Why Did Panic Spread Faster Than Darkness in Spain and Portugal’s Blackout?

What would you do if, right now, every light around you went out? Imagine: silence. Darkness. Your phone, useless. The world, disconnected. That’s exactly what happened today in Spain and Portugal. But the real blackout wasn’t just in the wires. It was inside us.

People rushed to supermarkets, grabbing everything they could. Shelves emptied in minutes. Neighbors, who lived side by side for years, barely exchanged a word. Some stood frozen, waiting for someone to tell them what to do. Others panicked, searching for answers on screens that no longer worked.

But in the middle of the chaos, a small bakery in Lisbon did something different. With no power, the owner opened the doors, lit candles, and invited people in. Strangers sat together, sharing bread and stories. For a few hours, they remembered what it meant to be human: to connect, to help, to listen.

This blackout showed us something powerful. We’ve built a world of convenience, but sometimes, we forget how to live without it. We forget how to talk, to trust, to stay calm when things go wrong. But it’s in these moments—when the lights go out—that we discover our true strength.

Did you know that scientific research shows social support and community connection are key to resilience in crises? A 2024 systematic review led by the Leibniz Institute for Resilience Research found that people with higher perceived social support respond more resiliently to disasters and stress, recovering faster and maintaining better mental health (Schäfer et al., 2024). Another study published in the British Journal of Social Psychology highlights that, even in emergencies, most people act with solidarity and cooperation, not panic, and that collective resilience grows when we nurture social bonds (Elcheroth & Drury, 2020). And research in the journal Sustainable Cities and Society shows that strong social networks and trust empower communities to face crises together (Sciencedirect, 2024).

So, what about you? If the lights went out tomorrow, would you panic—or would you reach out? Would you remember how to connect, to help, to be present?

If you want to support more stories that make us think and grow, subscribe to our channel. And now, I want to hear from you: Have you ever faced a blackout or a crisis? How did you react? Share your story in the comments. Let’s build a community that shines—no matter how dark it gets.

Sources:

Leibniz Institute for Resilience Research (2024). "A systematic review of individual, social, and societal resilience factors in response to societal challenges and crises." https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11455977/

British Journal of Social Psychology (2020). "Collective resilience in times of crisis: Lessons from the literature for socially effective responses to the pandemic." https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7361591/

Elsevier/Sustainable Cities and Society (2024). "Social Capital and Community Resilience in the wake of disasters." https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212420924008112