Surviving the Emotional Impacts of Late-Stage Capitalism
We are living through a time that feels overwhelming.
Every day, we see heartbreaking news: wars and genocide, wildfires and floods, growing inequality, and people struggling to survive.
These problems are not happening by accident.
They’re connected to systems that have shaped our world for a long time.
These systems include white supremacy, colonialism, patriarchy, and capitalism.
Right now, we’re living through what many people call “late stage capitalism.”
This means we’re in the final phases of a system that puts profit over people.
The 1% continue to get richer, while the rest of us see less and less from our labour.
Under such a system, extreme emotions are understandable - grief, anxiety, exhaustion, fury, burnout, fear, and so much more.
These emotions may not be pleasant, but they’re a completely normal, reasonable reaction to the times in which we live.
In spite of creating the conditions for these valid emotions to arise, though, our society doesn’t make space for us to process them.
Instead, it tells us to keep going, to be productive, to hustle.
It tells us that our worth is tied to our output.
This isn’t healthy, and it isn’t true.
At The Witch’s Therapist, we’re a holistic psychotherapy collective in London Ontario.
Beyond psychotherapy, though, we work to offer something different.
Our therapy services focus on helping you create a space where your feelings are welcome.
A space where you can rest, breathe, and remember that your body holds deep wisdom.
You don’t have to carry all of this alone.
You can process your pain, reconnect with hope, and take small steps toward healing and liberation.
Together, we can dream up something better.
This week on our holistic therapy blog, we’re looking at late-stage capitalism, and how to honour, manage, and work through the complex feelings that come up during this difficult time.
What Is Late-Stage Capitalism?
Socialists have been exploring the idea that capitalism’s inherent contradictions would eventually lead to its decline and collapse since the beginning.
But the term late-stage capitalism (sometimes called late capitalism) was coined in 1925 by a German socialist and social scientist, Werner Sombart.
He used it to describe what he saw as the emerging capitalist order, something distinctly different than the pre-World War I era.
Under capitalism, money and markets are in charge.
Everything becomes something to be sold.
Your time, your attention, your relationships, and even your emotions are for sale.
But capitalism as a system is full of contradictions.
For example, capital wants you to work as much as possible, for as little pay as possible.
That way, capital can extract profit from your labour.
But capital also needs you to spend your money on its products and services.
The less capital pays you, the less money you have to spend, and the less profit capital makes.
This is just one example of the inherent contradictions of capitalism.
Over a long enough timeline, these contradictions become more extreme.
A few people become billionaires while others struggle to afford groceries.
Workers are pushed harder.
Rent prices go up while wages stay the same.
People are burned out, and it feels like no one is listening.
In this kind of system, it’s easy to feel hopeless.
But these feelings are not your fault.
You are not broken.
The system is.
How Late-Stage Capitalism Hurts Our Mental Health
Capitalism extracts so much more than just physical resources from us.
Our minds, our bodies, and our spirits are all affected.
The constant pressure to perform, to work long hours, to be perfect, or to “do more with less” can lead to burnout, anxiety, and depression.
We lose control over our lives, because capital owns our homes as well.
In spite of how wretched late-stage capitalism is, the alternative to participating in it, for many of us, is homelessness and starvation.
And social services under capitalism are woefully inadequate at the best of times.
Is it any wonder, then, that you feel mentally unwell?
In fact, rather than asking yourself why you feel mentally unwell, maybe it’s better to ask what kind of person could know what you know and still feel mentally well.
Here are some of the more common emotional impacts of late-stage capitalism.
1. Burnout
The pressure to work hard, perform well, and do better is merciless and relentless.
Regardless of how hard you work, capital still demands more.
Capital will extract every single bit of value it can, and then toss you aside like an apple core.
We weren’t meant to work this hard.
We were meant to enjoy our lives, to live in community, to grow and thrive together.
And yet, we must, capital tells us.
This is a recipe for burnout.
RELATED: Therapist for Burnout in London Ontario
2. Moral Distress
We are moving through a time of polycrises.
Every day we bear witness to what used to be considered “once in a generation” disasters.
This period feels overwhelming, but it’s also built into the late-stage capitalist system in which we live.
White supremacy, colonialism, capitalism, and patriarchy work to exacerbate each other.
For those of us who practice empathy, this can cause overwhelming moral distress.
You may feel the need to do something.
But coming head to head with the extreme burnout and overwhelm you feel, this can create moral distress, guilt, and shame.
3. Grief
Balancing the personal with the political is complex.
Within your grief may lie the loss of personal safety, of community, and of hope for your future.
Beyond the personal, though, can lie the grief we feel for those more marginalized than ourselves.
All of us suffer under late-stage capitalism.
But black, brown, and indigenous peoples, LGBTQ2IA+ people, those living the Global South, disabled people, and other marginalized people often feel that far more acutely.
Those of us who were raised to believe in equality may feel grief at the idea of a more equal world that seems to be slipping away from us.
4. Anxiety
Given the complexity of the polycrises we currently face, is it any wonder you feel anxious?
As the world becomes less certain, so too does our future.
That’s scary.
Uncertainty breeds anxiety – that’s perfectly normal.
RELATED: London Ontario Anxiety Therapist
5. Depression
We’ve said this a few times already, but it bears repeating.
Given what you read above, and what you know, is it any wonder you feel depressed?
Who wouldn’t be depressed in such a scenario?
What Can You Do with These Feelings?
Our culture often tells us to “push through” or “look on the bright side.”
But ignoring these feelings doesn’t make them go away.
In fact, it can make them worse.
We need a way to feel and process our emotions safely, without judgement.
If you’ve been feeling any of what we explored above, know that you’re not alone.
Many of us are feeling this way.
And it’s not a sign of weakness.
It’s a sign that you’re paying attention.
It means your heart is still open.
You care about people, about the planet, and about justice.
That’s a powerful thing.
The good news is, there are ways to care for yourself while still staying connected to the world.
You don’t have to shut down or carry everything by yourself.
There are ways to feel, to heal, and to move forward, without losing yourself in the process.
A Somatic and Creative Path to Healing
At The Witch’s Therapist, we believe that healing doesn’t just happen in the mind, but in the body as well.
This is called somatic therapy.
The word “somatic” comes from the Greek word for body.
In somatic work, we pay attention to what’s happening inside us - our breath, our muscles, our heart rate, our sensations.
These signs help us understand how we’re feeling, even when we don’t have words for it.
We also use art therapy, which is a way to express feelings through creativity.
You don’t need to be a professional artist.
You don’t even need to be “good” at art.
What matters is the process.
Drawing, painting, sculpting, or collaging can help you get feelings out of your body and onto the page.
It can help you process things you didn’t even know were there.
Together, art and somatics help us come back to ourselves.
They remind us that we are not just brains floating around.
We are whole beings, body, mind, spirit.
Why This Work Matters Now
Earlier, we talked about polycrises.
Let’s explore that further.
Polycrises are multiple, systemic problems occurring all at once.
As they happen, they exacerbate each other.
But what’s more, they’re all connected.
They feed into each other.
And they all stem from systems that were designed to put profit, power, and control above people and the Earth.
It’s no wonder we’re feeling overwhelmed.
But feeling doesn’t make you weak.
Feeling is a form of resistance.
When we let ourselves feel grief, rage, and hope, we are choosing to stay human in a system that tries to dehumanize us.
This is why we must make space for our emotions.
This is how we begin to break free of the brutality of late-stage capitalism.
Here are a few gentle ways to begin:
1. Pause and Breathe
Take a moment each day to pause.
Feel your feet on the floor.
Notice your breath.
Try not to change anything.
Just notice.
This helps you reconnect with your body and your present moment.
If it helps, try reminding yourself of your present circumstances.
Regardless of the polycrises facing the world, those aren’t here.
In this very time, in this very place, at this very moment, you are safe.
RELATED: Mindfulness Therapy in London Ontario
2. Name What You’re Feeling
Late-stage capitalism tells us to bury our feelings, and focus on productivity.
This isn’t sustainable.
Instead, give yourself permission to feel whatever you feel.
Are you angry?
Fearful?
Sorrowful?
Even numb?
Whatever you’re feeling, it’s okay.
There is no wrong way to feel.
Sometimes, just naming the feeling can bring relief.
3. Move Your Body
Somatic work isn’t about exercise.
Far from the toxicity of fitness culture and “thinspo”, somatic therapy is about tuning into your body.
Try shaking out your hands.
Stretch, dance, rock back and forth.
Notice how your body wants to move.
These movements can help you reconnect with yourself.
4. Create Something
Use art to let your feelings come through. You could make a collage about your grief. Paint a picture of what hope looks like. Scribble with crayons. Let the materials guide you.
5. Rest
Rest is resistance.
In a system that wants you to keep going non-stop, choosing to rest is powerful.
It helps your body reset and reminds you that you are more than your productivity.
Finding Hope in Late-Stage Capitalism
Even in all this pain, there is still hope.
That hope might come from:
Building new communities rooted in care and connection
Reconnecting with the land and learning from it
Exploring your ancestral roots and remembering where you come from
Dreaming up new systems that value people over profit
Sharing stories, art, food, and joy
These acts may seem small, but they matter.
They remind us that another world is possible.
What’s more, it’s already growing, little by little.
Remember, if our struggle was hopeless, their propaganda would be unnecessary.
Book Your Appointment with The Witch’s Therapist Today
Late-stage capitalism wants us to feel isolated and alone.
After all, that makes us easier to control.
But you’re not alone.
At The Witch’s Therapist, we work with those who are struggling with the emotional impacts of late stage capitalism.
Using art, somatic tools, and a polyvagal lens (which helps us understand how the nervous system responds to stress), we create a space that is safe enough to feel and real enough to hope.
You’re allowed to grieve.
You’re allowed to be angry.
And you’re allowed to imagine more.
Healing is not about pretending everything is okay.
It’s about being honest about what hurts, and finding ways to carry it, together.
Late stage capitalism has made many of us feel like we’re not enough.
Like we always need to do more, be more, achieve more.
But the truth is, you are already enough.
Your feelings are valid.
Your grief is sacred.
And your hope is revolutionary.
We are not meant to live this way.
At The Witch’s Therapist, we believe that healing is possible.
Even now.
Especially now.
Let us make space for our pain and our joy.
Let us remember our bodies, our stories, and our roots.
Let us dream up a better future, together.
Book your FREE 15-minute intro session with The Witch’s Therapist today.
The Witch's Therapist
242 Dundas St.
London, Ontario
Canada
N6A 1H3
1-226-977-1660
► London Ontario Holistic Psychotherapy
The Witch's Therapist is located in London, Ontario and offers holistic psychotherapy therapy throughout London and surrounding areas.
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