I have been, as you say, stressed and in despair, in a way that I’ve never been before. But you’re right, it’s largely a response to my immediate environment, which has never been this bad as far as I remember. Prolonged exposure to this has messed up my sleeping schedule, eroded my short-term memory, and my dietary habits are all over the place!

When I muster up some energy to get my things packed, I’m off. I will probably need a short trip nearby for a change in pace first and gather some strength.