The Knock-On Effect

I’m pretty sure it’s not just me. I’ve observed a level of distress and exhaustion in people over the past few weeks that is rather interesting. Actually, it’s worrying, because these kinds of emotions have a way of spilling over in everything.

For people to be happy and productive they need to feel that the world is relatively safe, relatively equitable most of the time, and that progress is possible.

When enough of these basics are eroded we get depression and gloom. Despair by any other name.

The 1% ripping everyone off, global warming, refugees, shootings, the destruction of the middle classes — all these will bring us down even on a good day. But we struggle on anyhow.

But now we have Trump.

In almost all the reporting that has swamped us regarding this individual very little has been said about the cumulative effect on the national psyche of those who have to witness this unfolding disaster.

Isn’t it time we considered this?

I wonder if anti-depressants are having a banner year? If therapists are booked up solid? If people are giving up? What do you see?