Languishing in lockdown: What that flat feeling means, and how to overcome it
As Sydneysiders face down news of an extended lockdown with heightened restrictions, morale is seemingly lower than previous calls to confinement.
Sydneysiders, like their Melburnian cousins, have been through this before, except this time, they know what they're in for — which means optimism, the light that supports one's mental health through the needle-shaped tunnel, has dimmed.
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This 'blah' feeling, as written about by Adam Grant in the New York Times, actually has a psychological name.
Languishing.
Victorians are facing another snap lockdown in a bid to limit COVID-19 cases. Unsplash
What is 'languishing'?
Although officially coined by sociologist Corey Keyes in 2002, who at the time was looking to explain why so many people were not depressed but also not flourishing, in the context of the coronavirus pandemic, it can also be described as feeling dispirited.
"The word that I would probably align to languishing right now in the context of COVID-19 would be dispiriting," psychologist Sandy Rea tells 9Honey.
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"A lot of people now have just taken another hit and are going, 'What do we do now?' Just as we start to build up, just as people are starting to get confidence, just as the economy was starting to reboot beyond anyone's expectations, I think a lot of people are just feeling another punch in the guts."
Languishing can be described as a stage of feeling stagnation. Unsplash
Rea says languishing can feel like "floating", feeling suspended in the present as planning for the future feels redundant — especially since, having been through this before only to return to life in lockdown, the hope one may have initially felt during the first or second lockdown has softly seeped away from the psyche.
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But how does one move forward when there doesn't seem to be any point? Where do we go from here psychologically?
The answer is almost tautological — it lies in the problem.
Lockdown almost seems to be the new norm. Unsplash
Learn from last lockdown
Although knowing what to expect is a basis for bleakness, Rea looks at it from a different perspective.
"We have done it all before," she says. "We know what to expect. This is not new."
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Because this is not new, Rea says we also now know what not to do.
"We now know that we need to look after ourselves and the three pillars of mental health is exercise, good food and good sleep."
Sandy Rea (left) lives in Melbourne with her family, so has had to heed her own advice. Instagram
Going into the lockdown knowing what to expect is a "safety net" of sorts, Rea says, as anticipating what our lockdown habits are based on history eliminates the shock.
"This is actually creating a weird sort of level of stability, because it's not shock horror. It might be disappointment. It might be dispiriting, but it's not shock."
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Earlier this year, Rea underwent two weeks of quarantine in Queensland in order to attend her daughter's wedding — and it was through following the three pillars of mental health that she enjoyed what she playfully dubbed a "retreat."
When it comes to little ones, however, it can be harder to envision hunkering down at home as a refuge.
Lockdown can be tough when the whole family is under one roof. Unsplash
Lockdown with little ones
Rea says it's best to follow a routine and take every opportunity to make the most of what restrictions allow.
"You do have an opportunity to take children out to one or two hours of exercise a day, take advantage of that time," Rea says.
Rea says it's also important to get them to bed early.
Children are "pretty switched on" so when it comes to answering their questions about the lockdown, Rea says it's important to use "age-appropriate" language.
"Give an analogy that's age-appropriate with the right language," she says.
"Explain it in the context of the cold. It's like the cold's come back."
Kids are "pretty switched on" so explaining the lockdown in "age-appropriate" language should be simple. Unsplash
Rea says when they ask questions about the lockdown, kids are smart enough to understand the conversation.
"We just need to talk about the processes, for example, when they wash their hands, or explain they need to sneeze into their elbow."
It's also important, however, to reassure them.
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When they ask why they can't cuddle their friends, for example, say, "When we go back to school, when we go back to normal, which will happen" that's when they can.
Sandy Rea says optimism and the fact that we will go back to normal is an important message. Unsplash
"The whole idea is to reassure children that this is just another hiccup, it's another setback, but we will get back to normal life," Rea says.
It's this message of optimistic reassurance Rea says should be communicated to and kept in mind by the wider public, whether they're little or not.
If you or anyone you know needs immediate support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or via lifeline.org.au. In an emergency, call 000.
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