Languishing and Substance Abuse Recovery
Early in the pandemic, many of us were living in crisis mode. Stress levels were high, and we were grieving the loss of normal routines and special celebrations — and, for some of us, grieving the loss of loved ones.
But nobody can live in crisis mode forever. And now, as the pandemic drags on and on, many of us are experiencing something that’s not quite depression but not quite full mental health. The New York Times dubbed it “the dominant emotion of 2021”: languishing.
What is languishing?
Languishing is sort of the midpoint on the spectrum of mental health. If you’re languishing, you’re not experiencing true depression, but you’re not flourishing, either. You might not feel strongly negative about your work or life, but you definitely don’t feel strongly positive. You may feel apathetic or ‘blah.’
People who are languishing may have trouble focusing on work or other tasks. They may feel unmotivated and uninterested in activities they normally enjoy. They may struggle to get excited about much of anything. They may feel stuck or stagnant, like their life is going nowhere.
Languishing is not an acute crisis the way clinical depression or severe anxiety are. But it is a warning sign. Research shows that experiencing languishing is a strong predictor of future struggles with mental illness issues like depression, anxiety, or panic attacks. In other words, if you’re languishing now, you are at risk of sliding further into depression or anxiety in the future. In the pandemic context, a study of Italian health care workers found that those who reported languishing were more likely to be diagnosed with PTSD than those who were “moderately” mentally healthy or flourishing.
Basically, the research suggests that while languishing may be merely a bump in the road for some people, it should be taken seriously. For some people, languishing appears to be an early warning sign of more severe mental health struggles.
Languishing and substance abuse recovery
People who are in recovery from substance abuse issues should be even more watchful if they experience feelings like languishing. Research shows that, for people in recovery, there’s a clear correlation between languishing and relapse. On the flip side, there’s a correlation between successfully staying off substances and flourishing — the technical term for full, vibrant mental health.
It’s important to note that this research shows a correlation, so it’s possible that languishing makes people more likely to relapse or that going through a relapse makes people more likely to feel ‘blah,’ unmotivated, unfocused, and stuck. But either way, the message is clear: full recovery and full mental health go hand in hand. And everyone, but particularly people in recovery, should take a feeling of languishing seriously and seek mental health support to ensure that languishing doesn’t turn into a more severe mental health issue.
How to cope
Getting help from a professional therapist is the first and best way to support your mental health during recovery. A peer support group can also be a great way to talk about what you’re experiencing with people who are going through something similar, and get support and validation that you’re not alone. At Skyler Health, we offer both: highly-qualified councilors who can help you make sense of struggles with mental health or addiction, and support groups with whom you can share the journey.
And, there are more strategies for moving from languishing to flourishing. You may want to start by acknowledging where you’re at right now. While everyone’s experience of the pandemic has been different, this time has been incredibly challenging for everyone. If you’re grieving, or worried, or simply confused, you’re not alone. If you’re feeling unmotivated and unexcited about life and work, acknowledging and naming the problem can be a first step towards dealing with it.
Making time for celebration and gratitude in your life can also help improve your mental state. Maybe you’re not feeling excited about much, but you can take time to mindfully enjoy and savor something small like a cup of tea or a walk in the fresh air. Writing down things that you’re grateful for in your life can also help you focus on the positive.
Connecting with friends and family is crucial for mental health. Languishing may cause you to pull back from friends and family, so if you’re finding yourself turning down invitations to connect, treat that as a warning sign. If you’re not feeling up to a night out or a big, heart-to-heart talk, even a small moment of connection can help.
Giving yourself something to look forward to can also help you move towards flourishing. Again, if you’re not feeling very motivated, you can start small. Set a small goal, like cleaning out a closet. Celebrate your wins and set bigger goals once you’ve built some momentum. The feeling of making progress towards a goal can be a powerful antidote to languishing.
Languishing can be deceptively dangerous. But mental health, like physical health, is about more than just avoiding illness — it’s about creating the conditions where you can feel your best. You don’t have to settle for feeling ‘just OK’ or ‘blah.’ Going through recovery is enormously challenging, especially in these uncertain times. But your goal is full health, and it is achievable. You deserve to feel like you’re flourishing and fully enjoying your life.
And, at Skyler Health, we’ve dedicated ourselves to helping people sort out the things that can stifle mental health — whether addiction recovery or the languishing that can put it in harm’s way.
