Your Politics Can Seriously Affect Your Recovery

A scam victim’s recovery is a deeply personal journey influenced by a multitude of factors, and their political orientation can subtly, or not so subtly, shape this process in several ways. While it is a mistake to assume that one political affiliation inherently leads to better or worse mental health outcomes, research indicates that political engagement, identity, and the surrounding environment can significantly impact psychological well-being, which is a critical component of recovery.

One of the most significant ways politics can affect recovery is through the stress and trauma associated with political events themselves. Studies have shown that highly charged elections can have a tangible psychological toll, contributing to symptoms of depression, anxiety, and even post-traumatic stress. For a scam victim already dealing with the trauma of betrayal, this additional layer of political stress can be overwhelming. The constant stream of contentious news, social media arguments, and feelings of hopelessness or anger related to the political climate can significantly exacerbate existing emotional instability, making it harder to focus on personal healing. The experience of one’s preferred candidate losing an election, for instance, has been linked to a measurable decline in mental health, which could trigger a setback for someone in a fragile state of recovery, or worse, derail their opportunity for recovery altogether.

Additionally, a person’s sense of agency and connection to the world around them, which are often shattered by a scam, can be influenced by their political identity. Research suggests that individuals who feel politically represented and believe their voice matters are more likely to participate in the civic process. Conversely, if a victim feels that the political system ignores people like them, it can reinforce feelings of powerlessness and insignificance that are central to their trauma. This sense of alienation can create a significant barrier to seeking help and engaging with a support system, as they may feel that no institution, including a recovery program, truly understands or stands for them.

It is also important to consider the behavioral aspects linked to political engagement. Studies indicate a correlation between civic participation, like voting, and better health outcomes, with voters generally showing better future mental and physical health than nonvoters. This suggests that individuals who are actively engaged in their community, even politically, may possess a greater sense of agency or resilience that can be beneficial during recovery. However, this is not a simple partisan issue. The connection between poor health and low voter turnout appears to be consistent across both Liberal and Conservative areas, indicating that the act of participation itself, rather than a specific party affiliation, is the key factor.

The impact of politically driven rage and outrage is a particularly potent force that can severely derail a victim’s recovery. The modern media landscape engineers a state of “perpetual-crisis politics,” where individuals are bombarded with content designed to provoke anger and fear. This constant exposure can lead to what therapists describe as clients being “so consumed by rage scrolling that they struggle to finish tasks at work and at home,” a state that is profoundly incompatible with the focused emotional work required for healing. For a scam victim, this political rage can become a dangerous displacement. Instead of processing the specific grief and betrayal of their scam, they pour their emotional energy into political battles, which feel more socially acceptable and offer a clear external enemy. This diversion prevents them from confronting the core trauma, trapping them in a cycle of anger that provides a temporary sense of purpose but ultimately deflects their recovery. This rage can also prevent the formation of supportive networks, as it can alienate potential allies and deepen the victim’s sense of isolation, thereby prolonging the impact of the trauma.

Ultimately, a scam victim’s political orientation does help to predetermine their recovery path. However, it also acts as a lens through which they experience the world. The key is not what they believe, but how those beliefs interact with their trauma. If their political identity builds connection and community, agency, and a sense of being heard, it can be a source of strength. If, however, it exposes them to constant stress, reinforces feelings of powerlessness, or deepens their sense of alienation, it becomes a significant obstacle on the road to healing.

Conservatives vs. Liberals

Differences in how Conservatives and Liberals report mental health are significant and involve both reporting bias and help-seeking behaviors, and seem to show a large disparity in the actual prevalence of mental health conditions. Studies indicate that Conservatives tend to report better mental health, while Liberals are more likely to acknowledge struggles and seek professional care.

Key differences in reporting and behavior include:

Self-Perception and Reporting

•  Self-Rated Mental Health: Conservatives are consistently more likely than Liberals to rate their mental health as “excellent” or “very good” in surveys. This gap persists even after controlling for demographic factors like age, income, and education.

•  Stigma and Terminology: Recent research suggests this gap is largely a result of differing cultural attitudes and stigma surrounding the term “mental health”.

Conservatives may underreport struggles due to an ideology that emphasizes personal agency, strength, and self-reliance, viewing mental illness as a sign of weakness.

Liberals may be more open to discussing mental health issues due to greater awareness and less associated stigma in progressive circles.

•  Mood vs. Mental Health: When researchers substituted the term “overall mood” for “mental health” in survey experiments, the ideological reporting gap disappeared, supporting the idea that the terminology and associated stigma, not just underlying mood, drive the difference in self-reports.

Help-Seeking and Treatment Access

•  Seeking Help: Conservatives are significantly less likely than Liberals to seek professional mental health treatment, even when both groups screen positive for similar levels of depressive symptoms.

•  Unmet Needs: Among individuals who do screen positive for depression, a substantially higher percentage of Conservatives (around 74-76%) report having unmet mental health care needs compared to Liberals (around 57-59%).

•  Institutional Trust: Partisanship influences trust in health-related institutions. Conservatives express less trust in many public health bodies, such as the CDC and state health departments, than Liberals, which may affect their willingness to utilize formal healthcare systems. The only institutions Conservatives generally trust more for information are churches and religious organizations.

While recent studies suggest that the actual prevalence of conditions like depression is similar across party lines, Liberals are more likely to report their struggles and pursue treatment, whereas Conservatives often report better mental health (partially due to stigma) and are less likely to seek institutional help.

SCARS Institute Recommendation

Given the profound psychological trauma that scam victims endure, creating a sanctuary for healing is paramount.

For this reason, it is strongly recommended that individuals throughout the early and intermediate stages of recovery actively avoid all news media, disengage from any form of political activism, and refrain from discussing politics altogether. The rationale is simple: recovery requires every ounce of emotional and cognitive energy a person can muster. News media, particularly in its modern 24/7 cycle, is designed to evoke strong emotional responses like anger, fear, and anxiety, which can be profoundly destabilizing for someone already navigating the complex symptoms of trauma, such as PTSD, anxiety, and depression.

This constant external stimulus can prevent the nervous system from calming down, a necessary state for processing trauma. Engaging in political activism or debate is equally ill-advised, as it can displace the victim’s unresolved anger and grief onto a socially acceptable external target, effectively derailing the healing process by preventing them from confronting their core pain. By consciously creating a protective bubble free from these charged external influences, victims can dedicate their focus entirely to their own recovery, allowing them to process their trauma without the compounding stress of a world in perpetual crisis.

Prof. Tim McGuinness, Ph.D.
December 2025