Images of children dying in the world’s wars, advancing climate change, financial hardships caused by rising food and heating costs and a pandemic not long ago. There is a lot of suffering around the globe and it doesn’t just pass us by. The world’s crises leave their mark – we feel helpless, sad and an oppressive feeling sits deep in our chests. We have world pain.
The term is not new. The poet Jean Paul coined it in the 19th century. For him, Weltschrei describes a feeling of melancholy and sadness about one’s own inadequacies and those of the world. Originally, world pain also meant the joy of suffering – in literature or music. Today, the Duden defines world pain as a basic mental mood that is characterized by sadness and pain. A “suffering from the world and its inadequacy with regard to one’s own desires.” In short: We have an idea of the world as we would like it to be, but it fails in reality.
Most people certainly want a peaceful, beautiful, just and healthy world. But when we turn on the radio or read the newspaper, we often hear reports about wars, environmental disasters or acts of violence. Looking at reality sobers us – the world as it is does not correspond to our values and desires. This triggers a feeling that turns our stomach, crushes our heart or clenches our jaw, describes therapist Michele DeMarco in “Psychology Today”. This disillusionment leads to a loss of belief in security or the meaning of the world.
How we react to negative news about disasters and wars illustrates the phenomenon of world-weariness. When we see images and videos of war, the whole organism reacts, explained the psychotherapist Franca Cerutti in the star. This means that news about wars and threats poses a danger to us, even if we are not there and are not exposed to any real danger. The body activates the fight-flight mode and makes us ready for action. By sharpening our senses, we can perceive negative news more clearly. World sorrow also arises because we sympathize with the people in war zones – their suffering does not leave us unscathed.
Whether on the radio, television, the ad on the subway, the push notification on the cell phone or the images of war on social media – we are often confronted with bad news. Consuming a lot of bad news over and over again can lead to permanently elevated levels of stress. And chronic stress damages the mind and body. World-weariness and the resulting stress can cause us to become hopeless, lost in thought, and feeling burnt out. Even feelings of despair can arise.
But world pain is not a mental illness, even if a low mood and lack of motivation are among the symptoms of depression. Anyone who sinks into world-weariness for weeks and, in addition to the negative feelings, notices that they are losing interest in things, can no longer get out of bed and are also losing joy in activities that used to be fun, should listen up, says psychotherapist Marlene Huemer in an interview with the “Standard”. Anyone who notices such symptoms should seek professional help.
Self-care and certain behaviors can help you avoid sinking into world-weariness:
Do you have suicidal thoughts? Telephone counseling offers help. It is anonymous, free and available 24 hours a day on (0800) 1110111 and (0800) 1110222. Advice via email is also possible. A list of nationwide help centers can be found on the website of the German Society for Suicide Prevention.
Sources: Psychology Today, Duden, Standard, University of Frankfurt, Historical Dictionary of Philosophy, Lexicon for Psychology and Pedagogy, German Dictionary
