How to Deal with Boredom

Many people struggle with chronic boredom. But what exactly is boredom and what are some ways to move beyond it? According to Wikipedia, “Boredom is an emotional and occasionally psychological state experienced when an individual is left without anything in particular to do, is not interested in their surroundings, or feels that a day or period is dull or tedious.” We all know the feeling. It is part of life. But sometimes it’s a symptom of something deeper that needs tending. In my psychotherapy practice, I see a few main causes for chronic states of boredom:  Boredom which functions as a protective defense against emotional pain. Traumatic and adverse experiences during childhood, like being raised in a chaotic household, make a child feel unsafe. The lack of safety triggers overwhelming and conflicting emotions, like rage and fear. To cope alone, a child’s mind compartmentalizes away “bad” feelings to carry on with life. But disconnecting from emotions, as much as it spares us pain, can also manifest as boredom. Boredom in this case is a byproduct of being out of touch with core emotions like sadness, anger, fear, disgust, joy, excitement, and sexual excitement. When we lose access to our core emotions, we cut off a vital source of energy that makes us feel alive. To heal, we must re-connect safely with our vast emotional world through the body. Boredom which functions as a signal that we are under-stimulated. In this case, the feeling of boredom tells us ...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Motivation and Inspiration Self-Help Boredom Source Type: blogs