Beware COVID Stockholm Syndrome

Many of us have heard the term Stockholm Syndrome. Originating with a 1973 failed bank robbery in Stockholm, Sweden where the hostages developed sympathy, common cause, and even love for their captors, it is defined as “a psychological condition that occurs when a victim of abuse identifies and attaches, or bonds, positively with their abuser” according to Dr. Sharon Stines, a psychologist writing at goodtherapy.org.

Stines notes, “Professionals have expanded the definition of Stockholm syndrome to include any relationship in which victims of abuse develop a strong, loyal attachment to the perpetrators of abuse. Some of the populations affected with this condition include concentration camp prisoners, prisoners of war, abused children, incest survivors, victims of domestic violence, cult members, and people in toxic work or church environments.”

Through the government’s rights-abusing and draconian COVID-19 mitigation policies, a good portion of the country has been subjected to the conditions and psychological precursors of Stockholm Syndrome:

• The condition can develop when victims of abuse believe there is a threat to their physical or psychological survival, and they also believe their abusers would carry out that threat. Our livelihoods and freedoms were under assault by the government, who also constantly reminded us that failing to obey their orders would result in the deaths of ourselves or our loved ones.
• When victims of kidnapping are treated humanely or simply allowed to live, they often feel grateful and attribute positive qualities to their captors believing that they are, indeed, good people. How many millions of Americans joyfully bowed at the feet of the government officials who took their freedoms away, or exalted figureheads like Anthony Fauci?
• Intermittent good/bad behavior can create trauma bonds. Stockholm syndrome is a form of trauma bond, where the victims “wait out” the bad behaviors for the “crumbs” of good behaviors bestowed on them. How quickly did our fear allow government bad behavior (violating our liberty) while we waited for the “bread crumbs” of the government allowing us to have a little freedom?
• Victims are isolated from others. When people are in abusive systems, such as a kidnapping situation, access to outside input and communication is limited, or even nonexistent. This way, only the perpetrators’ input is allowed. It’s like “uber-propaganda.” We were forcibly physically isolated from people (some people are still self-isolating in fear), and our sources of communication were censored against anything that contradicted the narrative of our perpetrators. Many of our fellow captives quickly became collaborators and sided with our captors against us.

While signs of this syndrome and its behavior have been evident throughout the COVID-19 fiasco, the true weight of the problem is about to become blatantly evident. Coloradoans who have sided with our captors since the beginning (liberal Democrats) will predictably continue to sing the praises of the all-powerful government. Much like Stockholm hostage Kristin Enmark blamed the negotiators and police who were trying to secure her freedom for endangering her, many Coloradoans have accused their freedom-focused fellow captives of trying to get them killed – siding with the people who stole their liberties in trademark Stockholm behavior. Enmark had nothing but support for her captors, believing they actually saved her life instead of putting it at risk.

This is heartbreaking enough. Yet the true heartbreak will be watching Coloradoans who have suffered and rightly noted the government’s abusive overreach sing the praises of their abusers once they have their freedoms back. They will forget the year of illegal abuse the state has suffered at the hands of our ignorant, self-serving, and power-hungry government establishment.

Our abusers are counting on this. It is the reason they are slowly giving freedoms back. They hope we see the changes as a gift from them, rather than a far too late return of what was never theirs to take. They hope we are so happy to have our God-given rights back that we forget the damage they have done and the egregious violation of human rights they have perpetrated on their fellow citizens.

It is incumbent on us to not let this happen. Do not forget what they did to your family, your church, or your neighbors. Never forget the government leaders who violated the most foundational and essential rights of the citizenry, or the citizen collaborators who helped them. We may never be able to hold them accountable legally, but rest assured that they will be held accountable eventually – in this life or the next.