Sublimation as Defense Mechanism in Pandemic Fatigue Today

Abstract

Today, COVID-19 pandemic has caused such pandemic fatigue for people. Staying at home situation, social and economic uncertainties, and fear of outbreak are walls that limit and restrict everyone’s mobility. People are getting tired and bored of prolonged pandemic and it caused anxiety among them. Instead of complaining about the pandemic, transforming the anxiety to other forms is needed now as seen in sublimation as defense mechanism. Then, how sublimation may cope with current pandemic fatigue? By using qualitative method, certain concepts and written data are analyzed to answer the question. Current COVID-19 pandemic, pandemic fatigue, usage of defense mechanism in literary criticisms, and sublimation as defense mechanism are explanations in this paper. The discussion then includes how sublimation works as a necessary creative way to deal with pandemic fatigue. In health aspects, people doing more to pursuit fitness as reflection of pursuit of good health. In economic sides, being entrepreneur could be a nice way to find more money. In socio-cultural aspect, giving charity to others remains important as signs of being thankful for everything. In individual aspects, starting new hobbies and doing unfinished works at home are necessary deeds to deal with longer time “provided” by pandemic situations. Pandemic fatigue does not mean to neglect all rules, but it is such challenge for people to define another normal condition of everyday pandemic life today.

Keywords COVID-19, defense mechanism, pandemic fatigue, sublimation