Spooky, Scary, Skeletons..?

As children, we grew up hearing ghost stories and tales of the boogey man that might be hiding under our bed waiting to grab our feet if we left them out of the covers. As adults, we still have scary stories told to us, but in the form of media and propaganda. It is a guessing game trying to figure out who and what to trust. The real threats around us are not werewolves or Slender Man, they are the people running our country with the big smiles and kind words that sound a little too good to be true.

Are We In An Abusive Relationship With Our Government?

This is something I think about often due to the climate of our country and what I have been seeing all over social media, news outlets, and the first person accounts I have heard from family and friends alike. Just like in a DV (domestic violence) relationship, the government and the people in power have used the DARVO tactic against us. For anyone not in the mental health field, DARVO stands for Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim and Offender. The government has made the majority of citizens to feel as if we have done something wrong to get denied the love and care we possibly once felt. We get roped in by all of the sweet talk and fun dates and then, out of seemingly nowhere, we get slapped. Did we do something wrong? It couldn't have been on purpose... They love us, right? We go and try to bring up our issues to the government, but we are met with denial of any wrong doing on their part. "You are the problem!" says the government. "You must have come here illegally. You must have been born into the wrong socioeconomic status. You must look like a criminal. You must have brown or black skin. You MUST have done SOMETHING to make us hate you." says the government. "How could you think we are out to get you when all we want is to help you? Can't you see that I am the victim here and you just don't see all of the things I am doing to help you? You are so ungrateful." says the government. Once we are beat down again, we go back to being compliant because they love us, right?

The Rose Colored Glasses Are Slipping Off

The most terrifying story (reality) I have heard during this spooky season is how we are seeing the repetition of history in front of our eyes. My mom lives near Alligator Alcatraz where people are being held against their will. My friend's brother-in-law was taken away by ICE agents during her birthday party and his family do not know when they will see him again. Why are we still pretending this is okay and normal? Just like in a DV relationship, there is always a moment of clarity when the victim has had enough and decides to fight back. The country has had the largest protests in history so far due to the atrocities we have been seeing with this administration and ICE.

Final Thoughts

I may not be the most knowledgeable person when it comes to politics, but, as a therapist, I do know what abuse looks like. We are living in an abusive haunted house that is calling itself the United States of America, land of the free home of the brave. Until everyone is brave enough to fight back, we will never be free. Everything is not fine.

FUCK TRUMP. FUCK ICE. FUCK FACISM.