A Global Mental Tsunami

We are facing a wave of mental disorders and desperate actions.

The lies we believed in are unraveling at an accelerating pace. But truth doesn’t come without consequences. We are entering an era where many will experience an identity crisis so profound that they cannot carry on. How do we confront this—or is it already too late?

Many activists have devoted their lives to ideological struggles that are now on the brink of collapse. What happens when the foundation of their fight is revealed to be a lie? For some, it will mean despair. For others, a brutal awakening. (AI-generated image)

We are living in an age where lies and manipulation are being exposed at a pace no one could have predicted. For many, this will be a harsh awakening—a mental tsunami that sweeps away everything they once believed in. This isn’t just about ideologies or politics; it’s about identity, meaning, and belief. The question is: How do we face this crisis?

A Painful Awakening: My Political Journey
I’ve been more than passively interested in politics for over 25 years. It started as curiosity—a desire to understand how the world worked, who was in charge, and why things were the way they were. I’ve always identified with the political right, not because I believed it held all the answers or was infallible, but because it resonated with my values—personal freedom, responsibility, and the belief in small but effective institutions.

But as the years went by, I began to notice something. Things didn’t quite add up. The narratives being presented had inconsistencies, and the questions I asked were met with vague or contradictory answers. Patterns began to emerge—patterns that didn’t align with the picture the media, politicians, or institutions were painting.

Gradually, I realized that much of what I had believed to be true was either lies, manipulated information, or half-truths packaged to serve a specific agenda. It wasn’t an easy realization. It was painful. I felt betrayed—by the system, by those I had trusted, and to some extent, by myself. How could I have been so naive? How could I have believed things were as simple as they were made out to be?

The process took time, and it wasn’t easy. At times, it felt like the ground beneath me was crumbling—my entire worldview turned upside down. But I had a stable foundation to stand on. I had never seen myself as part of a “righteous” ideological movement. I’ve always been skeptical of those who try to present themselves as morally superior. Because of this, my fall wasn’t as hard as it could have been for others.

But what about those who have built their identity around fighting for a “just cause”? What about those who have sacrificed friendships, careers, health, and family ties for what they believed was the right side of history? What happens when they must one day acknowledge that what they believed in wasn’t just wrong but perhaps part of a larger manipulation?

For me, opening my eyes and understanding the bigger picture was a gradual process. But for many others, I believe this awakening will come as a shock—a mental tsunami that sweeps away their foundation and leaves them in free fall.

And this worries me. Not because I take any joy in it, but because I know how painful it is to be confronted with the truth when it’s far from what you hoped for.

Those Who Sacrificed Everything for a Lie
What truly worries me isn’t my own process. Yes, it was painful, but I had something to fall back on. I had a solid foundation and a degree of detachment. I had never sacrificed everything for an ideology.

The same cannot be said for many of today’s activists. Many of them have been completely consumed by a false world—a world where they believe they are fighting for something greater than themselves, for “good,” for “justice.” It’s not their fault they were manipulated. But the consequences for them could be catastrophic when the truth inevitably catches up.

I often think about those who have sacrificed everything: children, love, family, a good education, a stable job—all of it set aside to join a campaign that, in light of what is now coming to light, turns out to be rooted in lies and manipulation.

These are the people I truly fear for. And there are many of them. When they one day face the realization that they’ve spent their entire adult lives fighting for something that was merely part of a power play, the mental burden could be too heavy to bear.

If we, as a society, are not ready to offer support, help, and understanding, I fear we’ll witness a tsunami of mental health crises—and, in the worst case, a wave of suicides. This isn’t something I say lightly, but we must be prepared for it. We must understand that this isn’t about schadenfreude or “winning” over those who were once our ideological opponents. This is about being human.

A Mental Tsunami – Collective Dissonance
When people build their identity around an ideology, it creates a deep emotional attachment to the worldview they believe in. This goes beyond mere political opinions—it becomes part of who they are. Their choices, actions, and values are tied to this ideology, and they begin to view the world through a clear divide of “us” versus “them.”

But what happens when this identity collapses? What happens when what they believed to be just turns out to be part of a manipulation scheme? When the truth becomes unavoidable, and they realize that they themselves have contributed to upholding a lie?

This isn’t just a personal crisis—it’s a collective dissonance that can affect entire groups of people. And we’re already seeing the outlines of how this might play out.

Why It Could Become a Global Crisis
We are living in a time where many of the narratives that have shaped the world are not just being challenged but are being fully exposed as lies. This is no longer about truths “seeping out”—the entire façade has unraveled for the global elite. What we’re witnessing now are desperate attempts to keep a lid on scandals and manipulations, efforts that are rapidly failing. It’s only a matter of hours or weeks before the media is forced to begin reporting on these realities.

When this happens, we are likely to see an almost total collapse in the trust people have in established media—the so-called mainstream media, which has long acted as gatekeepers of what is deemed “truth.” People will begin to realize that much of what they’ve been told has often been guided by agendas aimed at control rather than informing.

As a result, many will seek alternative sources of news and information. We will see a massive shift away from established media outlets toward smaller, independent voices—those willing to ask the difficult questions and challenge entrenched narratives.

This process will affect not just individuals. When trust in institutions and authorities collapses, entire societies and nations may find themselves on the brink of crisis. People will start questioning everything—from governments and international organizations to academia and the judiciary. When what people have fought for and believed in is revealed to be part of a larger manipulation scheme, the consequences could be unimaginable.

This isn’t just about politics or media. It’s about fundamental trust—the trust that the systems we depend on actually work. When that trust collapses, it creates a vacuum that can lead to fear, anger, and chaos. And how that vacuum is filled will determine whether we move toward a more enlightened and honest future, or an even darker era marked by division and disinformation.

How We Can Manage the Inevitable
This isn’t a crisis we can prevent, but it is one we can manage—if we’re prepared. But to be frank, I fear it may already be too late.

It may be too late for many individuals who have spent years building their entire identity around ideologies and narratives that are now crumbling. For some, the reality will simply be too heavy to bear. And for society as a whole, which has ignored the warning signs for far too long, it’s hard to see how we emerge from this without deep scars.

Still, we must do what we can to minimize the damage, even if we’ve already passed the point where it could have been avoided.

Support and Understanding
Those experiencing ideological collapse need empathy. They need people who can help them navigate this process without judgment. It’s crucial to understand that this isn’t a time for “I told you so” or Schadenfreude. This is a time for building bridges and helping people find new meaning.

But I fear that for some, it’s already too late. Many will struggle to find a new sense of purpose because the pain of realizing they’ve been deceived—and that they themselves helped perpetuate the lie—will be too overwhelming. This could lead to depression, apathy, and, in the worst cases, suicide.

Promoting Critical Thinking
To ensure future generations don’t fall into similar ideological echo chambers, we must prioritize critical thinking as a core value. People need to be taught how to question, evaluate evidence, and remain open to changing their minds.

But how do we promote critical thinking in a society where trust in institutions is already collapsing? When people no longer know which sources to trust, we risk many falling into new manipulative narratives—just with a different spin.

Strengthening Communities and Networks
Many people experiencing ideological collapse will also lose the networks that have been part of their ideological life. We must create new communities that can offer support and security so that they don’t feel isolated during this process.

For some, this will be difficult—perhaps impossible. When the shame, grief, and anger become too overwhelming, isolation may feel like the only option. We need to extend a hand, but we must also prepare for many to refuse it.

A Race Against Time
We are facing a crisis that cannot be avoided and that may already be too late to prepare for. But we must still try. Even if we cannot save everyone, we may save many. Even if we cannot repair the system, we can lay the groundwork for something new.

What is clear is that the road ahead will be painful. But if we are willing to acknowledge where we stand and what we’re facing, we may be able to handle this crisis in a way that creates something better on the other side.

A Challenge to Us All
We stand at the threshold of a global psychological and social challenge. How we as a society manage this crisis will determine whether we emerge stronger on the other side or whether division and mistrust will destroy us.

It’s easy to dismiss people caught up in manipulated narratives as naive or foolish. But this isn’t just unfair—it’s dangerous. If we don’t approach this situation with empathy and understanding, we risk losing them entirely.

We’ve already seen what happens when people lose the ability to question the narratives they’re fed. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we saw how fear drove many to the point where they supported denying unvaccinated individuals basic rights, such as going outside or participating in society. Today, that is rarely discussed, and when I bring it up with people who once staunchly supported such restrictions, I notice a clear shift. Many of those who defended coercion now refuse to take another dose themselves.

This shift demonstrates how narratives can ensnare us, but also how they can collapse. Looking back, it’s easy to point fingers, but what we truly need is to reflect on how all of us can be captured by fear and manipulation—and how we can build a culture that values critical thinking and understanding.

Because the truth can be brutal. And for many, it’s far easier to live within a lie than to confront the harsh reality—but now they must.

Denial, Anger, Depression – and Maybe Hope?
When a person’s ideological worldview collapses, it rarely happens quietly. It is a profound and painful process that shakes both emotions and reason. This isn’t just an intellectual challenge—it’s a psychological earthquake that uproots identity, beliefs, and meaning. This process can be broken down into four phases: denial, anger, depression—and for some, hope.

This isn’t just an individual phenomenon. When entire societies begin to realize that much of what they believed has been manipulation, we see these phases play out collectively. And we are already in the middle of it.

1. Denial: Clinging to the Lie
The first reaction when people are confronted with a reality that contradicts their beliefs is denial. This isn’t just a natural response—it’s a defense mechanism. Accepting that you’ve been deceived, or that everything you believed in was part of a game, is simply too painful for many to face.

Denial can manifest in several ways. Some will ignore the facts and cling to the narratives they’ve always trusted. Others will retreat into familiar echo chambers—groups and media that reinforce their existing worldview. This is partly because it provides comfort but also because media and institutions actively spin new narratives to maintain the illusion.

An example of this is how established media often rewrite history when the truth begins to leak out. Instead of admitting fault, they often present a new “angle” that allows people to remain in denial a little longer.

But denial cannot last forever. As more facts come to light, the pressure on the narrative—and on the individual clinging to it—intensifies.

2. Anger: When the Lie No Longer Holds
When denial collapses, anger emerges. And this may be the most explosive phase. Anger can be directed in many directions:

• At those who spread the lie—media, politicians, institutions, and the “elite.”
  
  
• At those who expose the lie—who are seen as threats or enemies.
  
  
• At oneself—for having been fooled, for having invested time and energy into something that turned out to be false.

Anger can manifest in protests, polarization, and, in some cases, violence. People who feel betrayed often have a strong urge to strike back. This is also where we see the rise of conspiracy theories—often as an attempt to explain the new reality when the old explanations no longer hold.

This phase can be dangerous, both for individuals and society. If anger is not channeled constructively, it can lead to destructive behavior. It’s during this phase that we risk seeing increased polarization and social unrest.

3. Depression: The Void After Anger
When anger burns out, many are left with a feeling of emptiness. When the identity they built around their ideology collapses, it can feel as though nothing makes sense anymore.

Depression is a natural consequence of this collapse. It can be a deep sorrow over the loss of what one believed in, combined with a sense of helplessness. “What can I believe in now?” “What’s the point of anything?”

This phase is particularly dangerous because it can lead to apathy, isolation, and mental health struggles. When large numbers of people simultaneously experience this kind of depression, we could face a public health crisis. This is where I fear a wave of suicides and mental breakdowns if society is not prepared to support those who fall.

4. Acceptance and Hope: Building Something New
Not everyone will reach this phase, but for those who do, there is a way forward. Acceptance is not just about acknowledging that one was wrong—it’s about using that realization to build a new and more realistic worldview.

This process is not easy. It requires time, reflection, and often support from others who have gone through something similar. But it is possible. Acceptance can lead to a new understanding of the world—one that isn’t built on blind faith but on critical thinking and the willingness to ask questions.

This is where hope lies. The hope that those who have gone through this journey can contribute to a more enlightened future. A future where people are no longer manipulated by narratives but seek truth through openness, dialogue, and personal reflection.

When Ideologies Collapse for an Entire World
The phases of denial, anger, depression, and acceptance are not just individual experiences. They also play out collectively in society. We are already seeing the signs:

• Denial dominates many media outlets and political arenas, as they cling to narratives that are increasingly untenable.
  
  
• Anger bubbles up in the form of polarization and protests across the globe, as people lash out at perceived betrayers or oppressors.
  
  
• Depression quietly creeps in as trust in systems erodes and people no longer know where to turn for truth.

The question is: How can we, as a society, help more people reach acceptance and hope? How can we prevent this process from plunging us into prolonged chaos?

There are no easy answers, but it starts with honesty—both about what has happened and about what needs to be done to move forward.

Daring to Look Beyond the Bubble
We live in a time where many are trapped in narratives that resemble a cult. They’ve surrendered themselves to a “truth” that cannot withstand questions, viewing the world through a narrow lens shaped by fear, manipulation, and groupthink. This is not a criticism of individuals—it’s a reflection on how powerful such narratives can be in shaping all of us.

My call to action is simple: Step out of the bubble. Question everything, even the beliefs you hold most dear. Seek out broader sources of information, and be willing to listen to perspectives that challenge your worldview. Questioning your own convictions can feel uncomfortable, but it’s far better than watching your entire reality crumble when the bubble inevitably bursts.

Here’s the truth: The longer you cling to a particular narrative, the harder the fall will be when reality strikes back. Only by being open, honest, and critical of everything—including our own ideas—can we build a stronger foundation for ourselves and society.

Start with yourself. Take one step out of the echo chamber, ask one question about your worldview, have one conversation with someone who sees the world differently. This is how we begin to break free from the cult—and avoid becoming its victims when the truth finally comes to light.