SUBJECT: Languishing Is the Mood of the Year: How to Identify It and How to Cope BODY:
What Is Languishing? Sociologist Corey Keyes first coined the term languishing as the antithesis of flourishing. “Languishing is apathy, a sense of restlessness or feeling unsettled or an overall lack of interest in life or the things that typically bring you joy,” says Shemiah Derrick, a licensed professional counselor and certified alcohol and drug counselor. Unlike a panic disorder or depression, languishing is a series of emotions, not a mental illness. “Languishing encompasses distressing feelings of stagnation, monotony, and emptiness,” says Leela R. Magavi, MD, a Johns Hopkins-trained adult, adolescent, and child psychiatrist and regional medical director for Community Psychiatry. Identifying Languishing in Yourself According to Keyes’ research, in 2002, about 12.1% of adults met the criteria for languishing. One person who understands languishing acutely is Maia. “Mentally, I haven’t necessarily felt good or bad, but I’m definitely not as present as I used to be, and this lack of focus can make every task much more draining than before,” she says. When the pandemic began, Maia slowed down, giving herself time to relax. Then her school started, work picked up, and suddenly she was back in a busy routine — only with less energy. “I feel as if I’m going through the motions,” says Maia. “Everything blends together when you study, work, eat, and reduce your daily interactions to your computer screen and desk chair. I have the strength to get things done, but I feel like time goes by so fast that I’m not able to really savor my lifestyle in the way that I had before.” Then there’s Aina, whose new normal is alternating between feelings of fatigue and no motivation to quick bursts of energy when starting something new, only to feel unmotivated again soon after. When there’s something she needs to do, no matter how fast it would be, Aina finds herself asking: “Why do I need to do this?” or “What is the point?” “I feel like I’m either lazy or making up excuses, but it’s just this weird state of stillness and this constant thought of knowing I’m not at my full capacity,” says Aina.