"Weltschmerz (from the German, meaning world-pain or world-weariness, pronounced [ˈvɛltʃmɛɐ̯ts]) is a term coined by the German author Jean Paul and denotes the kind of feeling experienced by someone who understands that physical reality can never satisfy the demands of the mind. This kind of world view was widespread among several romantic authors such as Lord Byron, Giacomo Leopardi, François-René de Chateaubriand, Alfred de Musset, Nikolaus Lenau, Hermann Hesse, and Heinrich Heine. It is also used to denote the feeling of sadness when thinking about the evils of the world.Folks, despite having much to preoccupy me at work, today was a weltschmerz-ridden day. Whether it was the shooting in Switzerland, the vitriolic and harsh words flung at Aboriginals regarding Idle No More online, the Best of the Left podcast about the Newtown shooting, or the odd work situation I find myself in, there was little I could do to fight the feeling of depression and alienation from my fellow humans, as well as the feeling of impotence about how little I could do to affect a change for the better.
The modern meaning of Weltschmerz in the German language is the psychological pain caused by sadness that can occur when realizing that someone's own weaknesses are caused by the inappropriateness and cruelty of the world and (physical and social) circumstances. Weltschmerz in this meaning can cause depression, resignation and escapism, and can become a mental problem (compare to Hikikomori). The modern meaning should also be compared with the concept of anomie, or a kind of alienation, that Émile Durkheim wrote about in his sociological treatise Suicide."
Don't worry, dear readers...this too shall come to pass, no doubt far sooner than it should.
Real solutions...
...Wish you were here.
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