Like many people, I deal with occasional depression. Because I follow politics closely and care deeply about the wellbeing of my country, when especially bad things are happening in the political realm, it can cause me to become depressed.
Now is one of those times — and I suspect that I’m hardly alone.
Today, we have a president who has been revealed by an impeachment inquiry as brazenly corrupt, yet who is almost universally supported and defended by his party, which is very large and powerful. Some Republican leaders have even said that Trump is “the chosen one” of God. His approval ratings have not fallen in the wake of the Ukraine arms-for-dirt scandal. People on both sides, pro-Trump and anti-Trump, are simply hardening in their positions about the man. To some he’s the devil; to others he’s the messiah.
This situation is very, very bad for America’s mental health.
When a society is led by a “drama seeking” individual such as Donald Trump, it makes everyone in that society more prone to feel and exhibit strong emotions. When the type of drama that the leader stirs up is generally negative rather than inspirational, it causes the whole tenor of society to spiral into darkness.
I look around me and talk to people and read the news, and it feels like America is taking on more and more of the mentally unbalanced characteristics of this president. People on both the left and the right increasingly see things through a tribalistic lens of “us versus them,” are more angry, more nasty, more cynical, more susceptible to conspiracy theories, and more fearful about the future.
Our country is being remade in the image of Donald Trump — petty, mean, lacking in moral scruples and rational thought, and filled with a toxic brew of intense emotions.
I am writing this to say two things that some may need to hear:
(1) If you feel a deep sadness about what is going on in our country, you are not alone. It is perfectly normal. In fact, NOT to feel that way right now might be a sign of “hardening of the heart” to things that should cause a strongly negative emotional reaction in the heart of any patriotic American. It is not normal to have a president who is a crook, and for one of the two major political parties to go “all in” for such a president. Feeling very sad or even depressed as a result of this is a sign that you still have a soul and you still have standards. Give yourself a pat on the back — Trump hasn’t been able to dull your conscience. And if you feel you need help as our country goes through this difficult time, please do not hesitate to seek it. Talk about what you’re feeling with people you love and trust. Seek professional counseling or psychiatric treatment if necessary. Pray, meditate, hike, pet an animal companion; practice whatever self-care works for you.
(2) Please do not give up hope. America is not destined for fascism. We’ve been through some very tough times before, and have had some very corrupt and immoral leaders on occasion, but America has always been able to recover from our mistakes — even terrible evils — and not only survive but become a better and more admirable society. The way this happens is that people of conscience feel intolerably moved by the bad things that are tolerated by too many, and instead of acquiescing to those things, say loudly, “Wake up, fellow Americans! We can, we MUST do better! Our country must be better than this!” Now is the time to express this to anyone and everyone (firmly, but politely, if possible). Depression can lead to feelings of hopelessness and resignation, but that is not what is needed right now. It is important to find the inner strength to say and do what is right, especially in times that feel dark.
Unfortunately, no matter what happens in the year ahead, many Americans are likely going to go through terrible mental suffering because of the pervasive presence of Trump as a shrill and continuously blasting trumpet of dramatic negativity in our national conversation. The 2020 election campaign may be the nastiest in American history. If Trump is reelected, many thousands, perhaps millions of Americans will experience acute depression, anxiety or panic attacks, and possibly even death as a result of heart attacks, strokes, or suicide. If Trump loses, the same thing will happen to similar numbers of people — the ones who worship him and are fully invested in his political cult, which they will see unraveling before their eyes. There may be increased incidents of assault and battery, road rage, and mass shootings, as some people “snap” because their fear and anger goes beyond the limits of what their brain can handle.
All of this, I suppose, might make for an exciting reality TV show. It could be called “A Nation Goes Crazy.” Unfortunately, this isn’t TV, it’s real life.
Donald Trump has dragged America into the darkness of his sociopathic mind. Let us grieve for how America has been damaged, but let us nevertheless be strong. Our whole country will have to heal from this episode of insanity that is the Trump presidency. In the midst of the darkness, let us each strive to light a candle on that “shining city upon a hill” that America is supposed to be.