Unhappiness is the state of feeling sad, disappointed, or dissatisfied with your circumstances or life. When you experience unhappiness, you might feel a persistent sense that something isn't right: maybe you're lonely, bored, frustrated with how things are going, or missing something important that would make your life feel better.

Unhappiness differs from temporary sadness. You might feel sad when your team loses a game, but that feeling usually fades quickly. Unhappiness tends to last longer and affects how you see multiple parts of your life. A student experiencing unhappiness might find that even activities they usually enjoy don't bring much pleasure anymore.

The causes of unhappiness vary widely. Someone might feel unhappy because they're struggling in school, because friendships aren't going well, because they're not getting enough exercise or sleep, or because they're dealing with difficult family situations. Sometimes people feel unhappy without being able to point to a single clear reason.

Understanding what's causing unhappiness can help people address it. Persistent unhappiness that doesn't improve is worth discussing with parents, teachers, a school counselor, or other trusted adults.