Survival Mode in America: The Mental Health Cost of Broken Systems

Survival Mode in America: The Mental Health Cost of Broken Systems

By: Stephanie Hernandez, MA, LCPC 

“The object of government is the welfare of the people. The material progress and prosperity of a nation are desirable chiefly so far as they lead to the moral and material welfare of all good citizens.”- Theodore Roosevelt, The New Nationalism, 1910

If the systems in place are meant to support the welfare of the people, then we have to ask ourselves: Why are so many everyday people drowning?

We cannot talk our way around the reality that many people are struggling to meet their basic needs. According to the Pew Research Center, “just 17% of Americans now say they trust the government in Washington to do what is right ‘just about always’ (2%) or ‘most of the time’ (15%).” Meanwhile, corporate profits have recently surged to historic highs as a share of the economy, driving a record gap between corporate earnings and worker pay. (Ma, J., 2026) 

There is a new level of exhaustion happening.

It is waking up in a constant state of stress, already feeling behind. It is living paycheck to paycheck, worrying about bills, groceries, student loans, family responsibilities, and working more than ever just to stay afloat. It is feeling defeated at the end of the day, only to wake up and do it all over again.

People are drowning.

What do we do when the systems meant to support working people no longer feel supportive? What happens when meeting basic needs becomes unsustainable?

People are burned out, anxious, depressed, emotionally exhausted, and stuck in a loop of constantly trying to catch up. So many everyday people feel this way, and if you do too, you are not alone. You are not weak. You are not failing. You are responding to an environment that does not feel secure.

The high cost of living has pushed many people into working multiple jobs, taking on overtime, and stretching themselves beyond capacity. Over time, this kind of chronic stress impacts the nervous system. This is where survival mode can begin.

Survival mode is a common term used to describe what happens when the nervous system becomes dysregulated after prolonged or chronic stress. The body may enter fight, flight, freeze, or fawn responses. These responses are protective. They help us stay alert and respond to immediate danger.

But when stress becomes constant, the body does not get a real chance to recover.

Harvard Health explains that chronic stress can impact both physical and mental health, including contributing to high blood pressure, artery-clogging deposits, and brain changes that may be linked to anxiety, depression, and addiction. Chronic stress may also contribute to weight changes by increasing stress eating, disrupting sleep, and making it harder to stay active.

We cannot self-care our way out of broken systems.

And still, we can acknowledge this truth: You are not alone in feeling this way.

You are not failing at life. Your exhaustion makes sense. Your frustration makes sense. Your anger makes sense. Your sadness makes sense. And yes, so does the crash out. Instead of shaming ourselves, we can acknowledge the truth: many of us are living under pressure and doing our best to survive.

We check in on each other. We build community. We lean into community. We name what is happening. We rest when we can. We ask for support. We continue finding joy in the little things.

We can also hold more than one truth at the same time .We can feel overwhelmed and still be worthy of care.

References

Harvard Health Publishing. (2024, April 3). Understanding the stress response. Harvard Health.https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthy-aging-and-longevity/understanding-the-stress-response

Ma, J. (2026, February 23). The record gap between corporate profits and worker pay has an “undercurrent of betrayal,” top economist warns. Fortune. https://fortune.com/2026/02/23/record-gap-corporate-profits-worker-pay-gdp-share-wealth-inequality-betrayal-social-instability/

Pew Research Center. (2025, December 4). Public trust in government: 1958–2025. https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2025/12/04/public-trust-in-government-1958-2025/

Urban Institute. (2026, April 2). The American affordability tracker: Data on Americans’ finances and everyday costs. Retrieved May 20, 2026, from https://www.urban.org/data-tools/american-affordability-tracker