An Rx for American anger: Imagination, courageous peace-seeking and a collective will for something better for all

Graphic via MedPage

One look at social media posts or comments on newspaper stories, and it's easy to see why some Americans believe the mood of the country can be described as angry.

"This goes beyond malaise," writes psychiatrist Arthur Lazarus in his opinion for MedPage. This mood "signals something deeper. . . It isn't just dissatisfaction or unrest; it's a simmering anger, a wellspring of cynicism so powerful it spills over. . . . Our collective capacity for hope, patience, and even basic kindness seems to be eroding."

Why are Americans so angry? Lazarus writes, "At the heart of this phenomenon is a growing sense of betrayal -- by leaders, by institutions, by systems that promised stability, fairness, and opportunity. For decades, Americans have been sold visions of progress. . . But for many, these promises have proven illusory. . . . When a society feels full of "pervasive negativity," it's natural for humans to "armor up with cynicism" versus exposing feelings of hopelessness.

To make a way forward, we need to "go beyond anger," Lazarus explains. "Beneath the surface lies a yearning for something better -- a system that doesn't exploit, leaders who don't betray, and communities that support rather than divide. . . . Hope isn't naïve, nor is kindness. These qualities are necessary for the repair work ahead."

Reinvigorating courage and peace as American values can help change how we respond to adversity. Lazarus adds, "During the Civil Rights Movement, Martin Luther King Jr. championed peaceful protest and non-violent resistance as a form of courage. Sit-ins, marches, and boycotts challenged segregation and systemic racism without resorting to violence, even in the face of brutality."

Using current frustration as an energy to power change and innovation in U.S. health care models could also help. "Imagination in health care is often about seeing beyond immediate limitations to create systems that better serve humanity," Lazarus writes. "A compelling example is the transformation of Rwanda's health system."

A collective will to persevere together to make things better is an American ideal from the colonial period that can course-correct some of today's pessimism. Lazarus add, "In moments of crisis, it is tempting to retreat into cynicism or inaction. But previous challenges remind us that courage, imagination, and the will to rebuild are antidotes to despair."

Arthur Lazarus, MD is an adjunct professor of psychiatry at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University in Philadelphia. He is the author of several books on narrative medicine, including Medicine on Fire: A Narrative Travelogueopens and Story Treasures: Medical Essays and Insights in the Narrative Tradition.