FRUSTRATION, CAUSES AND CURE
WHAT IS FRUSTRATION?
Frustration is an abstract word. Nobody can see, touch or handle it. But inspite of its abstract nature, the impact of frustration and its occurrence in our daily life is obvious. Nobody can honestly claim to have escaped frustration in his or her life.
There are many definitions of frustration, but to me the one is apt and simple that which defines frustration as “disappointment or defeat”. That is frustration or disappointment occurs when we are prevented by somebody or something to attain our heart desires. It is obvious that the opposite of frustration is success. If frustration inflicts on one a feeling of helplessness, doom or complete failure; then success brings to us a feeling of great joy that can elevate one body and mind to that state of complete satisfaction, happiness, peace and comfort. When a person is happy, he/she feels elated and at home with everybody. But when frustrated he/she feels depressed or dejected and at odds even with oneself. Most people when disappointed or frustrated do employ certain emotional phrases to bring home or illustrate the state and extent of their feelings. Some people will cry out: oh, I have come to the end of the road, I am between and betwixt, I am pushed to the wall; I have reached a point of no return; I am at cross roads; I am finished. Such are some of the utterances that we often hear from people who suffer one form of disappointment or another.
CAUSES AND INSTANCES OF FRUSTRATION
Frustration or disappointment can occur naturally or caused by your fellow man. Natural occurrences include death, flood, draught, earthquake, fire or even diseases.
For instance, a child whose parents die when he is yet to stand on his feet financially and otherwise, will certainly feel frustrated. The same experience goes for a wife whose husband is dead leaving the care of the children to herself alone. A farmer whose farmlands, constituting the only source of sustenance, are destroyed either by fire or flood is highly frustrated and completely disappointed. When earthquake strikes mostly in the effect is always disastrous. It is frustration and disappointment to many families including the countries themselves.
What about frustration which is occasioned by a child born blind, lame, deaf, or dumb to his parents? Frustration also comes if a friend one trust so much dupes, blackmails, tells lies against, or robes one into trouble one never knew anything about. A person feels frustrated when plans to make profits in a trade or business fail. One is frustrated when failed examinations inspite of hardwork and commitment. Frustration comes when one try all in vain to heal a malignant disease. Students feel frustrated when threatened with lack of school fees, uniforms, provisions or pocket money. Each and every one of us may have at one time or the other felt frustrated when are hungry but have no food to eat.
The Reverend Minister feels frustrated when members of his church indulge in vices that can destroy the public image of the church. A state of frustration occurs when citizens sabotage government programmes aimed at economic revival or political stability. When a number of family members constitute themselves into a public nuisance by their refusal to conform to accepted norms, culture and tradition of the people; such family becomes a source of frustration to the people. The list of instances and what causes frustration are numerous.
HOW TO CURE OR OVERCOME FRUSTRATION:
When frustration occurs, the suggestions can serve as cure:
Being mindful of ourselves, taking a break from the activity that brought that very frustration, taking a deep breath, talking to a trust friend, figuring out the root cause of the frustration, physically exercising oneself, quickly focusing on other prospects or activities in life that will surely not lead to frustration.
