A Traumatic Diagnosis Called Perpetual Trump Stress Disorder

"Qin Shi Huang

Reign: 247-210 B.C.

Qin, also called Qin Shihuangdi, also called Qin Shihuangdi, united China in 221 B.C. 
and ruled as the first emperor 
of the Qin dynasty. He was known to order 
the killing of scholars whose ideas he disagreed
 with and the burning of "critical" books. During
his reign, he ordered the construction of a great wall."  -Brittanica

Sound familiar? These are incredibly unsettled times. Those of us shocked and appalled by our President's undignified speech, intimidating manner, and unmitigated disdain for anything beyond his seemingly ADD fixations (ie, the size of his crowds, how he would have won the popular vote, & how adored he is). Other than the president for the people, he is the avaricious monarch for those with the requisite fortune to secure a plum presidential appointment. Though I thought Donald Rumsfeld, Carl Rove, and the Bush thugs were ghastly, this new Trump gaggle of clueless millionaires and billionaires are ladróns tortuoso. Every day I hold my breath waiting for his administration to enact another frightening edict.

Watching the past few weeks of this administration's machinations has awakened fairy tale memories from childhood about tyrant kings, machiavellian court politicos, and ruthless royalty, all scurrying for the king's favor as they amass more power. As scary as they were, there was always a happily ever after ending. No such luck with this reality. My lugubrious mood has me seeking solace from self-help books offering coping mechanisms for my dour adjustment disorder. I decided to research my symptoms hoping there might be an appropriate anti-psychotic that might ease my free floating anxiety.

The bible of mental health diagnoses is called the DSM-5. Though there is no diagnosis called Perpetual Trump Stress Disorder, I would like to propose one. Like PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) the definition from the National Institute of Mental Health is quite similar: "PTSD is a disorder that develops in some people who have experienced a shocking, scary, or dangerous event." Isn't that what daily life has been like since the
Trump minions have lorded over us with their nonstop assault on our intellect and humanity?  

The National Institute of Mental Health did have some other suggestions:

'Some resilience factors that may reduce the risk of PTSD include:

• Seeking out support from other people, such as friends and family
• Finding a support group after a traumatic event
• Learning to feel good about one’s own actions in the face of danger
• Having a positive coping strategy, or a way of getting through the bad event and learning from it
• Being able to act and respond effectively despite feeling fear.'

• Together we can overcome.
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