Unfulfilled needs to Frustration to Depression

Unfulfilled needs to Frustration to Depression

We all seek happiness. At the core of our actions, decisions, and goals is a desire to feel fulfilled and at peace. But when our needs and desires remain unmet, we experience unhappiness.

To regain happiness, we naturally try to fulfill these unmet needs. Sometimes, our efforts are effective—we identify the real issue and take steps that genuinely bring satisfaction.

But often, we fail to recognize the true source of our unhappiness. Instead of addressing the root cause, we turn to distractions—behaviors or substances that offer temporary relief. These may include food, sugar, alcohol, drugs, social media, shopping, or other forms of instant gratification.

These distractors provide short-term pleasure or numbness, making us feel better for a while. However, once their effect fades, the original unhappiness resurfaces, pulling us back into discomfort. This leads to a repeating cycle:

Unhappiness → Distraction → Temporary Relief → Unhappiness

What is frustration?

Over time, we begin to notice that the cycle isn’t working. Despite repeated efforts, the core problem remains unsolved. This growing awareness creates a second layer of pain: frustration. Now we’re not just unhappy about our unmet needs—we’re also unhappy that we can’t seem to fix it and the loop becomes:

Unhappiness and frustration → Distraction → Temporary Relief → Unhappiness and frustration

What is Depression?

As frustration builds, we may intensify our reliance on distractions. But the relief they provide becomes even more fleeting. Eventually, we begin to lose hope. It starts to feel as if there’s no way out, no solution that works. This prolonged struggle and hopelessness can evolve into depression.