If Someone Is Unhappy, They Often Do These 9 Things Before Going Out

When someone is struggling with unhappiness, their behavior often changes in subtle ways that others might not immediately notice. Before heading out into the world, unhappy individuals tend to develop certain habits or rituals that reflect their inner emotional state.

Recognizing these patterns can help us better understand what someone might be going through and offer support when needed.

1. Stare at Their Reflection Longer Than Usual

Standing in front of the mirror becomes more than just a quick check.

Unhappy people often find themselves lost in their own gaze, searching for something they cannot quite name.

This extended mirror time is not about vanity.

Instead, it reflects internal questioning and self-doubt that makes getting ready feel like a heavier task.

They might adjust their hair repeatedly or change outfits multiple times.

Nothing feels quite right because the discomfort comes from within, not from their appearance.

This behavior reveals how unhappiness can make even simple preparations feel overwhelming and uncertain.

2. Check Their Phone Obsessively

Scrolling becomes a compulsive habit before leaving home.

Unhappy individuals often refresh social media feeds, check messages that are not there, or reread old conversations.

This behavior serves as both distraction and connection-seeking.

They hope for something—a message, a like, any validation—that might lift their spirits before facing the outside world.

The phone becomes a security blanket of sorts.

Unfortunately, this digital escape rarely provides the comfort they are searching for and often makes them feel more isolated.

Recognizing this pattern can help identify when someone needs real human connection instead.

3. Put On a Fake Smile While Rehearsing

Practicing facial expressions might sound strange, but unhappy people do this more often than you would think.

They rehearse their social mask, perfecting the smile they will wear in public.

This preparation is exhausting work.

Pretending to be okay requires mental energy and careful planning, especially when your true feelings are the complete opposite.

They test different expressions to see which looks most convincing.

The goal is simple: make it through social interactions without anyone asking if something is wrong.

This emotional performance takes a toll over time and prevents genuine healing.

4. Delay Leaving as Long as Possible

Procrastination takes on new meaning when unhappiness is involved.

Even when fully dressed and ready, unhappy individuals find reasons to stay home just a little bit longer.

Suddenly, they remember one more thing to check or do.

Maybe they need to reorganize something, double-check locks, or scroll through their phone again—anything to postpone the inevitable.

Home feels like a safe shelter from the world outside.

Leaving means facing people, expectations, and the exhausting effort of appearing normal when everything feels far from it.

Understanding this hesitation reveals how draining social situations can feel during difficult times.

5. Choose Comfort Over Style

Fashion takes a backseat when emotional energy runs low.

Unhappy people gravitate toward their most comfortable, familiar clothing—often the same few items worn repeatedly.

This choice is not about laziness.

Comfort clothing feels like armor against a world that already feels too demanding and overwhelming to navigate.

They skip accessories, avoid complicated outfits, and choose what requires the least mental effort.

Getting dressed becomes purely functional rather than an expression of personality or mood.

Did you know?

Studies show that comfort dressing during tough times is actually a form of self-soothing behavior that helps people cope.

6. Give Themselves Pep Talks

Internal coaching sessions happen right before walking out the door.

Unhappy individuals often need to verbally encourage themselves, sometimes out loud, to face whatever awaits outside.

These pep talks sound like: you can do this, just a few hours, or it will be over soon.

The words serve as emotional preparation for the performance ahead.

This self-encouragement reveals how much courage simple outings require during unhappy periods.

What seems effortless to others demands significant mental fortitude from them.

Recognizing this struggle helps us appreciate the hidden battles some people fight just to participate in everyday life.

7. Double-Check Everything Multiple Times

Anxiety and unhappiness often travel together as unwelcome companions.

Before leaving, unhappy people frequently check locks, appliances, and lights multiple times, even when they know everything is fine.

This repetitive checking provides a false sense of control.

When emotions feel chaotic and unmanageable, controlling small environmental details becomes strangely comforting.

The behavior can border on compulsive, adding extra time to departure routines.

Unfortunately, this temporary relief does not address the underlying emotional distress causing the anxiety.

Understanding this connection between unhappiness and anxious behaviors can lead to more compassionate responses.

8. Take Deep Breaths or Practice Calming Techniques

Breathing exercises become necessary preparation before facing the outside world.

Unhappy individuals often need these calming techniques just to manage the stress of leaving their safe space.

They might close their eyes, count breaths, or use grounding methods learned from therapy or self-help resources.

These moments of centering help them gather strength for what feels like an emotional marathon.

The need for such techniques before simple outings shows how much internal struggle is happening.

What appears calm on the outside often hides significant emotional work happening within.

These coping strategies, while helpful, also signal that someone might need additional support.

9. Listen to Music to Change Their Mood

Music becomes emotional medicine before departure.

Unhappy people carefully select songs that might shift their mindset, boost their energy, or simply provide distraction from negative thoughts.

Sometimes they choose upbeat tracks to artificially elevate their mood.

Other times, they pick melancholic songs that match their feelings, finding comfort in musical validation of their emotions.

This pre-outing ritual serves as transition time between their private sadness and public persona.

The right playlist can feel like a bridge helping them cross from one emotional state to another.

Music therapy, even informal versions, has proven benefits for managing difficult emotions.