Last week, as the only remaining arms treaty limiting the spread and stockpiling of nuclear weapons expired, I was reminded of the American psychiatrist Robert J. Lifton. Lifton (who died at the age of 99 last September) coined the term “psychic numbing” to describe the anesthetizing effect of living under the shadow of the mushroom cloud. With 85 seconds to midnight on the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists’ doomsday clock (the closest ever), our minds are strongly tempted to retreat into denial or distraction
Mechanisms like psychic numbing evolved to shield us from becoming paralyzed by disturbing stimuli. Doctors and nurses in ICUs and emergency rooms are at high risk of emotional exhaustion, no longer able to relate personally to the patients in their care. We too become de-sensitized when exposed to an endless stream of mayhem. Without the right armor, we burn out.
A close cousin of psychic numbing, “outrage fatigue” comes from living in the shadow of the Trump White House. Every day brings an escalation of vulgarity, breaching the threshold of decency in ways previously unimaginable. News cycles are dominated by bombast, slurs and insults until at some point, our capacity to be shocked is depleted. We lose the ability to become indignant.
How do we restore our equilibrium? First, it is important to realize that we are being drugged. The White House deliberately feeds the public a daily dose of toxins—threats to cancel elections or invoke the insurrection act—to overwhelm our defenses. That’s why Trump has decreed eight national emergencies since returning to office. Citizens living in a continuous state of panic—like doctors in a crisis unit—are eventually rendered insensible.
But every drug has its antidote. First and foremost, we must stop swallowing the poison. Instead of being reactive to the latest headlines, become proactive by engaging in acts of everyday resistance.
Buy a whistle and learn how to use it. Shop locally. (Avoid Amazon and unsubscribe from Big Tech companies that enable the regime.) Small acts of defiance remind us of our own agency and, when taken collectively, add up to something big.
Sing. Lifting our voices, especially in a chorus, is proven to reduce the stress hormone cortisol. Indivisible Santa Fe has begun to offer weekly opportunities to musically de-toxify and cleanse the system. Join us.
Tune into What’s the Plan? Trump and his minions thrive on havoc. They want our world to feel disjointed and incoherent. Every Thursday, Indivisible National’s strategy and planning session offers a map forward to navigate the chaos and make sense of the madness.
Finally, smile. Hug your kids. Do a good turn. Enjoy a home cooked meal. Take a walk in nature. And don't forget to breathe. Remember that this is a world worth savoring and a country worth fighting for and that (in the words of Alice Walker) anything we love can be saved.
