Exhausted? Frustrated? Angry? Let’s Get Inside Your Head
By: Robert Roy Britt
Tags: Wellness, Mind, Brain, Neuroscience, Wellbeing

Exhausted? Frustrated? Angry? Let’s Get Inside Your Head

The science of anger and rage, Covid fatigue, imposter syndrome, and other feelings we’re struggling with right now

Perhaps you, like me, are exhausted, frustrated, angry, and maybe even aghast at the behavior of others. That in mind, this week’s newsletter offers some clues to the science behind some of these strong and potentially self-damaging feelings and emotions—because, I believe, knowledge is understanding, and we could all use a little of that right now.

Ever feel like you’re not deserving of your success or you’re unqualified for a new task, even though other people seem to think you’re capable? Yeah, it’s called imposter syndrome and it’s more common than you might realize, among talented artists, CEOs and the rest of us—and the pandemic is making it worse. Oh, and while interviewing experts for this story, I had a revelation about myself. I hope my soul-bearing nakedness helps you deal with any self-doubt you might have.

For many people, the roots of anger run deep, stretching back lifetimes and beyond. Occasionally, and visibly of late, anger can explode into rage. The propensity for blind rage is in all of us, experts say. In this article from a few months ago, I dug into what’s going on, biologically and emotionally, when we get mad. Understanding it can help us see the motivations of others more clearly.

Be honest: You’re feeling it. I’m feeling it. We’re all feeling it. But the timing is not good. Psychologists and other scientists I just spoke with are seeing evidence of Covid fatigue, and the epidemiologists promise that if we let our guard down, we could make the pandemic much worse. This article explores what’s at state, what people are feeling, and why. Some fascinating insights like how our minds evaluate the risk of an infectious disease or anything else based on what doesn’t happen: “Imagine you’re in a car crash. The next time you drive, you’ll be anxious. But with each successful trip, your brain can unlearn the danger and you start to feel safer behind the wheel. This psychology works even on psychologists.”

I wrote this exactly a year ago this week, and, well, some things never change. The stress of politics, if you let it become chronic, can like any stressor raise blood pressure and fuel headaches and affect your sleep. But in a survey, 11.5% of Americans said stress from politics was making them physically ill — and that was before this week’s debate. What was most interesting was the big gap between liberals and conservatives.

I don’t know why I thought this would be a good week to refloat this explainer from last year, but here it is, true as ever. This deep dive reveals the many shades and nuances of narcissism—it is way more complex than you might realize. At its core: “Extreme narcissists always need to prove that they are ‘winners’ in comparison to other people they view as ‘losers.’”

I know, I know: It’s those other people. Well, not really, scientists say. We’re all susceptible to belief in conspiracy theories, and while this susceptibility exists on a spectrum, it’s not a left-right thing. But oh, yes, ideology plays a big role, and odds are good you know someone who has recently bought into a doozie or two. This article will help you understand other people better, but perhaps yourself, too.

OUT THERE

Dana Smith writes this week: There’s an evolutionary reason that being treated unfairly is so rage-inducing — in fact, it’s one of the most primal sources of anger… The phenomenon is called inequity aversion.

Ashley Abramson wrote last year: Feeling tired isn’t an automatic reason for concern — some level of fatigue is normal. “I think people expect themselves to do too much, so they’re just fatigued because they’re mentally or physically exhausted.”

BEFORE YOU GO…

I asked three leading scientists who study coronavirus transmission if they would eat indoors in a restaurant right now. Two said flat “no way” and one just made a reservation for a very special occasion, and she’s got a plan for making sure the risk is low. I also asked them what a person who plans to dine in should look for (assuming you don’t want to drop $100+ on a carbon dioxide monitor), and what to do to lower the infection risk. They offered a lot of great, science-based advice, including some simple surprises like limiting the time you might be exposed by taking a walk while you wait for your food.

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I hope you feel just a bit more enlightened about the human condition and ways to improve it. If so, don’t be afraid to forward this to a friend (they can subscribe here). If you have questions, comments or suggestions, you can reach me at rob dot britt on gmail or follow me on Twitter.

— Rob