This may seem like it's a little out of the blue, but I have some advice for everyone.
For most of my life I've suffered from chronic, mild depression. It's not debilitating, and it comes and goes. Sometimes I feel worse, sometimes I feel a little better. These days I take an antidepressant, and it helps, but only a little bit.
This has taught me a lesson: I need to always be keenly aware of my emotions. If I feel like the world is doomed and everything is hopeless, it's probably not because that's actually true. More likely, my depression has just temporarily kicked up a notch.
Needless to say, there's more to this than just brain chemistry. If I'm tired or stressed out, my mood worsens. This is precisely when I need to be most careful about making decisions or concluding that everything is, in fact, hopeless.
The combination of COVID-19 and the Trumpian takeover of American politics is obviously something that's produced a lot of tiredness and stress. So beware of your feelings. It's likely that democracy isn't really doomed; that America isn't sliding down a rat hole; that Russia and China aren't poised to take over the world; and that conservatives won't rule the country forever. It may feel that way sometimes, but that's just your downtrodden brain chemistry talking. Things are probably better than you think.
Or maybe not. But you should at least give it serious consideration.
This is so important. I have suffered from mild depression most of my life, too, and the key to handling it is to recognize those thoughts of hopelessness and doom. And as soon as you do, simply declare yourself incompetent to judge. To draw any kind of conclusions or make important decisions when in this state is like walking when your leg is broken. Consider your ability to think properly "broken", do whatever you need to get better, and postpone all that important thinking until then. You may be a very sensible person normally, but no matter how intelligent, or sensible, you are simply not capable to assess things when depressed.
Kevin - I think I'm in the same boat as you re: mild depression. Not clinical level depression, but it's been with me all my (very long) life, and I choke it back and bear it silently, while remaining cheerful to the outside world. This has led me to feel a bit like a fraud. Maybe I should tell people the asteroid is coming for real, and the explosion will be horrendous? After a lifetime of having these feelings, I've come to the conclusion that something must be wrong in the real world -- not just in my mind -- and that when I lie awake at night worrying that Donald Trump is about to be restored to the presidency, I'm not being foolishly negative, but realistic.
Anyway, thanks for this reminder. Whatever gets us through the night.
"It's likely that democracy isn't really doomed; that America isn't sliding down a rat hole; that Russia and China aren't poised to take over the world; and that conservatives won't rule the country forever."
You're right, there's no sound reason(s) to believe any of the above. There's varying reasons to have some concern about the future, but it's important not to get too carried away. We should shore up voting rights and other electoral reforms, while the opportunity is there. And conservatives are cementing a base of crazy, conspiracy thinking, anti-women's choice, and anti-vaccines, this is hardly a recipe for national let alone world dominance (in fact, it shows conservatives are very close to splintering from independents in a very dangerous way for their cause).
Thanks Kevin
I, also, am a life long depressed individual. But I have always been optimistic.
No, China and Russia are not poised to take over the world.
Democracy isn't doomed, but American democracy is close to being so and America will slide down a rat hole.
I look forward to many present Trump supporters asking why their votes are suddenly not being counted when they begin thinking things have gone too far.
Climate change will not bring humanity to extinction, but billions will die.
Climate change will not bring humanity to extinction, but billions will die.
It's a very serious problem. Indeed a crisis. And many millions of premature deaths are baked into the cake. But billions? I've seen no credible projections human mortality will spike by such a large number.
Maybe the immediate climate catastrophes would only kill tens of millions, but the famines, displacements and wars from climate changes could easily kill billions
Sometimes, reframing helps. So, it's the end of the world... What would it be like? What would be next. Trumpinista's take over. Imagine the outrage and how this would play out. Maybe folks would wake up. Just sayin and I'm sorry for the folks who suffer this debilitating disease.
Like they woke up the first time?
I'm surprised, Kevin. I look to you for a balanced, even optimistic view of things, not Pollyanna-ish but levelheaded. You're taking care of yourself -- and us.
My thoughts as well.
This is a good reminder. When depression is not taking over my brain, I am the one pointing to the ways in which the world has improved and is improving; when it is, I need to hear it from someone else.
Thanks for being the steadying voice of reasoned optimism.
This is all true, but reading about Justice Thomas' wife in the New Yorker still has me fit to be tied.
From the article: ‘ “The Judiciary’s power to manage its internal affairs insulates courts from inappropriate political influence,” [Chief Justice Roberts] wrote.’
They have the power, but not the will.
Just because you're depressed doesn't mean things aren't really going to Hell.
indeed
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.”
Charles Dickens, "A Tale of Two Cities "
Long-term, things will work out. But I'll die before they do.
Trumpian takeover?? Looks like it's falling apart.
A big reason I like reading you is the reasonable take you supply on so many issues. Hot takes just rule the opinion pages…you refrain and you have some chart too. Things are messed up….but also not so messed up.
It must be depression confession day in America.
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/23/opinion/life-changes-death.html#commentsContainer
Alrighty then. I'm not depressed. My life is pretty good considering. But this country, the media here, and the US political system are a dysfunctional hot mess. That might be disconcerting or depressing or disillusioning to some, but it shouldn't be a surprise anymore. And make no mistake, fixing these problems is impossible.
So make your peace with it. Hunker down for the slow relentless decline into chaos and decay. Enjoy the suffering of your enemies. Take care of your friends.
Chronic Major Depressive, but I've always believed we are taking two steps forward for every one step back, that the arc of history bends toward justice, and all that.
Until recently. Now there's the triple threat of the pandemic, the rise of fascism (in the US and elsewhere), and the inexorable march toward climate destruction. And our collective response to all three has been foolish, feckless and weak.
Just to add some more perspective on depression: I am suffering from mild depression but I am still an optimist by nature. One is a deficiency in brain chemistry, the other is my personality. The depression takes over sometimes and then my optimism is suppressed. Suffering from depression is not the same as being a pessimist.
Looks like Conor Friedersdork's dad Kevin Drum just needs to go back to Oberlin to get his outrage juices flowing again.