I have a confession to make. Last week, at 2 a.m. Friday, the day before Joe Biden was declared victorious, I hopped onto the Trump Crazy Train. I was checking the election returns.
I’ve stayed calm and detached all through this national drama, but last week was tougher than I was, it wore me down.
Last night, I talked to my therapist, who was helping me with something else, and I told her I was up all night one night last week worrying about the election, which I have been writing about for months now. I haven’t had a panic attack in years, but I had a big one that night.
She got uncharacteristically angry and even emotional. “Jon,” she said, almost shouting, “Don’t do that! Don’t get on the Trump Crazy Train. The President is, she said, is a “malignant narcissist” and a “sociopath.”
She warned me that the train was a trap. I knew this was true.
Once you get on, you can’t easily get off, it is scary. addictive, and shocking all at the same time. The noise you hear on that train is not a whistle, it’s the sound of millions of aggrieved souls whining at the same time.
The train is like a planet in another solar system, it takes us to a new and chaotic reality. Another dimension, literally.
Only the strong can step off voluntarily. The rest of us have to jump off and flee. It is disorienting as if everything we knew is suddenly upside down.
I’ve been on it, I can testify that it can be a terrifying ride.
Weaker people – like me – are advised to never get on in the first place. If there are hidden, broken, or damaged parts inside, they will come bubbling up to the surface. If I managed to get off, the therapist said, then stay off and never get on again.
Making people crazy and angry is what Trump does, she said. It’s what he’s all about. Don’t get on the Crazy Train, she begged. I listened, I had never heard her so upset.
It was great advice, and I needed to hear it. It rang so true to me. For four years now, Trump has played all of us by dragging us onto his Crazy Train day after day. We always bite. I’m not biting anymore.
I never expected to be writing about politics so frequently or intensely, and it had gotten to me last week. I can’t believe I got on the train. I was mortified, how unprofessional.
I went sleepless for a day or two, had some more mild panic attacks, and then realized I had fallen into Trump’s Rabbit Hole. Maria kept asking me what was wrong with me.
I see almost a whole country on the Trump Crazy Train, and it is not either necessary or healthy.
First of all, Joe Biden will be the next President of the United States, and Donald Trump will leave office, however selfishly and destructively that might be.
The Republicans are playing politics; it might not be the most noble or patriotic position, but Republicans are the best politicians in the world at survival and popular conspiracy theories – Biden is a socialist, Kamala Harris is a Communist, the Democrats want to defund the police.
Democrats spread conspiracy theories about climate change and economic equality. The Republicans pick the good stuff.
The hapless American working class was hoodwinked again, tens of millions of them jumped on the train, waiting for some payback. They will be waiting for a long time, the only destination is the land of chaos and rage.
Progressives and journalists persist in believing that because these outrageous things Trump says are false, no one will believe them.
They remind me of Mr. Weatherbee clucking and scolding Archie. Archie doesn’t care what Mr. Weatherbee says.
No matter how often the Democrats get pounded in this way, they don’t seem ever to learn. They make a lot of mistakes, but they’ve never really learned to lie well.
Look at Grandpa Biden.
Trump’s genius is drawing attention to himself and making lies work for him.
He makes sure that no one pays attention to anything but him by riding his Crazy Train and pulling everybody along with him – keeping it moving, being the news, blowing the horn, making sure there is no room or space for anyone else, or their messages.
Picture a runaway train, blowing great puffs of smoke, it’s shrill, grinding whistle piercing the countryside. This is the train to nowhere; it never stops. Don’t get on.
I’m better already, I’m recovering from the train; I told the therapist that, she was pleased but wary.
But what advice would you offer other people and me for staying off of Donald Trump’s Crazy Train, I asked? Being a savvy therapist, she turned it on me. She asked me about my own ideas.
Working together, here are our recommendations for staying away from Donald Trump’s Crazy Train.
- Never watch the news before 6 a.m. or after 6 p.m. Outside of the “sixes,” live our life – work, play, exercise, read, talk to friends, binge on Netflix (light fare) be with people you love. The night is a quiet and peaceful time.
- Do not argue with people online or on blogs ever, or at any time. They don’t want to hear what you think right now, and you won’t like what you hear from them right now; that’s like a bunch of older adults talking about their medications. That is the Crazy Train, a first-class ticket to frustration, anxiety, and depression.
- Talk to rational, engaged, and uplifting people. Avoid anyone who wants to complain about Donald Trump with you, or who is in another panic that is a first-class ticket to Trump’s Crazy Train. I’d recommend watching the light and frothy stuff on your streaming app or chatting with simple and self-absorbed happy, and not too bright people.
- Keep your perspective. In January, Trump will be leaving us. He doesn’t want to be here any more than you want him to be here. He is just is searching for a way to look good and aggrieved, so he can’t back to TV and make some real money. The election is decided. All the drama and hysteria in between is just politics and more media hysteria. Mitch McConnell is wicked smart; he will provide cover for the craven and opportunistic members of his caucus who are terrified of Trump and leave it to the courts, Trump’s inner circle, and his malignant narcissism to decide how and when he will leave. Like donkeys, everything will have to look like his idea. Who cares, really, how he goes?
- Trump is over. Ye of Little Faith, repent. What Joe Biden most needs is for his followers to believe it. In politics, that is infectious. Not a good time for hand wringing or bedwetting. Be calm. Be strong.
- Trump will be riding his Crazy Train day and night, right up to the end, where he will leave in the most ungracious, unsettling, and immature way. The only thing you can do about it is wave happily when it leaves.
- His people will love it; 70 million people voted for it. Accept it. He said he would do this; this is what we expected him to do (Republicans). I remembered over the weekend to put my Big Boy Pants on and suck it up. Biden appears to know what he is doing. Leave him to it.
- The more Biden acts like a President and is treated like a President; the sooner Trump will find a way to slime out of yet another mess of his own making. We are learning that good energy works. If there is another genius in Trump’s persona, it is a penchant for digging holes for himself that he can’t crawl out of. He is smart about being crazy but dumb about being smart. Good Lord, look at what a mess he made out of his re-election campaign. Can anyone really believe is he is smart and tough to stage a coup d’etat in full view of the world? I don’t.
I am grateful to my therapist for getting me off Donald Trump’s Crazy Train. Maybe I can get a refund. Either way, I’m traveling differently.
The crazy train is where Donald Trump wants me to be; it is not where I want to be. It is not where I will be, not until January 20th, 2021.
Thank you for this column. I have really struggled this week…with Trump even invading my dreams….which become nightmares. This is good advice.
Thanks for sharing another example of how to maintain spirit and hope not to mention our sanity.
This presidency has illustrated how easily fascism can flourish and how contagious psychosis can be when weaponized by a demagogue.
Jon,
I also fell into the Trump Crazy Train trap. I was in full panic mode and did not sleep well at all until Saturday when Biden was proclaimed the winner. Then I committed the Cardinal Sin. Made a comment on Facebook urging that no matter who you voted for it is time to come together and heal. The first political comment I had made on social media in over two years. After 4 or 5 positive comments and 20 or so likes I was attacked. I wish I had read your post before I made my error in judgement. I won’t make the same mistake twice!
I needed this today. It is so easy to focus on the negative and the hard job ahead for our President Elect…just to be thankful he is there. That’s enough! (and send some money to the candidates in Georgia)
Totally agree!
Not gonna read another article, or watch another video, or listen to another commentator on the subject of Trump. I am done. The less attention we give him and his family of grifters, the quicker they will all fade away.
As for his supporters, the truth was always available to them, they chose the illusion instead. None so blind as those who refuse to see….don’t know who said that, but it fits here.
BYE-DON
70+ million of your fellow Americans voted for Trump. That is a fact. News organizations do not determine the Presidential winner. There is a document called the Constitution that sets out the criteria, if you can show me the part where it states the media determines the winner I would love you to do so.
If Biden won fairly he is President. I don’t think even the most rabid Trump supporter can think differently. The issue as most of us see it, is not the victor but the contest and the very survival of our Republic. I do not have the gift you do for writing eloquence. I merely ask you to try to give 70 million hard working Americans an ear and merely read the article at the link I am forwarding. Surely it cannot hurt to do so. I will not contact you again. BTW, we are not all ignorant blow hards. some of us are Mensa members who have Masters Degrees. Just so you know.
All the best,
Shirley Stowe
Please just read this.
https://monsterhunternation.com/2020/11/05/the-2020-election-fuckery-is-afoot/
Shirley, thanks. I’m afraid many of the most rabid Trump supporters do think differently. To me, this is not a COnstitutional issue but one of truth and decency. I respect your position, and I know many bright Trump supporters but I simply can’t fathom how rational people could support this person given his falsehoods, cruelty, and disrespect for COnstitutional law. He is not a defender of the constitution, he is a violator of it. And it is not the media who will elect him, as you must know if you belong to Mensa, it’s the state secretary generals and election commissioners, and they are the ones who are electing him, as the COnstitution provides.
Now that Biden has won, I’ve mostly been able to detach myself from all the frustration and anger fueled by Trump. In fact, I’m kinda looking forward to his next stunt. I’m sure he’ll continue to put on quite a show. Whatever he does isn’t going to change anything. No evidence of voter fraud has been detected. Most former presidents made their final exit by crossing the White House lawn with their wives, turning to wave at the crowd, then boarding the big black helicopter. I can’t guess what Trump will cook up, but I’ll be sitting back, watching the show. Time’s up Donald!
I found myself going through withdrawal from the uncertainty. The Train is addictive.
Best advice I’ve had in a long time! I’m going to take it too.
Jon, thank you for posting this and thank your therapist for sorting this out. I feel exactly as you do, I’ve lived in fear for the past few weeks with the election drawing closer and I don’t even live in the United States of America, for heaven’s sakes. I’ve been glued to the Trump Crazy Train, feeling disconnected in a sense as I am not directly impacted as people in the US are, but I’ve been filled to over the top with Trump’s narcissistic anger, his in-your-face aggression, his literal destroying of the United States of America and its voting process making it all about him, driving a cult-like campaign, seducing people to follow him, believe in him. He is a dangerous man. Many know that. But I can’t believe how much emotional energy I’ve invested in this election, in Trump, even though I sensibly know better than to do so. The fact that Biden and Harris have overtaken Trump, which in my insecurity, I hope they keep their lead, left me hugely relieved when the news came that Biden had won the election. It was like a wave of peace coming over me. What has happened to the United States, What has happened to people that they can be so swayed in a Hitler-like obsession with one man? I still feel as though I have left a part of me on that train and that part is called fear.
Sandy Proudfoot
Sandy, I totally agree and relate to your concerns and fears. I live across the Atlantic and like you, have been glued to the Trump Train ever since 2015, mostly with the hope of him been brought to justice, even as President. I do feel for the people of America who are still waking up every day with Trump in their orbit, and this will be the case even when he is not President any more.
Thanks for the excellent advice from your therapist.
I noticed Biden and Harris never mention Trump. If we all did that, ignored him, he would melt away like the wicked witch and the flying monkeys would disappear.
Narcissists are vampires, they hide from the light.
Excellent essay, it will really help get me through the end days of 45.
I had no idea I had so much anxiety but could not sleep starting the Saturday before Election Day. I have a weekly workshop and everyone there said their stress last week was unbearable. I consciously felt I could not stand another four years of the daily dread of his antics and its possible effects. It was not unlike the week after 9/11. Thanks for throwing some ice water in our face. It’s like a good night’s sleep, shaking out the strained insanity.
(I noticed a year ago just listening to what his supporters say, they often don’t support their addertions with relevant, veritable facts, reasons & examples that cohere. Did they have poor teachers who didn’t teach them Basic Arguing 101 or supporting one’s ideas; or do they not talk to people who know how? I’d love to see a research study on this.)
Fix
You’re correct about the ‘Trump Crazy Train,” but this is bringing down the image of the U.S. to the election and democracy level of Ivory Coast/Kazakhstan/Guinea. Don’t believe for a moment that China, North Korea, Russia and other despotic nations aren’t taking note.
Jon…
I’m on Trump’s Crazy Bullet Train, and it hasn’t even slowed down. It’s not over: what makes you think a little thing like a presidential election will stop this man from his destructive destiny? But I don’t feel fear; I feel defiance.
So, lots of late nights until January 20, 2021. It’s about Newton’s Third Law: “For every action [even the crazy ones], there is an equal and opposite reaction.”
RE: Your Recommendation #8: Staging a coup? Not smart enough to succeed, but crazy enough to try.
Whew. Deep breaths. His rage will come, but it will also go. And we will pick up the pieces, dust them off and do our best to regain our dignity and respect from the world. The scars will heal, and the future will look back, and say… “whew”.