Psychological Survival in the Economic Crisis

We had the Twin Towers trauma followed by Iraq and Afghanistan, and now we have an economic crisis. For the past eight years, we have attempted to cope with the uncertainty of whether we were safe from foreign attack, only to be attacked from within. After 9/11 we developed coping mechanisms as to some degree we dulled our fears of danger from outside enemies, but

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we were utterly unprepared for an assault by our own people. The uncertainty of the ability of the economy to sustain and provide for our daily existence will not only reactivate the previous fears of our enemies but, because of the betrayal of trust in the government institutions that were put in place to protect us, will also test our psychological resources to their maximum.

This psychological stress and its consequences are yet to be defined. We do know that when there is an upset in what could be considered a steady psychological state, there is an ensuing crisis condition. In a state of crisis, free-floating anxiety becomes habitual because adaptive maneuvers and problem-solving activities are not adequate to return the individual to his previous, balanced equilibrium. The situation requires a solution, which is new in relation to the individual’s previous life experience. If the solution is found within a manageable time for those who are structurally stable, life moves on, but it can be traumatic for the vulnerable, the young, the old, and, at present, those who have lost their financial nest eggs and/or their homes. If trauma remains un-integrated, it expresses itself in various ways, such as psychosomatic disorders, conversion, depression, depersonalization, withdrawal, alexithymia (inability to express emotions with words), substance abuse, identification with the aggressor, and fixation to the trauma. Without a tangible resolution in sight, the longer it takes for an economic recovery, the more we will see the acting out of unintegrated effects in an attempt to master the anxiety induced by the uncertainty.

Underneath the gray cloud over our heads, and in spite of some antisocial acts going on at present, many are working together to mobilize resources. Our first group act was to elect a president whose message of hope, honesty, and hard work will hopefully get us out of the untenable position we are in at present. Studies after the Second World War ascertained that the group experience of working together in a common effort prevents a deeper traumatization, and that the sooner individuals are able to talk to a professional about their fears and anxieties, the better and faster the recovery. We observed this once more after the fall of the Twin Tow-

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ers. I also believe that the parallel process of both therapist and patient experiencing the same psychological stresses is a contributing factor to the quality of care and speed of recovery. With this in mind, it is important to remember that there are two components in the recovery from psychological states of crisis: involvement in group activities in public service and the availability of mental health services to all who are in need.

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