What is Wrong with America? A Psychological Diagnosis of a Nation in Crisis

Introduction

I am not an expert at many things. But the one thing I am good at is behavioral pattern recognition, assessment, diagnosis, and planning treatments that are practical and have good outcomes. My work as a psychologist has trained me to see cycles-how people repeat the same patterns, often unaware, and how these behaviors create dysfunction in their lives.

For my entire life, I have been deeply disturbed by the state of our country. I have wondered why we keep making the same mistakes, why we do not change things, and what is collectively wrong with us. I decided to evaluate these questions through the one lens where I have expertise-psychology. If America were my patient, how would I assess its history, behavior, and decision-making? What diagnosis would best fit? And, most importantly, what treatment would be necessary for healing?

To answer these questions, I went back to the origins, reexamining U.S. history with the same approach I take when working with individuals-looking for patterns, trauma, and the ways people or nations avoid accountability and change. Here is what I found.

The Psychological Symptoms of a Nation

Complex Trauma and PTSD

In psychology, complex trauma refers to repeated, long-term exposure to distressing experiences. PTSD, or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, develops when trauma is not fully processed and continues to impact thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.

From its inception, the United States has been built on violence, oppression, and displacement. The nation's historical foundation includes the genocide of Native Americans and forced removal from their lands, the enslavement, torture, and systemic oppression of Black Americans, the exploitation of immigrant labor in industrial and agricultural sectors, and the constant cycle of war and military intervention abroad.

What happens when a nation's history is rooted in unresolved trauma? Avoidance, hypervigilance, and aggression. We do not fully acknowledge the harm done, we are always on guard, and we use violence as a primary way to solve problems, whether through wars, policing, or harsh immigration policies. Like an individual with PTSD who has never processed their trauma, America continues to repeat cycles of harm instead of confronting the pain and seeking healing.

Borderline Personality Disorder Traits

Borderline Personality Disorder, or BPD, is a mental health condition characterized by unstable identity, black-and-white thinking, impulsivity, and self-sabotaging behavior.

If we look at America through this lens, we see clear parallels: an unstable national identity, extreme political polarization, impulsive decision-making, and an intense fear of abandonment in terms of global influence. These behaviors mirror the patterns seen in individuals with untreated BPD, where instability leads to cycles of self-destruction and interpersonal conflict.

Narcissistic Traits and Grandiosity

Narcissistic traits can be found in individuals who exhibit an exaggerated sense of self-importance, a need for constant validation, and a refusal to accept criticism.

In the U.S., this manifests as American exceptionalism, the belief that America is superior to all other nations despite measurable failures in healthcare, education, and economic equality. It also appears in projection-blaming other countries or groups for problems rather than acknowledging internal flaws-and defensive denial, which leads to censorship of uncomfortable truths.

Diagnosis: If America Were My Patient

Using the DSM-5, the primary diagnostic manual in psychology, America exhibits a combination of Borderline Personality Disorder traits, Narcissistic traits, and Complex PTSD symptoms. These conditions explain why the U.S. struggles to enact meaningful change-because, like an individual with these disorders, it is stuck in cycles of instability, reactivity, and avoidance.

Treatment Plan

Truth and Reconciliation Process

The first step toward healing is acknowledging historical harm. The U.S. needs to implement federal truth and reconciliation initiatives to address past injustices, including racial inequities, economic exploitation, and war-based trauma.

Cognitive Restructuring and Education Reform

National education curricula should be reformed to emphasize historical accuracy, critical thinking, and media literacy. Teaching accurate history instead of nationalist propaganda would allow the public to develop a balanced understanding of America's past and present.

Trauma-Informed Policy Making

Instead of reacting with force, the U.S. should focus on systemic solutions to economic inequality, racial injustice, and social unrest. Expanding access to mental health care and community-based interventions would address collective stress and prevent further fragmentation.

De-escalation of Militarism

Reducing excessive military spending and shifting resources to education, infrastructure, and healthcare would help break cycles of violence. The U.S. must prioritize diplomacy over aggression in international relations.

Rehabilitation of National Identity

America needs to develop a more balanced view of itself-one that acknowledges both its strengths and its flaws. This means shifting away from extreme exceptionalism and toward a resilient national identity based on self-awareness and growth.

Conclusion

The patterns we see in the U.S. today are not new-they have existed since the nation's founding. But history is not destiny. Change is possible when people recognize harmful cycles and take steps to break them. Just as individuals in therapy learn to manage their emotions, challenge distorted beliefs, and build healthier relationships, nations can also heal-but only if they are willing to do the hard work of self-examination, accountability, and transformation.

America, like any struggling patient, has a choice: continue down the path of dysfunction and instability or commit to real, systemic healing and change. The question is, will we do the work?