{"id":34199,"date":"2022-01-27T11:18:33","date_gmt":"2022-01-27T18:18:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.betternutrition.com\/?p=34199"},"modified":"2022-01-27T11:18:33","modified_gmt":"2022-01-27T18:18:33","slug":"the-feeling-of-2022","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.betternutrition.com\/conditions-and-wellness\/mood-stress\/the-feeling-of-2022\/","title":{"rendered":"This Is What We\u2019re All Feeling Right Now. Hint, It’s Not Depression"},"content":{"rendered":"

Since the start of January, my conversations with friends, family members, colleagues, and even my barista have approximately gone the same way. \u201cHow are you?\u201d \u201cYou know\u2026\u201d Yeah\u2026\u201d We look at each other with knowing glances. It\u2019s a tough time. As another surge of COVID-19 cases combines with one of the coldest and longest months of the year, we\u2019re all feeling a little\u2026 something. But what is<\/em> this feeling, exactly?<\/p>\n

In 2021, the New York Times<\/em> identified the emotion of the year<\/a> as languishing. We weren\u2019t necessarily depressed or hopeless, but feeling a sense of blah, or emptiness. Yet, with the start of 2022, a new feeling seemed to arrive\u2014one that\u2019s perhaps past the point of languishing. We found it tough to put into words, so we asked the experts to get their insights on how we\u2019re (collectively) doing right now\u2014and tips on how to healthily address everything we\u2019re feeling.<\/p>\n

We\u2019re feeling trapped.<\/h2>\n

Amber Benziger<\/a>, a psychotherapist, says many of her clients feel trapped, especially in their decision-making. Whether it\u2019s an employer mandating a return to the office, navigating unexpected school closures, or dealing with the uncertainty of event and vacation cancellations, Benziger says you may be feeling a loss of control over your life, which in turn makes you feel stuck or trapped. And if you feel this way, you may also experience increased anxiety, Benziger says.<\/p>\n

What to do about it:<\/strong> If you\u2019re feeling trapped, Benziger recommends focusing on what you do<\/em> have control over. While it may feel like March 2020 all over again, it\u2019s important to remember that we\u2019re not in the same place we were back then. \u201cWe know a little bit more, and we\u2019ve seen a little bit more. And [we\u2019ve survived],\u201d Benziger says. She recommends reminding yourself that you are capable of moving through this, even when it feels difficult. Holding onto things that you can control\u2014like limiting your social media use or connecting with friends and family\u2014can help you feel empowered.<\/p>\n

We\u2019re feeling lost\u2014and in limbo.<\/h2>\n

Parents, especially those with young children who aren\u2019t eligible to get vaccinated, are feeling lost, says Rena Beyer<\/a>, a psychotherapist and life coach who works with a lot of mothers. While much of the country has gotten their shots and checked out on vacation, Beyer says many parents of young children still feel like they\u2019re living in the pre-vaccine phase of the pandemic. These parents may still be practicing social distancing, wearing masks, and reducing contact with friends and family\u2014even when others aren\u2019t. Not only that, but many of the parents Beyer works with report feeling shamed for their cautious behavior\u2014and even gaslit, Beyer says.<\/p>\n

Even clients who aren\u2019t parents feel in a state of flux, Beyer says. \u201cWhat I\u2019m hearing [from them] is this limbo of going back to work and not work from home anymore and more of a routine, but still feeling like the world isn\u2019t normal,\u201d she says. \u201cIt\u2019s this odd balance [of] going back to normal when the world isn\u2019t normal.\u201d<\/p>\n

What to do about it: <\/strong>To combat this sense of feeling of being in limbo, Beyer suggests building a routine. But it doesn\u2019t have to be complex, she says. For example, in addition to getting dressed and brushing your teeth in the morning, you may add in a daily stretch session or even just a few deep breaths to help you calm and center your mind and body before taking on the day.<\/p>\n

We\u2019re feeling defeated\u2014but surviving.<\/h2>\n

Brooke Aymes<\/a>, a licensed clinical social worker and drug and alcohol counselor says many of us approached 2022 feeling hopeful. However, that hopefulness quickly waned with increased COVID-19 cases and school closures. For almost two years, we\u2019ve lived in this state of trauma, Aymes says. And it\u2019s making us feel defeated. \u201cAs a result of that, now we\u2019re in this place of survival,\u201d she says. \u201cWe\u2019re still putting one foot in front of the other.\u201d<\/p>\n

What to do about it: <\/strong>Aymes says the main theme she reiterates in her sessions is flexibility. The coping strategies we practiced in 2020 or 2021 may no longer serve us\u2014and that\u2019s OK. Instead, it\u2019s important to recognize the need for change, Aymes says. \u201cI look at it through a lens of what\u2019s going to bring us the most joy,\u201d she says. Even on our most stressful days, Aymes suggests finding something that can still bring you a sense of happiness\u2014 such as stopping to get a coffee or going to the park for 30 minutes.<\/p>\n

So, yes, take this as your sign to spend $7 on a matcha latte. You deserve it\u2014really.<\/p>\n

Continue reading about taking care of your mental health:<\/p>\n