If the US does full on collapse, I think it will shock most people living in the US. Yes, we have many bad signs deterioration, but most people still are living fairly comfortably in spite of the issues with inflation.
Food not being on grocery store shelves, electricity turned off, and gas not being at the pump are things most people are not going to be able to contemplate. For most people, that will mean death.
That is indeed a worst case scenario, but even considering the downgrade in the standards of living will be something most people will not be able to swallow. All necessities being extremely expensive means less disposable income for things that people most certainly do not need. We are too used to comforts, and taking away those comforts will drive some to think it is the end of the world even if it is not.
Even I might not like life becoming more difficult, and I might even be among those who would get upset. But I may need to learn to deal with that. It matters not if I like it or not, but rather what will I do if I face a more difficult life. The only choice I have is to deal with the difficulty as best as I can.
I like to think I am adaptable, but a collapse of any severity will put that theory to the test.
@houseoftolstoy You can practice putting yourself in such situations