Languishing: the main state of mind in the era of the pandemic
It is undeniable, the pandemic has upset our lives and our way of perceiving the world around us. We thought that, after 2020, it would all be downhill, yet this event left incredible aftermaths within us. Some speak of post-traumatic stress syndrome, the same condition experienced by many soldiers returning from war. The metaphor could be fitting if we consider the virus as an enemy to fight. In short, whether we are aware of it or not, Covid has not only affected our physical health, but also our mental health. In this regard, one of the most common sensations in this period could be explained by the lack of well-being, which should not be confused with depression. Today there is even a term to explain this state of mind, namely "languishing", which we could translate into Italian with the verb "languish". In this article, you will find all the information you need to find out what this condition consists of, if you also suffer from it and, if so, how to get out of it.
But before you get into reading, watch this video and learn some mindfulness exercises to help you find inner peace!
What does languishing mean?
The term languishing began to spread around the world when, in April 2021, journalist Adam Grant talked about it in a long article published in the New York Times. Grant, who in addition to writing works as a psychologist at the University of Pennsylvania, described in great detail the state of mind that had affected both him and many of his acquaintances in the months following the outbreak of the Covid pandemic.
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In fact, the coining of this term dates back to a few years ago, more precisely to 2002. The first to talk about it was the American sociologist Corey Keyes. He had coined the word "languishing" to finally be able to frame the condition of those people who are not depressed, but are not even fully satisfied with their lives. According to Keyes, therefore, languishing is halfway between depression and "flourishing", the state of total well-being in which one is able to thrive and improve, driven by stimuli and enthusiasm. In fact, as Adam Grant points out, languishing is even more insidious than depression because you often don't realize you are suffering from it and this lack of awareness hinders any request for help.At the same time, the act of languishing could develop over time into a real depression or, more generally, into anxiety disorders.
The main symptoms of languishing
But how do you know if you are suffering from languishing? Well, first of all, you have the feeling of watching your life go by through a fogged window instead of living it to the full. But the symptoms of this mental condition don't end there. Let's see the main ones:
- Absence of well-being: Languishing does not necessarily imply that you are sick. However, you feel that there is something wrong with your life, as if a piece of the puzzle is missing and you are struggling to find it.
- Demotivation: every day seems the same to you and this discourages you, depriving you of any desire to do. The future looks hazy to you and prevents you from making long-term plans that can make you energized.
- Difficulty maintaining concentration: the listlessness that assails you makes it difficult even to carry out trivial and daily activities, leaving you overwhelmed by continuous distractions.
- Indifference to one's own indifference: as previously mentioned, when we languish we often don't even notice it. This is because the apathy that overwhelms us leads us to completely disinterest not only in our life, but also in our state of health.
- A sense of constant tiredness and, at the same time, restlessness: if, on the one hand, you feel tired and exhausted, on the other hand, the discomfort you feel for your languishing makes you tormented and restless. These conflicting feelings are due to the desire to react to the total indifference with which you are living your life and, at the same time, to the inability to free yourself from the numbness that oppresses you.
- Apathy and resignation: you are fully convinced that nothing interesting can happen to you anymore and this deprives you of any stimulus, making you compliant.
How to get out of this condition of languor?
In life, especially after having faced a turbulent period like the one marked by the spread of Covid, it is important to take care of the mind, just like we do when we have a physical problem. Often, in fact, we tend to ignore the alarm bells that come to us from the brain and to underestimate mental illness, thinking it is a simple suggestion. Symptoms of languishing are also often overlooked until they take over and ultimately compromise our well-being. To prevent this from happening, here are some tricks with which you can shake off from languor and rediscover the lost joy:
- To regain lost concentration, we recommend that you dedicate yourself totally to an activity that takes you all the way. Whether it's watching movies, reading books or doing decoupage, it doesn't matter, what matters is that your mind is completely absorbed in what you are doing. In this way, you will reach the state of flow, a state of total mental absorption that leaves no room for distractions.
- As Adam Grant himself suggests, focusing on small achievable goals could be a winning antidote to languishing. Being able to stick to easy-to-achieve resolutions will help you feel fulfilled, increase your self-esteem and make you more likely to get back on the game.
- Do something that you enjoy and that makes you happy. It could be a trip or an experience that you have always wanted to do but that, for one reason or another, you have continued to postpone. Now the time has come to "spoil yourself" a little, you deserve it!
- Sometimes, unfortunately, it is not always easy to "save" yourself. In these cases, one must have the courage to ask competent people for help. If you feel that you cannot shake off this condition, contact a competent psychologist who will be able to accompany you on this healing path through the therapy that is most suitable for you.
