Economic Anxiety

We learned about citizenship at our fall conference just as the presidential election ended and the economic disaster deepened. The international economic crisis has damaged people in ways that are familiar to us at Riggs. Individuals with massive losses but significant resources left, find themselves sleepless, unable to think clearly, blaming themselves. They feel alone with the stress, carrying more tension than they can bear. Some feel their lives are not worth living. Competent adults, having responsibly and carefully taken care of themselves and their families to the best of their abilities, suddenly feel the once familiar world falling out from under them. Undone, they search for the grown-ups in the world who take care of crises. But they do not find them. They are experiencing what psychoanalysts call "regression" -- a shift from adult perceptions to childhood reactions. They cannot find anyone clearly in charge -- and no one, no institution, to trust. We are in an interdependent world and the system does not hold.

Riggs is seeing the effects of this crisis. It is impacting individuals and families. What strategies can individuals use when so overwhelmed? First, we have learned how crucial it is to not be alone, to recognize our membership in a larger community. Second, using our human resources in face of psychological stress is crucial. We can turn to our familiar groups -- the family, first of all. The most dangerous assumption -- particularly for men -- is that they must be "the strong one" for the survival of their family. The world is too large, too unknown, for any individual to believe he can manage alone. Gathering as a family group (even with children as young as adolescents) can be enormously helpful. Our clinical work teaches us that the monster in the closet (the unknown fear) is much more frightening that the fear that is faced together with the light on and an open door. Talk with each other and let everyone's ideas be heard. Reassurance is not provided with reassuring words -- it derives from facing facts together and developing shared strategies in which each person has a role.

Adaptive and social mechanisms for grappling with the economy are in process. Find ways to engage others -- there is hope through engagement. This is a value that Riggs stands for.

We have striking evidence that our commitment to engagement helps. Riggs’ first “main aims” paper from our 12-year Follow-Along Study will be published in the Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease in January. It shows that even so-called “treatment–resistant” patients can recover from suicidal thinking and behavior. It takes time, but our patients go on to lead full lives with no traces visible of their once obsessive preoccupation with death.

And the Riggs’ Alumni Association, now over 300 members, demonstrates the enduring strength of engagement. As Daniel Kaufman and Sheri Little step down from their year as alumni co-chairs, the Association is moving to co-sponsor Riggs first Family Forum on May 9, 2009, when the staff will present our learning from almost 20 years of working with the families of our patients. We are very grateful for Daniel and Sheri’s help over the past year and look forward to a new year for the Association.

And, finally, I want to thank our donors for continuing to help us this year with our Annual Fund in the face of significant external economic stress, The loyalty and commitment of our wonderful donors makes the intensive work we do at Riggs possible. Thank you for your help.