Coping with despair

[Anonymous]

How do you cope with despair when: your missions are trashed; the alliances that underpin U.S. status and relative global peace are shredded; your dedicated, hard-working colleagues are fired; your own position is uncertain; and a group of goons with no understanding of what they are destroying for short-term gain takes over? I am struggling and still want to stay put here for the long haul. How are you all coping?

[Anonymous]

i've been eating a lot of chocolate and snuggling my dog. not really useful advice, i know.

[Anonymous]

Exercise. Escapist TV.

[Anonymous]

You need to do therapy, or self-talk your way out of your despair.

First, recognize that this represents a blip in history. You and me, and the events we are living right now, are not that important in the big scheme of things. Even if we disappear, and all the important programs that have created the USA as we know today, disappear as well, life goes on.

Second, the Trump/Musk administration won't have it that easy, OP. They can try to launch all kinds of stuff, but our judiciary is standing firm. When things land at the Supreme Court, those justices, even the ones Trump appointed, aren't going to decide everything his way. Precedent shows that a portion of the conservative justices are pretty independent minded! The Democrats are in a rout these days, but they will rally. Everyone who has suffered at the hands of this administration (meaning most people, because we're seeing inflation rise again, farmers may not get their USAID subsidies, red states are realizing that the fed crackdown is affecting them too) will not vote the way MAGAs want. The midterms might bring about a change of power in the House and Senate. You can maybe think of ways to be useful for that...

Third, become selfish. Take care of your own health and that of your kids. Circle the wagons on your own wellbeing. You can't be an empath right now. The way you power through is by shutting out some of the news and just living your life one day at a time.

[Anonymous]

I’m here struggling with you.

[Anonymous]

I am so, so sorry.

[Anonymous]

Little Debbie Oatmeal Cream Pies

[Anonymous]

Reframe your negative thoughts.

What is my mindset right now…I spent almost 10 years between my PhD and postdoctoral fellowship in STEM. That was a very hard time but I did it. If I survived those awful years, this situation is not going to destroy me.

[Anonymous]

Girl scout cookies

[Anonymous]

Get out and help with midterms instead of eating your feelings, people!!!

[Anonymous]

Sublimate it into righteous fury.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do you cope with despair when: your missions are trashed; the alliances that underpin U.S. status and relative global peace are shredded; your dedicated, hard-working colleagues are fired; your own position is uncertain; and a group of goons with no understanding of what they are destroying for short-term gain takes over? I am struggling and still want to stay put here for the long haul. How are you all coping?

I'm so sorry. I'm in a purple state in a tariff-vulnerable industry. I was a fed. I was laid off once from a corporate employer and another time I had to quit a terrible job. So I've been existentially miserable before.

My best advice to you is to understand that your mission was valuable, and you did good, but you are a person who exists beyond your job.

For a week after I quit a job that wasn't working out (and I'd been working long hours), it was a revelation just to sit in the sun and realize I was still the same person without my job.

I think things will eventually get better. Things are so crazy now. Trump was voted out before. I expect course correction from upcoming elections.

Take care of yourself, focus on what's good in your life, and tell yourself that things will recover. You have to find the Hope at the bottom of Pandora's Box. It's definitely there. That's why that myth still makes sense after thousands of years.

Maybe it can give you some help to think of yourself as a witness. That is a role that has value. People are already checking into what has been done in the first few weeks. Simply by witnessing and providing continuity, you are supporting the public and your imperilled mission.

Best wishes to you and your colleagues. Thank you for being a public servant who cares deeply about your work.

[Anonymous]

I have been drinking a lot. I don’t recommend it.

[Anonymous]

I’m sorry. I try not to despair because I know it will give Russ Vought an erection. I can’t let him win.

[Anonymous]

Take breaks. Rest. Eat the cookies. Go for walks even when you don’t want to (in all kinds of weather). Stay hydrated.

The despair will pass, you’ll find your energy again.