I am known as a complainer. My husband tells me that it’s difficult to understand my mindset.
But I just feel that if a company wrongs me, I want to complain about it. I am one of those annoying people that will leave a negative review – but very rarely if ever a positive review.
I understand that this creates issues with the verifiability and accuracy of online reviews in general. Websites like Trustpilot go the other way, they invite users to review really silly things like the checkout process.
This is why companies send their “review us” invites a few days after you order (at most). It is too early for things to have gone wrong. Websites like Complaints.UK look set to change this.
As it turns out, there’s some science behind the art of complaining. Here’s a look at how complaining can improve your mental state, boost your overall level of happiness and even benefit your relationships — if you do it the right way.
Complaining Can Hurt Your Mental Health
What makes an effective complaint versus one that’s just going to make the situation at hand feel worse? Shadeen Francis, a licensed marriage and family therapist practicing in Philadelphia, says that one key differentiator is whether or not you’ve got a solution in mind. “Complaining for the purpose of resolving a concern or grievance is helpful for mental health, as it is a way to channel your needs into actionable outcomes,” she says. “This can lead to positive experiences like self-awareness (mindfulness) and happiness.”
