In a recent session, Raúl Ruiz, a lakeside psychotherapist, witnessed a patient talking about waking up in the middle of the night and, not for the first time, anguishing over the current president of the United States.
At that moment, his patient realized that this reoccurring experience felt like a form of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD.
According to Ruiz, this new disorder has a name: Trump Derangement Syndrome, and Ruiz is observing this syndrome manifest, not only in expats, but in Mexicans, as well.
On September 16, the day that Mexico celebrates its independence from Spain, Ruiz will give a talk at Open Circle in Ajijic, focusing on recent changes in the world that, combined with the recent Mexican presidential election, has shaped new attitudes toward the political and economic challenges facing this country.
“I will also talk about Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS),” he says, “which has deeply impacted not only the United States and Mexico, but the world as a whole. I will try to put it in a perspective that doesn’t have a ‘right’ or ‘left’ stance, but simply from a mental health position.”
A psychotherapist for 40 years, 65-year-old Ruiz deals with all kinds of addictions, phobias, depression and couple issues. With a patient ratio of 60 percent expats to 40 percent Mexicans, what surprised him was seeing actual cases of TDS in both expats and Mexicans from the day Trump was elected.
Says Ruiz, “Some of these patients developed new anxiety disorders. Others, who were already exhibiting PTSD anxieties, were having old traumas triggered by TDS. They were complaining about experiencing fears about Trump’s policies or that Mexicans may begin acting hostile toward them, especially since Trump said things about Mexicans that were quite offensive.”
Ruiz defines TDS as a mental condition in which a person develops serious anxiety disorder due to their dislike of Trump’s actions as president, to a point at which they suffer illogical, unreasonable, extreme or uncontrollable fears.
Says Ruiz, “These fears can lead a person to a variety of symptoms, like violent desires against the self or others, paranoia of being persecuted and victimized, or any of the three main stress disorders: generalized anxiety, panic attacks and phobias. Although self-recovery is possible in some cases, many have crossed over the threshold and these people need professional help in order to get back to living an anxiety-free, normal life.”
Ruiz emphasizes that it’s become an all too common scenario that we suffer anxiety disorders because modern life has become so stressful.
“Due to being subject to constant changes and to technical advances, we’re aware at the very instant events take place, and this awareness can trigger negative reactions in us. Basically, we have way too much information coming at us.”
In dealing with PTSD and TDS, Ruiz says that the first thing to understand is the difference between what we can change and what we cannot. He encourages his clients to pace down and not worry too much or think too fast. Through the use of cognitive therapy, hypnosis and deep relaxation, he helps his patients shift their attention from inside thoughts to what’s happening outside.
“We become anxious because we tend to get stuck in self-centered thinking,” he says. “When we’re capable of stopping our internal dialogue, that’s a great first step.”
Ruiz moved to Chapala five years ago from Guadalajara, where he established his professional life.
“My parents were residents of the United States and later became citizens, having moved to Southern California after my father began working there as a farm laborer. When my mother joined him when I turned 15, I chose to remain in Mexico.”
At the age of 13, Ruiz attended the seminary in Guadalajara, where he studied secondary and preparatory grades. Afterward he moved to Modesto, California, then returned to Guadalajara after completing two years of college. He later received his Bachelor’s degree in Psychology in 1978 from the Jesuit ITESO university in Guadalajara.
“Being bilingual, I decided to reinvent myself by moving to lakeside five years ago to work with expats. To me, this place is paradise. It’s a place where you can de-stress. If you observe a Mexican family on any given Sunday, they’ll attend mass, go for ice cream, take a walk, sit in the park, listen to music and enjoy a midday meal together, as a family.
“Contrast that to North America, where people tend to be goal-oriented. Mexicans, who are more relationship-oriented, take the time to socialize, which lowers the stress threshold and brings more joy into their lives.”
With that idea, Ruiz suggests that, once in a while, we unplug our electronics, skip talking politics and instead, connect with the beauty and generosity that’s all around us.
Ruiz’s talk at Open Circle, titled “The New Psychology of the Mexican People,” takes place on Sunday, September 16, 10:30 a.m., at Lake Chapala Society. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">.