What is a Pessimist?
A pessimist is a person who nurtures a consistently negative attitude, expecting the worst of people and of situations. This outlook persists regardless of facts or circumstances that might indicate a more balanced or positive reality. A pessimist relates to the “half empty glass,” ignoring the fact that the glass is also half full. He or she typically believes that the world in which we live is the worst possible of all worlds and is growing bleaker all the time. Pessimism is a temperamental trait, whereas depression is a clinical disease. In some instances both pessimism and depression might be present, and it might be possible that a consistently pessimistic attitude could lead to depression. In terms of treatment, a pessimist suffers from a habit of thinking negatively that can be willfully changed through treatments like psychotherapy. Persistent depression, on the other hand, is linked to decreased levels of serotonin and typically requires medication. For some people a pessimist
