Therapist Warns Chronic Political Outrage, Not Trump, Is Fracturing American Psyche
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Over the past decade, a pervasive psychological pattern has taken root across the United States, transcending class, geography, and political affiliation: a chronic state of political anxiety marked by habitual outrage and a constant sense of threat. This phenomenon, a therapist warns, is reshaping American mental health far beyond the impact of any single political figure, including former President Donald Trump.
Jonathan Alpert, a psychotherapist practicing in New York and Washington, D.C., has observed firsthand how the emotional response surrounding Mr. Trump has hardened rather than softened over time. In a recent commentary, Alpert described this entrenched outrage as the defining pathology of the current political era, where politics no longer serves as a platform for debate but rather as a source of chronic distress.
“The emotional response to Donald Trump has not cooled with time. It has only hardened,” Alpert said, emphasizing that the political climate has evolved into a state where threat perception dominates everyday life. This chronic political anxiety crosses socioeconomic and geographic boundaries, affecting individuals regardless of their educational background or location.
The therapist’s insights come amid growing concerns about the mental health implications of sustained political polarization. According to data from the National Institute of Mental Health, chronic stress and anxiety can lead to a host of psychological and physical health problems, underscoring the urgency of addressing this national trend.
Alpert’s observations also echo findings from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which report rising levels of anxiety and depression among Americans in recent years, trends that experts partly attribute to socio-political turmoil. The therapist warns that the constant state of outrage and perceived threat may be eroding the social fabric and individual well-being.
Political commentators and mental health professionals alike have noted how “Trump Derangement Syndrome,” a term popularized during the Trump presidency to describe extreme emotional reactions to the former president, has endured and evolved. Alpert argues that the phenomenon is less about Mr. Trump himself and more about a broader cultural shift toward permanent outrage.
“Simply questioning the prevailing narratives or the intensity of the outrage often triggers immediate fury, a reaction I have witnessed repeatedly in my clinical practice,” Alpert explained. This pattern, he suggests, reflects a deeper societal issue: the normalization of viewing political opposition not as a difference of opinion but as an existential threat.
The consequences of this shift extend beyond individual mental health, influencing public discourse and political engagement. The U.S. government has recognized the importance of mental health in civic participation and national stability, with initiatives aimed at promoting resilience and reducing polarization.
As America approaches another election cycle, experts warn that without addressing the underlying chronic political anxiety, the nation risks further division and psychological strain. Alpert’s call for awareness and intervention highlights the need to move beyond partisan outrage toward a healthier political environment.
For those seeking support, resources such as the MentalHealth.gov portal offer guidance on managing stress and anxiety related to political and social issues. Understanding the psychological toll of permanent outrage is a crucial step toward healing a nation grappling with its own internal conflicts.
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