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Leah DHG's avatar

You were certainly the canary in the cavern, Paul. And thank you for this explanation about feeling personal despair.

As you know, Mathematica laid off 350 of us in early March, offering me *two weeks'* severance on the condition I give up my First Amendment rights to be public about it.

Yesterday the HR exec, who along with other top executives was NOT laid off, finally was exasperated enough with my emails pestering her to say they now *won't be offering me any severance at all*-- though I am still within the time period I am legally allowed to take to review and try to negotiate this severance.

As you might recall, the "employee owned" company also changed its mission at the time to reflect DOGE values instead of human ones.

I know all this, and still I mourn and am terrified for me and the planet.

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Walt Hampton, J.D., CFC's avatar

Thank you for this powerful, compelling piece, Paul. Together may we look for ways to stay human.

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Dr. Donna Mogan's avatar

Thank you for identifying and laying out the patterns. This is important work.

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Sarah Jaquette Ray's avatar

this is fantastic. thank you for naming this and I look forward to your series on this.

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Kerinbeau's avatar

Thank you for naming this and breaking it down. It is so helpful!! I have been hearing many people saying they just can’t engage anymore. It’s too much. They are retreating. And while I believe wholeheartedly in self care, I don’t believe this is the same thing. In fact, I think it may be causing more harm as it is a sort of underlying constant existential dread that simmers below the surface of trying to live a “normal” life.

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Paul T Shattuck, MSW, PhD's avatar

Thank you for this comment. I have received so many messages from readers about that post! And people have shared their stories. I’m actually working on a sequel. The input from readers has helped shape and improve this notion of a complex of downstream harmful consequences. My background and movement organizing underscores the importance of naming things. We sometimes say “name it to tame it.” And ‘naming work’ is essential in every social movement. It’s a way to claim our lived experience in a manner that becomes a steppingstone to strategy rather than a dead end of despair. Stay tuned for more, please consider subscribing if you have not already. And thank you so much for your engagement. Knowing that this work is helping folks means the world to me ☮️🙏🏼🌟

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Kerinbeau's avatar

Name it to tame it - yeesss. I am by nature an optimist and peacemaker, aka conflict avoider. I have not, however been able to disengage in this time. I have found myself getting ragey angry about one day a week when I reach out to and express to friends who can hold it, relate and act as regulating forces. Protests have also acted as healthy, regulating, connecting spaces. This was by no means a plan and I generally avoid expressing anger as it is quite disruptive to my desire for peace:). But I actually have found this to be a life giving survival tool. It feel like it allows me to stay present and process some of the chaos if that makes sense.

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Paul T Shattuck, MSW, PhD's avatar

I totally relate. Fellow conflict avoider here. A lifetime feeling uncomfortable with my own anger. Lately, I have worked at developing a new relationship with my anger. I’m trying to see anger as two things. First, it is a way to elevate energy when I need to get ready for action. It’s a tool to use rather than an emotion that is taking over. Second, it is a signal that, if I listen carefully, points to the things that I care about, the things and values that are worth defending.

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Kerinbeau's avatar

thanks for sharing - so relate!

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GMBH's avatar

Please know, you federal workers who have been fired or remain in your jobs but fear for the future, that we, the American people who are not MAGA and are in the majority, appreciate your service to our nation and elsewhere if you are USAID.

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Heather's avatar

Thank you, this article was 🎯

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lunafaer (she/they)'s avatar

saving this to read and digest. thank you so much for addressing this and sharing your insight.

we all have a talent and you’re sharing yours.

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blackcatnamedOlivia's avatar

I will share your post with friends - but this destabilization is against all of us, not just progressives. I know many who voted for this crew (and I would add another tech name as the power behind the throne who you haven't named - he's not officially in the cabinet) who thought - crazy, I know in retrospect! - they were voting for political conservatives who would "take us back to better times" (when that is absolutely not at all what is being done), who are now waking up, and many are still in denial - even when personally harmed themselves by the radical changes. They choose not to see it, because they don't have a framework for their betrayal.

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Nevyn Ben Abuyah's avatar

Thank you for this. I was becoming a person I do not like, losing my empathy for people's struggle and suffering, just because they voted the way they did. I am trying to reclaim my empathy, and your two posts about authoritarian harm complex helps me.

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Paul T Shattuck, MSW, PhD's avatar

Thank you for sharing this so honestly. The fact that you're noticing that shift and choosing to reclaim your empathy is its own form of resistance. The harm we're living through is designed to fracture our capacity to care. Rebuilding that capacity, even when it feels fragile or conflicted, is strategic work. I'm so glad the posts are helping. You're not alone in this. We're learning to stay human together.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ 🙏🏼☮️

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Jeff Feldman, MSW, LSW's avatar

I love this framework of the Authoritarian Harm Complex and the 7 associated harms. It's a great way to describe the phenomenon many are experiencing now. And, being able to describe the condition, it's symptoms, and their origins allows us to identify interventions to address the problem. I think those interventions (ways of being) are what my work at Words over Swords is about.

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Kitty_1593's avatar

Thank you. Some days I feel empowered, others hopeless. I struggle with going about my normal day because I feel like I should be doing something about this. Until it's resolved.

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Paul T Shattuck, MSW, PhD's avatar

I totally relate! My level of energy and empowerment fluctuates a lot from day to day. Honestly, writing this blog is kind of like my therapy. It’s a way for me to process what’s going on. And if it happens to help other people then that’s a bonus. Sometimes my mind will begin to create a shame story because there’s some hidden belief lurking in there that I should be capable of peak performance no matter what’s happening in the world. That’s when I reach for radical self compassion, slow down, give myself grace. Sometimes I will use the “of course…” technique. “Of course i’m having difficulty sustaining empowerment and hope today. Who wouldn’t?”

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Kitty_1593's avatar

I just wish I could turn my head off. Some of that is dealing with family who still in the cult and that is frustrating.

I know I'm on here too much, but I think I'm just looking for good news, and hope.

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Paul T Shattuck, MSW, PhD's avatar

Well, I cannot promise you good news. But I’m happy to offer compassionate camaraderie and connection. I see you and I hear you, know that you are not alone. 🙏🏻☮️

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Lucy A Howey's avatar

Thank you for this clarity 💛

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Monet Lion's avatar

I’ve just come across these intriguing and important views you are sharing regarding personal fallout from “ the regime’s” daily bombardment of threats and consequences. I welcome reading more and sharing with my therapist as I grapple with relationship issues regarding personal values vs. “ regime values,” for lack of a better description. I have decided to ask and encourage my therapist to form a support group — to deal with the issues you have named!

Thank you.

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Paul T Shattuck, MSW, PhD's avatar

Check out Dr Lusk’s website, free ACT for Moral Distress. Fantastic resources for both you and your therapist. Evidence-based approaches for cultivating mindfulness and resilience in the face of authoritarian harm.

https://www.drjaimielusk.com/act-for-moral-distress

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Karen F's avatar

“…cultural permission structures and swarm-like improvisational chaos.” Now I have words: "improvisational chaos". Swarm -- visual and visceral. Thank you, Paul.

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Tom Colucci's avatar

Paul. Thank You for this article. I have been experiencing most, if not all, of these signs. My old experiences of being bullied as a kid are being triggered. This has been tiring, disorienting, and a bit crippling. Wow! By realizing that others are experiencing similar things, I am feeling less isolated and confused. I am processing the pain and getting stronger. 😊

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