At the moment, I’m feeling like a victim. People keep calling me, texting me and I can’t get any work completed. I feel like I’m being attacked from all sides by inconsiderate family members who refuse to acknowledge what I’m doing as a “real job”. Yes, I have a victim mentality, but I don’t think I always have this. There are those who live this life day after day, however.
Unlike narcissists, those with a victim mentality develop a rather passive attitude towards the world. Events that cause them mental trauma are beyond their control, according to the admission of these tormented individuals. Life is not something they have created for themselves, rather life is what’s happening to them – each circumstance, each ridicule, they are part of the unalterable design of the universe.
Victims of this nature are tragic heroes. They are the loners who go on long walks alone basking in their morbid predicament, as I said before, that they cannot change. Some of the worst sufferers actually enjoy this state of being a victim. The victim mentality is a notorious illness which has its own dark beauty.
I think the original source of the victim mentality is feeling hopeless. Hopelessness is overwhelming and quickly leads to negative responses. There is an inability to grasp power in any given situation, and power would enable the victim to devise a way out of their negative predicament. You will know the “victim” when they open their mouth, even the one who desperately tries to hide their “woe is me” temperament. Or…is this you? Are you that victim?
Those who suffer from the victim mentality have a weaker ability to bounce back from bad circumstances. Instead of getting up and dusting themselves off, they prefer to wallow in self-pity while discussing their problems. This is in hopes of comfort which is only a temporary solution. Do you do this?
If you know someone who never wants to take responsibility for the mistakes they have made, then you might be looking at a perpetual victim. Instead of admitting to their mistakes, they rather shell out blame to those around them, while talking about how bad their life is. Does the statement, “I have the worst luck”, mean anything to you? Is this you?
Although there are a few exceptions, most individuals with a victim mentality are passive aggressive. They will be quiet and brooding, for the most part. If you ask them how they’re doing, however, they will most likely talk negatively and never smile, even if you tell a joke. They won’t start active arguments or fights, only passively. They may even refuse to stand up for themselves because, according to their dialogue, “they would never win anything anyway, it’s just life.” Are you guilty of acting this way?
Have you ever met someone that was just angry at everything? That no matter what you talked about, they always found some way to become angry? This anger comes from their lack of power to change their life, or in some instances, the power to control things to their own advantage. A victim will always be angry about something, even if they have to fabricate a situation to recharge that angry façade. Are you always angry?
If your friend or family member is always passing around blame for something that happened to them, and fail to realize the problem is always connected to them, then you’ve found a victim. The truth is, they have problems that should be corrected by trying harder to be a better person, not because someone is out to get them. Unfortunately, they get stuck and this is why they have a victim mentality. Do you feel this way?
Do you know why those with a victim mentality are so selfish? It’s because they feel like the world owes them something. The world has hurt them, the world has stolen their dreams and left them with a darkness instead, and so the world must pay. I’m serious, pay attention to some people who are always getting everything they can, even at the expense of leaving nothing for everyone else. Are you selfish?
Why do those who suffer from the victim mentality seek revenge? Well, that’s easy to explain. Since the world has wronged them, the world must pay, right? And it goes deeper than that too. Not only do victims get vengeance on others, they also get to keep the drama going, either for entertainment purposes or to get attention. Who really knows for sure the intricate mindset of the victim.
When speaking of revenge, Social psychologist at Colgate University in Hamilton N.Y., Kevin Carlsmith said,
“Rather than providing closure, it does the opposite: It keeps the wound open and fresh.”
Now that you have an understanding of the victim mentality, let’s find a way to remedy this issue. If you suffer from this, you can utilize a few changes in your thought process.
I wrote a memoir of my life, and darn if I wasn’t a certified victim according to my memories. I still have so many victim traits and it’s hard to catch them and keep them in check. So, I propose that you change your story, as I am attempting to change mine. From now on, I am not a victim, I am a survivor.
Stop being so self-absorbed. I know I have been, many times in the past and was shocked when someone put the truth in my face. Focus, instead, on doing things for others and staying interested in their stories.
Guess what! The world owes you nothing, not a thing, not even a sandwich. So stop crying about your entitlement and get out there and work for something. This will give you a push and it will show you what the world really is, an indifferent rock on which we spin round and round. Lol
Alright, so I finally got some work done, obviously, and guess what…it was no one’s fault but my own that it took this long. I did have outside disturbances and distractions, but there are always ways to remedy a situation. So I won’t whine anymore about how I’m wrong, I will just continue to look for ways to fix it.
And most importantly, take responsibility for my actions. Take care.
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Good article and thank you for writing.
Fantastic! Finally someone who can think and write in an effective way.
Um why can't I find post about being victimized by other people
thank you for convincing me that I am not depressed.
I have never heard the term victim mentality before but what you have described is my father in writing. I’ve never seen anyone described more accurately. As a grown woman, I fear my ability to respect him is almost nonexistent. His economic woes, his cheating on my mom, his failure to raise his other children (my half siblings) are all someone else’s fault. Not his. Never his. He only has enough energy to be resentful.