As we enter the post-pandemic environment, numerous researchers and psychologists are noticing that many people are exhibiting symptoms similar to PTSD. Some of the symptoms appear to be mild and short-lived. Others are difficult to shake off.
It is not surprising that many of us are experiencing these types of symptoms, since we have experienced both collective and individual high levels of stress, anxiety, and uncertainty. Plus, many went into the pandemic with high levels of stress and anxiety already, compounding the impact of our recent experiences.
The symptoms many of us are experiencing may be unspecified or described as feeling “blah.” Our motivation might be dulled and perhaps we aren’t as productive as we once were. We may have trouble concentrating, experience a lack of enthusiasm, or may feel less joyful or even aimless. It’s a sense of being “stuck” or as seeing the world through foggy glasses.
To help you reflect on your experience, take a moment to respond to these statements as either “yep, that’s me,” “maybe a little like me,” or “no, that’s not me.”
I feel a little “shell-shocked” by the events of the past year.
I’m processing grief – either the loss of someone or loss of experiences.
I’m having difficulty seeing a brighter future.
I’m dealing with re-entry anxiety.
I don’t feel as motivated as I used to.
I’m having difficulty connecting to my purpose.
I don’t think I am as productive as I used to be.
If you are feeling any of these things, you are not alone. Many of us are experiencing emotions that we didn’t expect. For example, when we ask participants during our webinars, both in industry and in higher education, 75% of participants respond to most of the above statements with either “yep, that’s me” or “maybe a little like me.”
To put what we are experiencing in perspective, psychologists think about mental health on a continuum that goes from depression to languishing and then ultimately flourishing. Flourishing is where we have a strong sense of purpose, mastery, and making a difference in the world. On the other hand, languishing is a feeling often described as “blah” or hollowness or living without purpose. We may not have symptoms that reflect mental illness, but we’re not functioning at a high level of mental well-being either. According to sociologist Corey Keyes, the condition of languishing may be more common than major depressive disorders (Keyes, 2003).
The good news is that we don’t have to remain in this place of “blah.” We can develop skills needed to move from languishing to flourishing. We do not need to stay stuck here or risk moving toward a major depressive disorder. We can take charge of our mental well-being.
Key Take-Aways
Here are a few take-aways to consider this week, as you reflect on your mental well-being and where you would like to be:
Our minds are constantly changing. For example, we can be feeling good and functioning well one day and then experience a shift towards feelings of languishing on another. And if we know what to do when this happens, we can move back to that high level of functioning.
Mental well-being begins with a strong understanding of self. It is a recognition that we can control how we perceive the world, and we don’t have to allow external events and circumstances to impact our mental well-being.
Learning to acknowledge emotions, tensions, and worries can help us connect more meaningfully to the self. Instead of ignoring or pushing emotions down, allow yourself to experience those emotions without fear that they will overrun you. The truth is that this will enable you to release these feelings.
Over the next few weeks, we will explore specific practices that can lead us to feel good and function well. If you would like to sign up for this “Cure for the Blahs” series, please click here.
References
Keyes, C. L. M. (2003). Complete mental health: An agenda for the 21st century. In C. L. M. Keyes & J. Haidt (Eds.), Flourishing: Positive psychology and the life well-lived (pp. 293–312). American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/10594-013