Altschmerz
Altschmerz Meaning
We're continuing the commentaries on John Koenig's excellent Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows.
This time we are looking at Altschmerz. Koenig defines this term as:
Weariness with the same old issues that you've always had—the same boring flaws and anxieties you've been gnawing on for years, which leaves them soggy and tasteless and inert, with nothing interesting left to think about...
This concept has several important psychological implications to consider.
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Keeping you stuck
This weariness can be an obstacle to improving well-being. Why? Partly because altschmerz can leave people helpless and hopeless about the prospect of meaningful change. Why put energy into something seemingly resistant to change?
Altschmerz might also dent your quality of life. Feeling fed-up and dissatisfied with yourself makes it tough to enjoy your circumstances.
I'm sick of myself
We've all heard this statement. Some of us have said it about ourselves! Altschmerz might cause you to feel fed up with yourself and reduce a person's 'self-efficacy'. This term refers to perceived ability to make positive changes. Low self-efficacy might keep you stuck in unhappy circumstances.
Altschmerz may also damage self-esteem, particularly if you blame yourself for being stuck with your imperfections.
Weltschmerz meaning
Weltschmerz is a related term which means (in part) world-weariness (1). This term encompasses sadness about the flaws and insufficiencies of the planet. Weltschmerz also references the pain caused by the expectation-reality gap of life.
Weltschmerz and altschmerz reflect struggles associated with the gap between your current reality and where you prefer life to be.
What can I do?
Often, a psychological understanding of difficulties helps kick-start change. Hidden forces frequently drive the issues people can't resolve. For instance, self-defeating thought loops (e.g., rumination) keep people stuck and unable to initiate problem-solving. Alternatively, certain behaviours can relieve uncomfortable psychological states in the short run but drive problems long-term (e.g., avoidance of people when socially anxious).
You may get value seeking help from an experienced professional. They can help you identify patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviours that keep you stuck. Alternatively, try some of the strategies available on this website, like structured reflection, mindfulness, or identifying cognitive distortions.
Further reading
We have other articles on concepts in the Dictionary of Obsure Sorrows:
You can look at dealing with problematic thinking patterns through Cognitive Behaviour Therapy techniques. Here are two examples of the many books available on this subject:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, by Olivia Telford
Retrain Your Brain, by Seth Gillihan
We are Coaching & Clinical Psychologists with extensive experience helping people conquer a range of wellbeing and performance issues at home and in the workplace. Read more about our work, watch practical skills videos or browse other articles. Get in touch anytime.
References
(1) https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/weltschmerz
