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What is the difference between languishing and depression?
Can languishing cause depression?
Is languishing a precursor to depression?
Oct 24, 2023 · Languishing is not the same as depression or anxiety. These are mental health conditions that can be diagnosed and treated by healthcare professionals.
Aug 31, 2022 · It describes a low state of mental well-being that is not the same thing as depression or other diagnosable mental health disorders. It's important to identify, as some research suggests it may put you at risk for these conditions later in life.
- Sarah Simon
- Overview
- Signs and symptoms
- How can languishing affect mental health?
- Why does languishing happen?
- Moving from languishing to flourishing
- The bottom line
Languishing, in a psychology context, describes a lack of mental health.
Psychologist Corey Keyes first introduced the concept of languishing in 2002. In an effort to create a more nuanced understanding of mental health besides “good” or “bad,” he divided mental health into four levels:
•flourishing, or good mental health
•moderate mental health
•languishing, or poor mental health
•depression
Languishing vs. flourishing
If you’re flourishing, you probably feel as if you’re thriving in life. You might: •feel happy, capable, and loved more often than not •find it possible to follow your passions •enjoy deep, mutually supportive relationships In short, even when things go wrong, you can bounce back to keep moving on. Was this helpful? Some emotional signs of languishing: •You miss the joy, excitement, and passion you used to have. •Your life seems filled with small nuisances and long stretches of boredom. •You don’t particularly care about the future. •You feel your life is missing a certain something, but you don’t know what. Some psychological signs of languishing: •You feel like you have “peaked” in life and no longer have room to grow. •You’re disappointed in the person you’ve become. •Problems and life challenges seem to pile up so fast you can’t seem to catch your breath. •You rarely have strong opinions, so you’re often influenced by people who do. Some social signs of languishing: •You find it difficult to get close to other people. •You don’t feel connected to any community or greater cause. •Your job seems pointless, in the grand scheme of things. •You believe you can’t rely on anyone other than yourself. Keep in mind, too, that you can experience languishing without reaching an extreme low. Reaching key milestones — graduating from college, forming a romantic commitment, or landing a great job — doesn’t automatically guarantee happiness. So, even if you have a prestigious career, your dream apartment, or a large family, you could still feel like you’re just going through the motions of life.
What’s the difference between languishing and depression?
Like depression, languishing can lead to emotional numbness and listlessness. It can sap your motivation and prompt you to isolate yourself and avoid your loved ones. Neither state does much good for your mood. But depression tends to affect your emotions more severely. While languishing can dampen your joy, engaging in fun hobbies or earning a reward can usually boost your mood. To contrast, many people with depression have trouble feeling happiness in any context. Plus, depression usually affects more than your emotions. It can also: •disrupt your sleeping and eating patterns •make it more difficult to concentrate or remember details •cause physical symptoms, including stomach distress and muscle tension or pain By definition, you can’t experience both languishing and depression at the same time. If you’ve had an episode of depression in the last year, a low mood may suggest returning depression, rather than languishing.
Can languishing cause mental health symptoms?
Languishing doesn’t automatically cause mental health conditions. That said, you do have a higher chance of experiencing mental health concerns when you’re languishing than when you’re flourishing. One 2021 study considered 3,600 participants from early, middle, and late adulthood. People in a languishing state at the start of the study were more likely to develop depression or anxiety within 4 years, regardless of their age group. The study authors used languishing as a baseline. But using moderate well-being and flourishing as baselines helps illustrate this increase risk more clearly. Compared to people with moderate well-being, languishing participants had a: •27 to 38 percent greater risk of developing anxiety •32 to 49 percent greater risk of developing depression Compared to flourishing participants, languishing participants had a: •67 to 89 percent greater risk of developing anxiety. •104 to 117 percent greater risk of developing depression.
Denial of basic needs
All humans have basic needs like food, shelter, and safety. Anyone who’s had a bout of hanger probably knows how difficult it can be to feel cheerful on an empty stomach. And you’re unlikely to feel very connected to your community if you have to find a new place to sleep each night. In short, when your basic needs consistently go unmet, your mental health can tank quickly. The upheaval of the COVID-19 pandemic made it hard for many people to fulfill their basic needs, which had a pretty big impact on mental health. In an international study of over 9,500 people, roughly 10 percent of participants found themselves in a state of languishing during 2020. Poorer outcomes were more likely for people who had financial troubles or difficulty getting daily necessities, who tended to report high stress levels, negative emotions, and low overall well-being. The study authors found consistent results across all 78 countries included in the study.
Stress
When you feel overwhelmed, that stress can bleed out into other parts of your life. For example, burnout at work can make it hard to relax later at home. You may not have the bandwidth to pursue other things that make you feel fulfilled, such as artistic projects or family bonding. A 2013 study found a strong link between languishing and stress. The authors examined 200 postdoctoral fellows, a group with high levels of work stress compared to the general population. Over half (58 percent) of study participants were languishing. This prevalence was much higher than the 12 percent prevalence found in Keyes’ original study. In addition, the languishing participants had higher average stress scores (15 out of 40 points) than their flourishing peers (12 points). But in line with Keyes’ original model, the languishing group had less stress than the depressed group (20 points).
Social isolation
Most people need at least some level of social connection for their emotional health. Love and friendship can provide a sense of profound joy that you might not find in many other places. Social bonds aren’t just vital for happiness. They can also provide greater purpose in life. This makes sense, if you think about it. You could be the funniest person in the world, but if no one laughs at your jokes, how would you know you’re funny? Other people can help put your goals in context and praise your accomplishments. People who nurture healthy, positive relationships and engage with their community tend to experience greater well-being. People in a state of languishing, however, might focus most of their attention on themselves. When your daily activities only affect your own small world, you may feel less satisfaction than if your work tangibly benefits others.
How therapy can help
You don’t have to wait for a crisis to get professional support. A therapist can offer guidance at any time. According to 2016 research, behavioral interventions can boost your sense of well-being, and the effects can last at least 10 months after treatment. When to reach out It’s generally best to connect with a professional sooner rather than later if you often: •feel trapped or stuck in your daily routine •wish you could feel “alive” again •feel deeply lonely or isolated •try to avoid thinking about where you are in life or where you want to go A therapist can offer support as you work to improve your emotional state. They might, for example, help you explore ways to connect with others and capitalize on your personal strengths. Therapy approaches that address your concerns in a holistic way can be especially useful to promote flourishing. If you want to try therapy for languishing, you may want to check out research-supported interventions like: •Well-being therapy. This approach has you identify what makes you feel happy and fulfilled and practice more of those behaviors. •Life-review therapy. This approach can help you find value and meaning in your life to date and create a sense of hope for the future. •Acceptance and commitment therapy. This therapy helps you accept negative feelings like regret and commit to pursuing your goals — even when you don’t feel completely enthusiastic about them. •Positive psychological interventions. This approach can help you create goals that support your values and passions and then use your talents to reach those goals.
Languishing, in a nutshell, serves as a sort of limbo state between average mental health and clinical mental health conditions. You may feel numb or ambivalent, as if life is something happening to you, rather than something you actively participate in.
You don’t have to languish forever, though. Therapy and social support offer helpful options for striking a spark back into your daily routine. It’s always possible to work toward building a life you feel excited to live.
- Emily Swaim
Sep 29, 2021 · While depression and languishing can present similarly, there are distinct differences between the two. According to Derrick, symptoms of depression include sadness, changes in appetite, feelings of worthlessness, and thoughts of death or suicide.
Jan 17, 2022 · Languishing, shares some of the symptoms with depression, such as having negative emotions. But it’s also characterised by not feeling in control of your life, feeling like you aren’t able to...
Aug 31, 2022 · Languishing vs. depression. Despite their similarities, there are distinctions between languishing and depression. Depression is a mental illness that is diagnosed by a mental health professional, where languishing can be thought of more as a state of being or a feeling.
Apr 19, 2021 · Depression is the valley of ill-being: You feel despondent, drained and worthless. Languishing is the neglected middle child of mental health. It’s the void between depression and flourishing —...
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related to: Is languishing the same as depression?Are You Struggling With Major Depression? Learn About This Treatment Option For Adults. Reduce Symptoms of Major Depression. Learn About This Treatment Option For Adults.
