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Max Derange's definitions

Sunken Place

A desperate sense of powerless that causes paralysis, internally.

A state in which one is restricted to watching their life without explicit control or influence, typically induced by forms of hypnosis. The person is inhibited from acting or speaking, thus unable to change their reality and instead watches like a spectator.

The feeling of sinking comes from the feeling of their life progression declining, slipping from their grip, going downwards. This causes such severe internalised distress that part of their conciousness becomes frozen/paralysed.

The term was made popular by Jordan Peele's 'Get Out', though often associated with the mirrored moral problems such as racism and slavery.
Jack's been using Meth for so long that he's powerless to change his own life. It's like he's been brainwashed, although no one can tell... He's in the Sunken Place.
by Max Derange August 20, 2025
mugGet the Sunken Placemug.

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