Someone else in the thread used the term "chronic bitcher", and that's exactly what I used to be. At any given time I would (subconsciously) look for things to complain about, and I always found them.
I was traveling with some friends, doing my usual complaining every day, when one of them finally asked me to please shut up. At first I was offended, but shortly after realized what I had been doing. Committed to stop doing it there and then.
Because I've been there, I'm now conscious about others having this trait. For many people I think it's an attempt at socializing. Commiserating is an easy way to bond, but if you can't temper it, you just come across as an annoying complainer.
I wrote about this on my blog, and even made a flowchart for what to do when I feel the urge to complain. That particular post is not in English, so I won't share it here.
One of my parents is like that, in fact it's their primary method of communicating with people. They're aware of it but never stopped, needless to say it's caused issues.
Not sure that's the reason, but I've become pretty much the opposite in many situations. At times that made people think I don't care, but I just don't think it helps to complain about things everyone already knows about.
I've landed more than once in such situations where even close people would think that if I don't complain, or don't complain enough, means I don't care or I have everything sorted out. Thing is, I rarely believe that complaining to random people moves my issue forward, so I'd keep my complaining for moments where I feel I can be helped - if only with some moral support from people capable of giving me that. (edited for typos)
I was traveling with some friends, doing my usual complaining every day, when one of them finally asked me to please shut up. At first I was offended, but shortly after realized what I had been doing. Committed to stop doing it there and then.
Because I've been there, I'm now conscious about others having this trait. For many people I think it's an attempt at socializing. Commiserating is an easy way to bond, but if you can't temper it, you just come across as an annoying complainer.
I wrote about this on my blog, and even made a flowchart for what to do when I feel the urge to complain. That particular post is not in English, so I won't share it here.