Lost in the Upside Down

Where do we go from here?

John Moyer c.2009

The Upside Down, a chilling dimension from the popular series Stranger Things, offers a stark contrast to our own reality. It’s a place where the familiar becomes grotesque, shadows possess a malevolent life of their own, and the laws of physics bend to the will of a dark force. In this alternative world, the uncanny and the supernatural reign supreme, and the lines between the real and the imagined blur. It reminds me of one of my favorite TV series from the 1960s, The Twilight Zone, or its more contemporary iteration, Black Mirror.

We’ve gone through many tragedies together. Living in the Upside Down would undoubtedly be terrifying. The constant threat of the unseen, the ever-present fear of the unknown, and the horrifying realization that reality itself is mutable would create constant anxiety and dread. The very fabric of existence, once solid and dependable, becomes an ever-shifting geography, a quagmire of existential quicksand. This is all too often the landscape of childhood.

As a therapist, I see parallels between the unsettling world of the Upside Down and the increasingly polarized political landscape. Fear and division are weaponized to erode our sense of reality, community, and agency. I often work with individuals who experience similar feelings of uncertainty and fear, albeit on a more personal level. Many clients grapple with the challenges of navigating a world that often seems chaotic and unpredictable. They may feel overwhelmed by anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues, and can lose their sense of agency. 

We hear you.

The psychological impact of living in a climate characterized by fear and uncertainty can be profound. Constant exposure to negative news and divisive political discourse can trigger stress responses, leading to increased anxiety, depression, and a diminished sense of hope, which can lead to unhealthy coping strategies and a true loss of agency. Families and their children may struggle with insomnia, difficulty concentrating, and a pervasive feeling of unease — a sense I know too well.

Many of you know that I grew up in a similar atmosphere of dysfunction and denial in Pittsburgh, which led me to become a psychotherapist. But I also grew up idolizing Roberto Clemente, a baseball legend who embodied the values of compassion, integrity, and social justice. Clemente's unwavering commitment to helping others, and taking action, both on and off the field, inspired me to dedicate my life to making a positive impact on the world with the limited resources I have. His legacy serves as a reminder that even in the darkest of times, we can choose to be a force for good.

Growing up in a dysfunctional environment can leave profound and lasting psychological scars. Research, such as the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study, has shown strong correlations between childhood trauma and a wide range of health problems, including mental illness, substance abuse, chronic diseases and early mortality. These experiences can distort our worldview, leading to insecurity, mistrust, and difficulties in forming healthy relationships or regulating emotions. As a therapist, I’ve seen how these early wounds persist, manifesting as anxiety, depression, and other health challenges well into adulthood.

But it’s not just in fiction or personal history that we confront unsettling realities. In the latter part of 2024, as in the 1960s, a significant portion of the population has embraced a far-right leader, a certified liar and adjudicated felon, who thrives on division, enforces rigid authoritarianism, feeds and thrives on chaos and fear. Disruption. With contentious media battles, accusations of corruption, and a polarizing political climate, history seems less like a lesson learned and more like an echo, repeating—or at least rhyming—in troubling ways.

Just as Stranger Things uses the Upside Down to symbolize the fragility of reality, our current political climate reflects a similarly disorienting force—a pervasive sense that something fundamental is unraveling. Both worlds show how fear and division distort our shared experience, making the fight for truth and unity all the more critical. Both are plagued by shadowy forces that seek to manipulate and control, while small groups of heroes resist the darkness — by taking constructive action.

In the face of such a dystopian future, (like the fictional one described in Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid's Tale from 1985) it is imperative that we remain vigilant and resist dark forces even if the future is unclear. Just like the characters in Stranger Things, we must find our strengths and unite against those who would seek to undermine democracy and our freedoms, our very own bodily autonomy. We must be willing to acknowledge and to set aside fear and fight for the values that have helped us achieve great things, more justice, equality, and compassion around the world. Another TV program from the late 1960s that I watched as a boy was Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood. He was another Pittsburgh hero of humane compassion and suggested that in difficult times we “look for the helpers.”

I intend to be a helper.

By drawing inspiration from the brave among us—as well as the characters of Stranger Things, The Twilight Zone, and Mr. Rogers—we can find strength to overcome what lies ahead. We must be bold in our compassion, resilient, and never completely lose hope, or our humanity. As TV programs and the civil rights movement of the 1960s taught us, even in the darkest of times, there is always hope for a brighter future, even if uncertain.

As we step into our own Upside Down, who or what has been your beacon of hope, your source of courage? I invite you to reflect on the people, moments, or stories from your own life that have helped you stay grounded in difficult times.