Did You Know? The World's Sad Events Gave Rise To The German Term For Suffering

Global conflicts, pandemics, economic instability, climate change, and other crises can induce overwhelming feelings.

Photo Credit: Black Salmon/Shutterstock

The German word ‘Weltschmerz’ refers to a psychological pain, a distress stemming from the world’s perceived shortcomings. The German dictionary Duden defines Weltschmerz as “the basic mood of the soul characterised by pain, sadness, suffering from the world and its inadequacy with regard to one’s own wishes, expectations”.

German Media have been referring to the word more frequently lately for example in order to explain why more and more people are off sick from work with health insurance companies citing mental health issues as one of the major reasons for sick leave.

Global conflicts, pandemics, economic instability, climate change, and other crises can induce overwhelming feelings. And specifically, people in the developed countries might get a feeling of anger, insecurity, fear, grief, horror, helplessness and powerlessness without there being a physical threat to their safety.

In response to the increasing prevalence of ‘Weltschmerz’ and its impact on mental well-being, experts have proposed several proactive measures to address and alleviate this psychological distress.

Limiting (social) media consumption is advised, along with actively participating in society through voluntary or political engagement, joining peace or climate demonstrations, and embracing sustainability in your everyday life.

Additionally, it’s crucial to open up to others about feelings, seek professional help through therapy, and prioritise self-care activities like exercise, meditation, and immersing yourself in nature.