How to do it:

Russian Psyop, your MAGA uncle, and the general state of the world are more than enough to drag you down, but when you despair, you’re less effective. Anger you can channel…despair tells you to stop trying. So fight back against ennui! Sprinkle hope liberally, but treat despair like the contagion it is. Avoid spreading it, and take treating it seriously.

When you have even a glimmer of good feeling, share it as widely as you can. Tell the people you live with, or post “Feeling hopeful today!” online. If your cat is particularly cute, share a picture with “Joey says maybe things will be okay.” Find ways to let the world know when you have a moment of joy or optimism.

When you’re sinking into the pit of despair, take the opposite tactic. Reach out to a friend, or if you post online, identify feelings. Don’t present them as facts. We don’t know if we’ll beat back fascism, so say “I feel doomed” rather than “We’ve already lost.” Treat your despair the way you would any other unproductive emotional state : as something to acknowledge, but not succumb to. One of the best ways to dig out from under a slump is to do something for someone. Is there someone whose efforts you admire? Tell them! Does someone need a small favor you could do? Find ways to help the people around you, and you’ll begin to feel better. It’s the most sure-fire “cure.”