Why were people drinking heavily shortly after the war in Iraq began?
This war had a saliency for people on Wall Street. September 11 may have happened a couple of years ago, but it’s still a very open wound. The attack on Iraq brought up unresolved feelings. People on Wall Street tend to harbor and hide those feelings, and therefore they self-medicate. Q: Are brokers and analysts more likely to hide their feelings than others? A: I believe so. There’s a stigma against mental illness on Wall Street. Things like sadness, depression, illness, and anxiety are viewed as a weakness in character or ability. There’s a perception that [such things] are bad. Often, people are afraid that if others find out, they’ll be fired. Q: Are these fears justified? A: The real issue, whether it be investment banking or retail brokerage work, is that there’s [great] job competition out there these days. The basic human-resources perception in these corporations is “If you can’t handle the heat, get out of the kitchen. There is someone else who will be willing to deal with th
