Economic, racial, gender-based and other forms of injustice are not new – but since the inauguration of the current administration there has been a significant spike in anxiety, particularly for marginalized and oppressed groups. Over the past few months, working as a therapist with clients experiencing this anxiety (and personally experiencing it), I have formulated a short list of reminders for surviving or coping in the current environment.
What this looks like is very specific to the individual – we are collectively experiencing this period of anxiety, but how it impacts an individual is always unique.
- Be as informed as you need to be
- Reflect on your own needs and protection
- Engage If, How and When it’s right for you
- Remember that your life matters!
Be as informed as you need to be
Staying information about current events is important, but it is also important to manage the quantity and quality of what you are consuming. Many news sources – particularly cable news – tend to be repetitive, so you are getting the same information over and over again with no benefit and possibly heightened anxiety. It’s helpful to observe how much time you spend watching, reading, or listening to the news.
You can also reflect on what news sources you are using and consider some non-mainstream sources. Things like Pacifica Radio (specifically Democracy Now), Al Jazeera, BBC News, and other non-US sources are some good alternative sources.
Reflect on your own needs and protection
This one in particular is VERY specific to individual circumstances. I think about it like planning for a storm – that planning looks very different if it’s just a possible storm vs. a storm that has formed and may be heading towards you vs. a storm that is bearing down on your home right now vs. a storm that is currently on top of you. Depending on your circumstances and concerns you have about how you might be directly impacted by what is going on with the federal government, it could be a good idea to have some “emergency plans” in mind, a couple of ideas include:
- Making sure your resume is up-to-date if you have any job insecurity
- Having the names of lawyers or legal organizations, particularly if you or someone you know has concerns about their immigration status (if it is you personally with the concern, you can also share this information with someone you know in case they need to act on your behalf) – some resources are available here and here, and I compiled a list of resources for Transgender/Non-Binary individuals here
- Make sure you understand your own rights – you can find more about this here and here
Engage if, when and how it is right for you
There is plenty of activism and advocacy happening – based on your own circumstances there are a number of options for you to engage around issues of concern. I included the “if” in this bullet-point recognizing that some people don’t have the time or energy to spare (if you’re working more than one job just to survive it can be a big ask to suggest engaging in activism), or if your immigration status is uncertain engaging in public protests can be very risky.
For those who can engage, these are some ideas as a starting point:
- Rallies and protests
- Reaching out to elected officials
- Advocating on your own social media platform(s)
Remember that your life matters!
Through all of this please keep in mind that your own life matters! Don’t forget to engage in things that are meaningful and fulfilling to you, and to take care of yourself in the process!
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