Most of us don’t realize it but who we are today, is a product of the experiences we’ve had throughout our lives. Our current psychological problems aren’t a reflection of our weaknesses or inability to cope with the events in our life; they’re an amalgamation of your unmet needs.
A 2018 study looked into the incidence of pro-social and antisocial behaviors resulting from the satisfaction of one’s basic psychological needs. When our meets aren’t met, we develop coping mechanisms that can take an unhealthy shape in your life as you grow older.
The idea of relating psychological well being with needs being met stems from various needs-based psychological theories.
Among the most popular ones is Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. As we meet our various basic human needs, we’re better able to realize our true potential. The inability to meet these needs earlier in life can, thus, threaten our psychological wellbeing in adulthood.
Here are 4 unmet needs that may be the cause of your psychological distress later in life:
Social Support
Human beings are social animals, that’s why primary socialization is such an important aspect of our early development. The emotional distress caused by a lack of social support from parents, guardians, and friends early on in life can take a toll on your mental wellbeing later on.
When we don’t receive the attention and comfort we crave, we tend to become self-reliant and ignore our needs for connection. This tends to materialize in our adulthood when we’re unable to form lasting connections with people, pushing away anyone we get close to.
Love and Positivity
Unconditional positive regard is when a parent or guardian loves and appreciates the child no matter the circumstances. Knowing the love they experience isn’t dependent on their actions leads to growth and self-confidence.
When the need for attention and mirroring isn’t met, you often model your life to seek the approval of others. Without this validation in your early years, you might feel anxious, insecure, and always view yourself the way others around you view you.
Sufficient Resources
Your financial situation is strongly linked to your vulnerability to illness and disability. Inadequate financial resources and social capital in your formative years can instill feelings of insecurity that will make you shy away from social interactions.
The unmet need for financial security can manifest in various ways in your adult life. You may develop various psychological problems resulting from the added stresses of managing without meeting your basic necessities.
The Need for Twinship
Friendships—and the ability to form lasting relationships with people of your age—are important aspects of our self-perception. They play a role in ensuring you don’t feel unaccepted and isolated from your peers. We have an inherent need to find people we fit in with, who share similar features or habits as we do.
Without this feeling of belonging, people often develop unhealthy coping mechanisms that can alter the course of their future. Turning to drug abuse, alcohol, or isolating themselves from everyone is a consequence of the unmet need for companionship. The resulting psychological concerns have detrimental implications later on in adulthood.
It’s important to realize that everyone has some unmet needs. Just because you’re currently struggling with your psychological well being doesn’t mean you’re inherently incapable of improving your life.
We’ll help you on your journey of breaking free from your limitations and satisfying your psychological needs through the NIKU method.
Using our personal coaching app—available on the Apple App Store and Google PlayStore—get assistance from our online psychological counselors and life coaches and reshape the course of your life!
