The Paradox Of Being Stressed By Nothing.
Our trouble with being alone; why boredom creates stress.
The challenges of the pandemic included mandated lockdowns and quarantines. We found ourselves alone and deprived of access to many things we enjoyed. Instead of enjoying some peace and quiet, many people found the seclusion stressful.
Why?
We typically think of being stressed as something that is happening to us. That means it is actively present and we must respond to it. However, stress can include things that are absent as well.
As an addiction counselor, I have heard people complain about the boredom of abstinence from drugs and alcohol. It is a common trigger for relapse. We can’t seem to handle the absence of our routine activities. Like an overactive child, we just can’t sit still.
It would seem like we would enjoy a little bit of nothingness in our lives and a break from so many demands. But that is not always the case.
Boredom creates stress.
When we have unwanted solitude or inactivity in our lives, it creates a sense of boredom, loss, or deprived access.
Boredom is more than simply not having anything to do.
