Utagawa Hiroshige II (Shigenobu)
Image of a Whale Hunt at Goto, Hizen Province
(Hizen Goto geiryo no zu),
from the series “One Hundred Famous Views in the Various Provinces
(Shokoku meisho hyakkei)”
(1859)

"I dare not wait until this insult ends to start taking better care of myself."

Traumatic Stress Disorders do not necessarily wait until a trauma passes. The overly popular Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) was very likely first experienced in its Concomitant form, while the trauma was still present. Trauma sows enough confusion that it’s often extremely difficult, if not absolutely impossible, to reflect upon the unfolding experience in the moments it occurs; hence, the much more common recognition of PTSD than its CTSD, Concomitant Traumatic Stress Disorder, predecessor. Trauma seems to be so busy winding up my spring that it might be relatively easy to overlook its presence. Sure, it’s upsetting, but what isn’t? In the moment, it often seems as though the stressors must just be passing through me, transitory upsets apparently leaving little lasting damage. Later, though, Post the Tramatic Stress, Disorders might emerge without having a clear or present cause. Then they can be confusing, as someone clearly not presently threatened by anything starts behaving as if under active siege. Then, if at all, the stories might begin to reemerge and some sense-making might start occurring.

If the trauma lasts longer than an episode or two, it seems probable, if not certain, that some more permanent wounding might be occurring. The Traumatic Stress Disorder might well start manifesting while the trauma continues inflicting fresh damage. Attempts to heal while the damage continues being inflicted render the resulting Stress Disorder even more complicated to address than the Post-Traumatic Stress probably is. None of any of this seems particularly easy, and even recognizing the presence of a disordering trauma often proves next to impossible, especially for the subtler traumas. It’s one thing to experience assault and battery, but at least that trauma’s obvious. The cuts and bruising render it difficult to ignore. The physical damage might even serve as a marker for the deeper psychological wounding incurred. Ongoing psychological trauma might become one of those silent killers, a thief in the night that burgles undetected, a pirate who plunders without stealing any treasure chest, especially when the ongoing traumas become normalized. Such norms never seem to integrate fully and can subtly disable once underappreciated capabilities.

Like when Prosperity gets undermined by the continuing ignorant actions of an elected incumbent. Our Constitution insists that the purpose of our government is expressly to provide a common defense and promote the general welfare, but a defense of what?

“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” -Preamble to the US Constitution

I contend that our Constitution, and, indeed, our very government, was expressly established to defend against enemies of Prosperity, a Prosperity which, quite naturally, includes: An ever-more perfect Union, Justice, domestic Tranquility, common defense, general welfare, and the resulting blessings of liberty. What better definition of Prosperity could anybody ask for? What better enemy of Prosperity than the actions of our incumbent since he took the oath he apparently had no intention of fulfilling? His every action has been an insult to Prosperity and, as such, an assault on our cohering Constitution. Ironically, the Constitution defines his job description to ensure a common defense against the enemies of Prosperity by making him the Commander in Chief of the Military. He’s guilty of much more than merely dereliction of duty.

His shenanigans have visited trauma upon every Prosperity-loving citizen. Furthermore, this trauma, these traumas, have been ongoing for longer than a year and a half as of this counting, and offer no promise of relenting until he and his minions disappear. The ongoing Traumatic Stress Disorder has more than colored my experience; it has deeply affected it. If I were a farm animal, the farmer would declare that I’ve been “off my feed” lately. I am clearly distressed by all the ignorance inflicted upon me and my neighbors. This insult exemplifies evil, and it seems unrelenting. Of course, few, if any, of the many attempts to undo the protections our forebears embedded in our government have succeeded, but each has landed as an insult to more than merely the body politic. It has seemed more personal than that. I feel as though I have been under assault since before that last election. The ignorance alone insults more than just my intelligence. It deeply wounds my sense of Prosperity.

My Traumatic Stress Disorder might further complicate my life once the ongoing insults get vanquished, and, trust me (I tell myself), we will ultimately vanquish them, for Prosperity won’t go quietly. It holds more potential than all of its enemies and foes put together and then some. The incumbent has proven himself incapable of systems thinking, and we can only understand this world, or successfully defend ideals such as Prosperity, liberty, or justice, by thinking more powerfully than possible through rote reaction or counting on thumbs, no matter how numerous. No success in our incumbent’s long career even came close to curing his inherent idiocy, and far be it from me to second-guess such a defining track record. The common defense our incumbent has proven himself incapable of mustering must be undertaken by the common people rather than by people convinced their shit doesn’t stink. We, The People, are fully capable of satisfying every damned one of the conditions presented in the preamble to our Sacred Constitution. It wasn’t ever just somebody else’s responsibility to fulfill, like some king.

The first stage of dealing with Trauma, Concomitant or Past, simply must be acknowledging its presence. Yes, a burglar has, indeed, entered our house. A pirate threatens Prosperity’s very treasure chest. Trauma only makes you feel crazy. It’s not necessarily inherently crazy-making, especially for those who can acknowledge the presence of some dedicated crazy-making influences threatening them, however subtly. I have been feeling crazy lately. I’m starting to recognize that I would have to be certifiably insane not to feel absolutely crazy right now, given the level of continuing trauma I’ve been relentlessly expecting myself to absorb. I’m going to try taking better care of myself. I might not need to be such a hard taskmaster. I might even indulge in some temporary Prosperity while the barbarians continue their ineffective but traumatizing pounding on the gates. I dare not wait until this insult ends to start taking better care of myself.

©2026 by David A. Schmaltz - all rights reserved

Tags: #Prosperity, #PureSchmaltz