life to give us a sense of comfort and security.

When you aren’t willing to upgrade or change your life, even when you’ve outgrown it long ago, you feel suffocated. Just imagine how uncomfortable it would be squeezing yourself into the clothes you wore ten or twenty years ago.

Remember that it’s completely normal to not want to let go, so be gentle and compassionate towards yourself. It’s OK to grow and change.

See: 11 Exhilarating Ways to Be True to Yourself (When Scared) ». All of us want to feel like we belong.

But we’ve come a long way in our evolution, and the proof is that the more we force ourselves to be “normal,” the more we suffer. Evolution, or rather involution, is now calling us to honor our authentic needs in order to grow as a species.

Conformity is an old paradigm we no longer need to chase after. In fact, the more we conform, the more empty we feel inside.

The more we mold our lives to be “socially acceptable,” the more we sacrifice our inner values, dreams, beliefs, and desires. Trying to fit in with others because we fear what they think about us, is a recipe for suffering.

See: How to Embrace Being a Lone Wolf and Walk Your OWN Path ». Receive every enlightening journal, workbook, ebook, bundle, deck, meditation, and download that we offer here on our lonerwolf store in this all-in-one bundle (80+ items included.

Responsibilities are a normal part of life. they teach us to be mature, accountable, patient, and empathetic.

But there can come a point in our lives when we take on more responsibilities than we can handle … and we start to feel TRAPPED.

Usually, we fill our lives with pointless or excessive commitments because we’re trying to escape from something, whether that is our pain, our insecurities, our past, our traumas, or some kind of buried emotion that haunts us like grief, emptiness, or anger. If you’re feeling trapped, closely examine your life.

And furthermore, what can you do to decrease your workload.

This feeling is accompanied by loneliness, emotional numbness, emptiness, restlessness, irritability, and of course, anxiety and depression. Soul loss occurs for many reasons such as a traumatic life experience or simply situations where we’ve had to consistently shape ourselves into who others want us to be (causing us to feel repressed and withered inside).

Our soul, on the other hand, is focused on love and unity: on learning how to love, behaving from a place of love, speaking with love, and ultimately, embodying love as our True Nature.

We start to feel empowered and begin to listen to the voice of the heart rather than the voice of the mind. Feeling trapped, therefore, is often a sign that you’re undergoing not just a loss of soul connection and therefore lack of life purpose, but you’re starting to “wake up” on a deeper level.

Feeling trapped can be a self-perpetuating cycle: we begin to look for more and more proof to confirm our belief that we are victims. And that feeling of self-victimization fuels the feelings of being trapped.

For example, we might try to stop feeling trapped, but then, our inner saboteur might do something that causes us to fall back into that feeling again. As a result, we confirm the belief that we’re trapped, thus becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy.

So be careful. Understand that feeling trapped can actually be a very addictive role because it makes us feel like a victim – and the ego loves feeling like a victim.

Ironically, feeling like a victim is actually very empowering because this role revolves around blaming, justifying, and making excuses – and all of these behaviors deflect self-responsibility. With that in mind, let’s explore some methods which can help you to stop feeling trapped:

It’s normal to feel sad about your situation, but self-pity ultimately gets you nowhere.

Realize that happiness is what happens when you step up and claim ownership of your life. Do something new each day.

In today’s fast-paced world, many of us are possibly grappling with a mid-life crisis, feeling like a fish out of water. The obligations of demanding jobs, the weight of financial commitments, the struggles of maintaining relationships, and the pressure to adhere to societal norms can make many feel ensnared in a life they no longer recognize.

This sense of helplessness isn’t just a sentiment. it’s statistically significant.

A staggering 27% felt trapped in monotonous routines, and 26% reported feeling lonelier than they ever have before. But here’s the silver lining: no matter how bleak the horizon seems, there’s always a glimmer of hope.

The onus is on you. Your mind and your actions are powerful tools, and they can be the very instruments you use to carve out a better, more fulfilling path.

The lens through which you view the world shapes your reality. If that lens is smeared with negativity, your perception will be skewed accordingly.

Remember the words of the great Rumi: “What you seek is seeking you.”.

it’s a call to action. If you actively chase the life you desire, with optimism, you’ll find that those aspirations are, in turn, reaching out for you.

Too often, it’s easy to play the blame game, pointing fingers at everyone and everything when life doesn’t go as planned. But, in doing so, we often overlook the immense power resting in our own hands.

Instead of being trapped in the cycle of what-ifs and if-onlys, why not pivot towards solutions.

Do you shrug and abandon your goal. No.

Maybe you dive into the vast world of YouTube, where countless fitness enthusiasts share workouts for every level, for free. While it might not offer the full gym experience, it’s a step in the right direction, a way to assert control when faced with a challenge.

Stepping back and looking inward can often illuminate the path forward. The Oracle study suggests that a whopping 93% of people have recalibrated their compass, putting work-life balance, mental well-being, and flexibility on their priority pedestal.

It’s an invitation to sit down and sift through the layers of your life. Think about what ignites passion in you versus what feels like just another tick on a checklist.

But the price of that conformity can be steep, leaving you confined within walls of others’ expectations. With the rise of social media, this pressure is amplified as we constantly measure our lives against curated snapshots of others.

Some people, even those closest to you, might scratch their heads at the route you choose. And that’s perfectly okay.

So, here’s a challenge: how can you pivot closer to your passions. Perhaps it’s by seeking roles that align with your interests or maybe by carving out personal time to immerse in what fuels your soul.

Which tasks invigorate you. How do you envision your time unfolding.

Dedicating time to this introspection isn’t just self-indulgence. it’s an investment in shaping a life that truly feels like yours.

The Time-Life Assessment is a tool that might help. It’s a free assessment designed by our team at LifeHack to help you reclaim your life.

Take the free assessment here. There’s an art to declining, a skill not taught in schools but essential in the school of life.

The joy of helping others is undeniable, but it should never come at the expense of sidelining your own journey or desires. It’s essential to strike a balance.

it’s about being self-aware. Your time and energy are finite resources.

Every moment spent on tasks that don’t align with your aspirations is a moment taken away from what truly matters to you. Besides, saying “no” isn’t just about guarding your passions—it’s about protecting your well-being.

And while society often glorifies the hustle and grind, there’s wisdom in acknowledging your limits. Every “yes” you hand out thoughtlessly is a potential chain tying you down, making you feel more entrapped.

Ask yourself: does this align with my goals. Will it propel me closer to my life’s purpose or divert me.

Navigate life with intention, and you’ll find yourself less entangled and more empowered. Ever looked at something in your life and thought, “I’m not a fan of this.

If something’s amiss, it’s time to act. But here’s the catch: aiming for sweeping, instantaneous changes is like trying to leap a tall building.

Tackling everything at once can trigger a paralysis of choice. You freeze up, thinking about the vastness of the task ahead, and then, often, nothing gets done.

So, here’s a strategy: Identify what’s irking you. Label it.

We call this your North Star in the Time Flow System, a method crafted by my team at LifeHack. It’s that guiding light, the end goal you’re steering toward.

Think of these as Initiatives—manageable steps or tasks that inch you closer to that gleaming goal. And if this ‘breaking down’ part sounds tricky.

It’ll dissect your North Star into bite-sized actions you can tackle without feeling swamped. But here’s the final and crucial part: Commit to these steps.

By setting a concrete date and time, you’re not just daydreaming about change. you’re cementing a plan to make it happen.

Taking control is as much about action as it is about intent, and this is how you can start to break out from the trapped life. Learn more about the Time Flow System here.

Tapping into the power of community is a testament to understanding the innate human bond. Deep down, we’re wired for reciprocity.

And guess what. By revealing that you’re human, that you have moments of vulnerability, you’re inviting deeper connections.

It’s not just about getting help. it’s also about fortifying relationships, which, by the way, does wonders for your well-being.

Embrace it. Seeking expert advice is not about admitting defeat—it’s about recognizing that some hurdles need specialized tools.

See it not as a last resort, but as a transformative step to reclaim your life’s narrative. Life’s twists and turns might make us feel boxed in at times, but feeling trapped is a signal, not a sentence.

Through self-awareness, intentional action, and leaning on community, we have the tools to redesign our narrative. The key is to start.

Do you find the place that you live in boring and uninspiring.

Do you constantly dream of other locations.

A month ago, Lee and I were visiting family in his hometown – a small working class Lancashire town in the North of England. I personally love it there.

However, I have had this very same conversation with many locals: Them: That accent’s not from around here is it.

Me: No, I’m from Canada. Them: What do you think of it here.

Me: I love it here. Them: *Astonishment and disbelief* Really.

They will then go ahead and tell me why I must be crazy, because Canada must be so much better than this part of the world – this horrible and bleak stain on the map that I have found myself in. I’ve already outlined the reasons why I love it in Accrington in another post, but I think the point is more to do with perception.

It’s not this location that’s “terrible”, it’s the attitude of the people who are negative about it. Lee and I were in Banff, Alberta during our Cross Canada Road Trip.

It’s nestled within the world famous Rocky Mountains, a crystal clear mountain stream runs through it and it offers world class skiing, hiking, canoeing and an international backpacker party scene. Deer and elk wander down the street in the middle of the day.

However, we still managed to have an exchange with a negative local who complained to us that Banff was “boring” and “too cold” and he couldn’t wait to get out. We were shocked that someone could be bitter about living somewhere that people travel from all over the world to visit – but the truth is that it’s all about attitude.

Never underestimate the power of negativity to find a downside to the most awesome things in the world.

The truth is that no matter where you live, the location offers pros and cons. Of course, I’m not talking about people who are living in war torn communities in the developing world, as they actually have legitimate reasons to be unhappy where they are.

Don’t be one of those people who constantly complains about something, yet doesn’t do a thing to change it. Ok, so you don’t like where you are currently living.

Option #1: Change your perspective and discover the positives of where you live.

If you can learn to appreciate the beauty of where you are, you will be happy wherever you live. If you really desire to live somewhere else… then why not get out.

If you can’t learn to appreciate the place that you live in, moving location will only be a temporary fix until the novelty of your new place starts to wear off. For example, you might be a Brit who always complains about the rain, the government, the economy, etc.

At first, it’s brilliant. You drink wine, eat tapas and get a tan.

However, after a while things in Spain start to get on your nerves. Every simple thing takes forever, everyone is so loud and emotional, the bars are all filled with smoke and you can never get anything done in the afternoon because of the bloody Siesta.

Has Spain changed. Nope – it’s all you.

Instead, learn how to make the most of wherever you are, so that you will enjoy living there. That way, you will never have to move away from somewhere to “escape”, you will simply relocate because you are craving a different (not necessarily better) experience.

It’s because of the way you experience them. When you are visiting somewhere as a tourist, you experience all of the best aspects of that destination and very little of the bad.

You spend a little more than usual and you treat yourself to nice things. Of course you are going to love it there.

What if you viewed your “boring” hometown in the same way. Give a try someday.

Take your camera with you, snap photos of your town’s nicest buildings, sit in the prettiest park and have a picnic, eat at a new restaurant, visit your local museum or go for a hike along a local trail. Imagine you are seeing this place for the first time and see the beauty that is there.

What is the history of the town. What famous people lived there.

What are the significant events that shaped your town and gave it it’s identity. The more layers of history you uncover about a place, the more interesting it becomes.

Perhaps you find your small rural town boring because there is nothing to do, but if you were a parent with a young family you would appreciate the safe streets and friendly community. Again, it’s all about perspective.

However… I’ve lived here a long time and this place just doesn’t fulfil me any more. What should I do now.

This is where Option #2 comes in – moving somewhere new. If you are craving a change of scenery, there is nothing wrong with going somewhere else.

Maybe you can move from the big city to the countryside or vice versa. Maybe you want to pack your bags and go backpacking for a while.

Of course, it is important to remember that your new destination will be flawed as well, so remember that you are not running away from a terrible place to somewhere better – you are simply seeking somewhere that suits your interests at this stage in your life. Do you love where you live.

Do you crave a life somewhere different. Share your thoughts in the comments with us.

Most of us have experienced that pivotal peak of pain, anger or frustration in which we want to scream “I hate my life.” Yet, the feeling that a dark cloud has specifically settled over us and our experiences can feel pretty isolating. The truth is, no matter how singled out or overwhelmed we feel, and no matter what area we are struggling in, we are not alone.

workers are unhappy with their job. One in 10 Americans struggles with depression.

Escaping from this hopeless-seeming state may feel impossible. Yet, in reality, we are not doomed, and we are not powerless.

In his 35 years of research, Dr. Salvatore Maddi of The Hardiness Institute has discovered that what predicts how well we will do in life, our relationships, careers, and so on is NOT how much money we have or even how many struggles we face.

We can all learn to become more resilient. We can implement tools that help shape how we see and experience the world around us.

This process starts with asking ourselves a few questions, starting with: Whose life are you really living.

One of the reasons we have the feeling of “I hate my life” is because we aren’t really following our own path. Instead, we are, often subconsciously, carrying out someone else’s idea of how we should live.

To do this, we can engage in a process known as differentiation, which can help us to distinguish our real wants, goals and desires from undesirable outside influences. As Dr.

According to Firestone, in order for our real, authentic self to emerge, we have to identify and separate from destructive programming we received very early in our lives, primarily from our parents or other influential caretakers. “Differentiating from parental interjects and psychological defenses based on the emotional pain of childhood is a central developmental issue in every person’s life,” wrote Firestone.

The point of differentiation isn’t to blame parents for all our problems but rather to help explain the elements that lay the foundation for the self-limiting or self-destructive behavior we engage in that leads to our unhappiness. Naturally, no parent is perfect.

Parents may have critical attitudes toward themselves that extend to their children. As people grow up, they tend to incorporate these attitudes and engage in a process of self-parenting.

All of these actions are a reaction to our upbringing and don’t necessarily reflect our true unique identity and point of view. In this Webinar: We all experience moments of utter despair in which we think “I hate my life.” Whatever we feel is going….

If we had a parent who believed they were unintelligent, we may feel this way toward ourselves. As adults, we tend to be drawn toward relationships and circumstances that recreate the emotional environment from our past.

If you feel like you hate your life, it’s beneficial to ask whose life are you really living. Are you reliving someone else’s idea of who you should be or what you should want.

Are you looking at your life through a negative filter.

” As Maddi discovered in his research, it isn’t just our circumstances that determine our life satisfaction and success. In fact, it’s what we are telling ourselves about our circumstances that often makes us miserable.

This critical inner voice is there to undermine and sabotage us in every area of our lives, our careers, relationships and personal goals. When we experience a setback, this voice will tear us apart and remind us that we’ll never succeed.

One of the biggest steps we can take to change our lives involves identifying and challenging this inner critic. It’s important to separate this alien coach from our true point of view.

As we engage in this transformative and enlightening process, it’s valuable to remind ourselves that as long as we are independent and differentiated adults, we can pretty much change any part of our lives… as long as we change this negative filter. Although our critical inner voice has built up over a long time and is based on destructive past experiences and early childhood influences, as adults, these “voices” are just thoughts.

For example, if our voice tells us we are incompetent or incapable of change, we can remind ourselves that this is just a thought driven by a deep, unconscious “anti-self” whose only mission is to sabotage us.

We can go out for that job interview, knowing we can handle not getting it. We can stick to an exercise plan even when our inner critic lures us to indulge.

How resilient are you.

The more we can stick through hard times without expecting the road to be easy, the better we can handle what life throws at us. Hardiness involves accepting that we have some control over our situation, and that there are always steps we can take to improve our circumstances.

We can learn more about Maddi’s research and the steps to become more psychologically resilient here. There are many actions we can take when we feel turned against ourselves and our lives.

It has been proven to reduce stress, fight depression and lead to overall benefits in health and well-being. Mindfulness meditation can help us to acknowledge these thoughts as momentary feelings that will pass like clouds over a mountain.

Conquer your critical inner voice – Voice Therapy is a method developed by Dr. Robert Firestone.

Learn more about Voice Therapy. Spend time with a family of choice – Oftentimes, people feel obligated to spend time with the family they were born into, but old dynamics and remnants of past hurts can cause “family time” to be times of pain or stress.

What’s most important is choosing to be around people who support you and the things that light you up and make you who you are. Realize your personal power – No matter what life throws at us, taking a victim mentality only makes us suffer more.

Seek help – Going to therapy is an action that would benefit everyone. There is no shame in seeking help.

No matter where you are in the world or what your economic status is, help is available. Samaritans.org is a great international resource to find help.

No matter where we’re at in our lives, it’s important to remember that we can handle loss or change. Human beings are incredibly adaptive.

Things will get better. Even those who experience thoughts of suicide must know that the suicidal state is almost always transient and temporary.

You can feel better. You can conquer whatever internal forces are telling you to give up, and you can go on to have a uniquely meaningful life.

If you or someone you know is in crisis or in need of immediate help in the United States, call 1-800-273-TALK (8255). This is a free ho.

I’ll bet there’s been a morning when you’ve racked your brain for an excuse not to go into the office, wondered just what the heck you’re doing, or had that weight in your limbs as you begrudgingly got yourself ready to leave the house. You, me, and a few million others.

It’s toxic. closing in, weighing down on you, and slowing your steps.

I hate the idea of anyone feeling trapped by anything (and I happen to love a good picnic), so let’s shine a light on the thoughts you have in your head that make you feel that way.

If you see other people as more skilled, more capable, or more talented than you, you’ll feel like you need to stay out of the spotlight to avoid the chance for criticism, and you’ll build walls around you to avoid being seen as less-than. Wind forward a few months, and you feel sufficiently incapable that nobody else would have you.

Larry from accounts may run a great meeting. Mary from marketing may be creatively brilliant.

But they may not be as intuitive as you. Or be able to cut right through a problem.

Everyone’s better and worse than others on a limitless number of scales. Comparison is redundant.

We’ve all seen the headlines since the big crash. Layoffs, glacial recovery, fat cats getting richer, Justin Bieber getting arrested.

Now is entirely the wrong time to be back on the job market, so please, don’t even think about it. Belief is everything.

But, if you believe that you do have a chance out there, then suddenly doors are flung open and you get to go exploring. Yes, some businesses and markets are tougher than others, but it’s been that way since the agricultural revolution.

And only believing the naysayers and doom-mongers will secure your place in the also-ran. People do make moves.

People do reach for better things. You can, too.

“You know, I should just wait until the next round of pay reviews.”. “I’ll hold on until Christmas and see what happens then.”.

There’s a word for people who play the waiting game in the hope that other people will come along and make everything okay. In denial.

Staying put and waiting it out is only a good tactic if it’s part of a larger strategy that you can influence—like saving up enough money to start your own thing. Otherwise, it’s just wasting time, doubting yourself, and carving yourself a rut so deep that feeling trapped becomes a way of life.

To demonstrate my remarkable grasp of the obvious, let me say that it’s really hard to get what you want when you don’t know what it is you want. There are all kinds of options, but nothing really connects.

When you don’t know what you want, it seems like the only valid option available is to stay where you are until the answer appears, regardless of how trapped it might make you feel. But there is another option: Start asking yourself some questions.

Something in a different city. Perhaps you want to get more creative or to take on more responsibility—or maybe all you know is that you don’t want to work for someone else.

I don’t think the level of definition matters a whole lot, though. What matters is being ready to ask some tough questions and being confident enough to own your answers.

Working’s hard. You have to work your way up, roll up your sleeves, and learn the hard way, learn from the best, and do what you can.

Sounds exhausting, and it’s also how hollow, outer success happens, not meaningful, resonant, real success. The belief that you have to pay your dues, hustle to get ahead, and prove yourself is one of the more subtly pernicious and damaging ones that exists in the world of work.

The truth is, you don’t have to prove anything. You just have to feel free enough to do your best work, wherever that may take you.

Home » Personal Growth » » How To Cope When You Hate Where You Live: 5 Tips To Get Through It. Stuck in a place you don’t like.

Here are life-changing tips to cope and get through it, even if “I hate where I live.” Discover how to find a way out or learn to love your current situation. Read this blog post to gain control of your life and make better decisions.

Table of Contents. Feeling unhappy with where you live is common.

When basic needs and psychological requirements aren’t met, it’s hard to develop positive feelings. Overcrowding, lack of personal space, limited natural light, insufficient storage, financial constraints, and lack of amenities – all of these can contribute to hating where you live.

Plus, finding ways to enhance your quality of life can help improve your outlook. For centuries, people have moved for better conditions and opportunities.

This may provide valuable insights. Living somewhere you hate is like being in a bad relationship – it’ll mess with your mental health.

A place that doesn’t match your values or preferences can lead to depression, anxiety, loneliness, and anger. Reasons for this might include weak social networks, unsafe neighborhoods, and a lack of infrastructure or facilities.

Those with no control over their living situation are especially at risk. They perceive themselves as vulnerable, making them more susceptible to distress.

Try to find activities to engage in outside of home/work. change up your house interiors or color palette.

These adjustments help you take back control of your environment, and ease your stress. Living in a place you don’t like can be a challenge.

Making the best out of your situation is key. These tips can help you refocus from negative thoughts to embracing more possibilities.

So, try different methods until you find what works. It can be easier to break down goals into smaller steps and celebrate each success as you go.

Once you have identified the problem, brainstorm some potential solutions. It could be as simple as rearranging your living space or finding a new hobby to enjoy in your area.

However, it is important to address the issue and find ways to cope rather than letting it negatively impact your daily life. Join community groups or clubs that align with your interests.

Strike up conversations with your neighbors or coworkers. Look for small changes you can make that can still make a big impact.

Yes, therapy can be a helpful resource for dealing with any emotional distress related to your living situation. A therapist can provide guidance and support in finding healthy coping mechanisms and potential solutions.

Make a conscious effort to explore and appreciate the unique offerings of your city or town. Surround yourself with people and activities that bring you joy and fulfillment.

Feeling trapped is one of the worst situations to be in. You might feel trapped in your marriage.

Or maybe you feel trapped in life. But there is a way to escape this feeling without losing yourself.

What you’re experiencing is completely normal. And there is a solution that’ll help you escape when you feel trapped.

A trapped feeling can feel like we’re being indecisive, paralyzed by fear, and filled with negative thoughts. It can feel like we don’t have control over our lives and that something, whether it’s money, job, people, or a situation, is holding us back and limiting our options.

Let’s be real for a moment, you know what decision you want to take. If you’re in an unhappy work environment, you’re probably itching to quit so bad.

Don’t let that negative self-talk take over too much. You are talented enough to find a new position.

And just because you feel trapped doesn’t really mean you are trapped. Don’t put barriers in your mind for no reason.

Or maybe you’re afraid of being put in harm’s way if you’re in an abusive relationship. If you need to get help from the police or a professional expert, then by all means do that.

If you aren’t in a loving environment and you’ve tried to improve it but it isn’t getting better, then it might be time to make that hard decision and leave. Sometimes you’re feeling trapped is due to a mental illness or mental health issues like depression which causes you to feel helpless.

You can call the suicide hotline at 1-800-273-TALK. It’s also important that you find a therapist, as well.

When people get to the point where they feel trapped in life, things often began to get bigger. You might find yourself catastrophizing automatically which only makes you feel more panicked and desperate to escape.

When you feel trapped, it’s so important to build a support system. You need to surround yourself with positive people who will help you through and help you embrace fear.

Something that will help you push forward even when you feel like everything is falling apart. Maybe you hang out with your friends regularly so you can reduce stress.

But ultimately, you want to make sure that your support system is positive and uplifting. But you always want to be able to take in their honest feedback as well so if there are areas where you can improve as well, you can make adjustments.

When big changes happen, people go into hysterics. It adds so much stress in their lives.

The small adjustments can be minor changes to your environment. Maybe instead of working at the office every day, you work from home one day a week.

In a relationship, you might try marriage counseling so you can try to improve your communication with your partner. Or maybe you become separated temporarily.

If you’re feeling trapped in an illness, you might spend more time with your friends and family to make each moment more precious.

Maybe you’re feeling anxious or depression and it’s getting the best of you so you aren’t seeing things with complete clarity. Make a list of pros about your situation.

In your relationship, you might think back to some of the positive moments you’ve shared with this person. Maybe you’re grateful for children you’ve had with them, a sweet gift they’ve given, or a kind gesture they’ve done for you during a tough time.

When feeling trapped, we often panic and want to change our situation immediately. Take a deep breath in.

Things always change. Always.

Life will change whether you want it to or not. Some things are completely out of our control.

Like we mentioned earlier, you can make small adjustments to prepare for the changes you want to control like a new job. But if you add an element of panic or stress to the situation, you’ll subconsciously prevent yourself from getting the things you actually want.

When feeling trapped, sometimes it’s because we’re trying to evolve or grow but feel like we’re unable to do so. That’s when focusing on improving yourself becomes so important.

You can read self-help books about people who’ve been through your exact situation. And you might be able to learn a few lessons from someone who has felt trapped but overcome their situation.

That might be new job skills or communication skills for relationships.

In this situation, it’s so important to live within our means. Instead of trying to spend money we don’t have pretending to live a life to impress our friends on Instagram, we need to build up to that.

Or you earn enough so you can live an independent life. This world is ruled by money.

Instead, we must find a way to earn more of it to live the life we desire. And with the internet, you now have the same access to become wealthy as some of the richest people in the world.

It’s so important to stand up for yourself so you don’t feel trapped. Sometimes, we feel trapped because of barriers put on us by other people.

However, keep in mind that communication is a lot tougher than you may think. If you attack someone with your words, they’ll feel defensive.

Instead, you need to learn to articulate your needs in a way that the other person hears you and wants to help you. By shifting your method of communication, you’ll inch closer to escaping the trapped life you’re in.

So, while we recently shared that you must be patient. That doesn’t mean waiting around for something good to happen.

This might mean looking for a new job, moving out of your home, moving to a new city, going on a solo trip to gain clarity, or doing something that’ll ultimately get you on the right track to living a life where you don’t feel trapped. It takes work, effort, will, and a little pain to get over the hump when you feel stuck.

Sometimes we feel trapped because we hide behind a mask of who we feel others think we are rather than just being who we really are. Many people hide their sexuality because they’re afraid of the judgment they’ll receive.

It’s okay to be different from anyone around you. It’s actually incredible to be different from everyone around you.

So, if you stick out, you’re truly incredible. Some of the most successful people became famous because of what made them different.

But sometimes that’s because they feel like they can’t measure up to you. Those people are special too.

By: fPat Murray. by Andrea M.

In an unhappy relationship. But can’t seem to just get up and leave.

Nobody consciously decides to be unhappy. But unconsciously there can be a different story playing out.

Our thoughts can sound like: Even “I can’t financially afford to leave this relationship” can be low self-esteem in disguise, showing a lack of belief in your own skills and creativity.

We unconsciously advertise our low self-esteem, such as making jokes putting ourselves down, agreeing with everything someone says, jumping into bed with them too quickly, or having defeated body language. These signals attract those who belittle and control others, or who want someone self-sacrificing to take care of them.

It might sound illogical. Surely if a partner made you anxious, you’d leave.

Not necessarily. For starters, if you grew up in a home environment that left you anxious, with unstable parents, this might be what feels normal or even like ‘home’ and ‘love’ to you.

Anxiety triggers our ‘fight or flight’ mode. which releases chemicals like adrenaline and cortisol into our body.

If we try to leave our partner, and suddenly our brain no longer feels in danger, we can crash, feeling low and bored. And convince ourselves to stay in the bad relationship to feel ‘high’ again.

But the more we try for it, the more we get anxious. And the more anxious we get, the more we can hold on or even get clingy.

According to attachment theory, it’s because our main caregiver was unreliable. They only gave us love and positive affection or made us feel safe part of the time.

And we carry this nervousness and vigilance around love into adulthood. If we are afraid of being abandoned, we can end up in a ‘push pull’ pattern.

When we realise they weren’t actually abandoning us, we panic and do everything to ‘pull’ them back. The highs and lows of this pattern quickly become highly dramatic, addictive, and all consuming.

This pattern, of drama and volatility in a relationship, driven by fear of abandonment, is part of having borderline personality disorder (BPD). Trauma bonding means we get hooked on a cycle of abuse followed by compensation, such as a partner that hits us then buys us flowers and says they love us.

If we had trauma in our childhood, our brain can already be predisposed to this addictive way of bonding, meaning we are more likely to choose an abusive partner. By: assymonkey.

It might be that you learned by example to choose difficult relationships. If you watched a parent stay in a bad relationship, it’s more likely that you will, too.

Childhood trauma is also a common cause of difficulties with relationships as an adult. And if your childhood trauma was abuse, it’s likely you have a hidden core belief that you are unlovable so stick out relationships where you feel hated.

If our relationship choices as an adult are connected to traumatic experiences as a child, it can be hard to change them through mere willpower. If there was abuse in your past, processing repressed memories and emotions can be overwhelming.

You can make progress yourself with research and self-help books. But the help of a counsellor or psychotherapist makes the process of learning to choose happy and healthy relationships faster, and more likely to last, then attempting it alone.

Need help with BPD or relating issues. We connect you with some of London’s most highly regarded talk therapists.

Andrea M. Darcy is the lead writer and editor of this site, and has written over two thousand popular articles on wellbeing and mental health.

Photo: istockphoto.com. It’s normal to feel sad or disappointed after buying a home.

For some, these feelings are an initial reaction to such a significant investment. However, for others, the concerns only worsen over time, leading to increased dissatisfaction with their home.

With soaring interest rates, many homeowners feel stuck in a house that doesn’t meet their needs or they downright hate due to financial reasons. Others may believe they should stay because their children are settled or their partner is content.

Photo: istockphoto.com. A house is more than brick and mortar.

The décor is a reflection of the people who live there. Though it may feel impossible to love the house, it’s possible to love the contents.

Display cards, photographs, and mementos. Consider following organizing guru and author Marie Kondo’s method of sparking joy: Choose colors, textiles, and items that welcome feelings of joy.

Photo: istockphoto.com. Instead of focusing on specific changes, consider creating a mood.

When deciding what mood to choose, consider favorite hotels, restaurants, and friends’ homes. When adding in features, engage all of the senses.

RELATED: 15 Ways to Light Up Your Decor With Candles. Photo: istockphoto.com.

An organized space can make a house more inviting, manageable, and comfortable. Clearing away clutter and creating an organization plan also helps make a home operate more efficiently.

If the thought of decluttering feels overwhelming, recruit help or start with just 5 minutes a day. Photo: istockphoto.com.

List the things that garner the most dislike and assess how to make changes. Focus on the areas that can be helped with a quick fix, such as new paint, furniture arrangement, or a landscaping cleanup.

RELATED: 14 Easy DIY Living Room Updates Anyone Can Do in a Day. Photo: istockphoto.com.

When we focus on the negative qualities of anything, more will likely be noticed. Instead of lamenting over all the disappointing factors, notice the positives.

Perhaps the bedroom is cozy or there’s a basement with extra space. Focusing on gratitude can help us downshift from hating everything.

Find a spot, even a corner, and claim it. Consider a reading nook with a small bookshelf and a cozy chair, a meditation corner with candles and floor pillows, or a music alcove with headphones and a speaker.

Photo: istockphoto.com. Whether the neighborhood is ideal or not, getting involved in the community can help make a house feel like a home.

If that seems intimidating, just start by waving hello to neighbors. RELATED: How to Organize an Epic Block Party That Will Have Everyone Dancing in the Street.

It’s easy to get caught up in what we want to change and forget to focus on the present moment. Don’t miss out on life while waiting to move out or lamenting over a house where you feel trapped.

remember to notice and enjoy even small positive moments. Savor sitting by the window in a rainstorm or watching the birds or little ones play in the neighborhood.

Photo: istockphoto.com. Maybe it’s the house, but it also could be something more.

So, it’s essential to ask if moving is the answer or if there are other ways to find contentment in the present moment. Photo: istockphoto.com.

Even if it doesn’t seem 100 percent logical, it is still sometimes the best option. If it’s not in the cards now, lay out a plan for moving.