If You're Constantly Saying You Hate Everyone, It Could Reveal More Than You Want About You

Raise your hand if you don’t identify as a “people person”.

Perhaps you even take it one step further: “I don’t like people”, “I don’t do people” or even “I hate people” are all common refrains some may say after a long day or hear from a stressed-out co-worker or fed-up partner.

These kinds of comments are pretty normal in today’s society of honking horns and passive aggressive emails.

But when is this viewpoint more problematic? And what may it say about you if you do frequently utter these kinds of thoughts?

Here’s what therapists say: 

Relying on phrases like “I don’t like people” or “I hate everyone” is a way to get out of admitting how you really feel.

Imagine you’re at the store after a tense meeting with your boss as the pressure of making dinner for your kids and setting up a vet appointment for your dog hovers over you. If someone bumps into you in the store, your internal response is likely going to be something like “I hate everyone” or “I don’t like people”.

But “it’s easier to say ‘I hate people’ instead of ‘what’s going on with me?’” said Emmalee Bierly, a licensed marriage and family therapist, co-owner...