The other end of the spectrum, unhealthy psychological functioning, feels very different. The qualitiy of thinking is full of effort, distressful, painful. Feelings of anger about the past, or fear about the future. Feelings of tension, anger, resentment, insecurity. Life appears to be out of control.
Problems seem irresolvable.
There is a feeling or urgency, and a sense of hopelessness. These qualitites of unhealthy psychological functioning also get projected out into the individual's world, so relationships are conflicted, there is never enough time to get work done, life and work feels disorganized. Often the person feels lonely, isolated and trapped. All people go in and out of healthy and unhealthy psychological functioning. Whenever we are in a low mood, or recovering from hurt or disappointment, or have lost faith in ourselves, our tendency is to think about our lives in ways that are not in our own best interest.