In today's climate, many of us are experiencing a persistent sense of unease. From the rise in book bans and education censorship to attacks on reproductive freedom and voting rights, the political landscape in the U.S. is more than just polarized—it's personal.These aren't just policy shifts. They are direct threats to our bodies, our futures, and our families.
As a therapist, I've noticed a growing number of clients—especially Black parents, LGBTQ+ individuals, immigrants, and caregivers of neurodivergent children—navigating chronic stress and anxiety. These emotions aren't just reactions to headlines; they are valid responses to systemic instability and targeted oppression.
What we're seeing isn't new. History shows us this exact pattern: every time we inch closer to justice, there is backlash. Time and again, progress has been met with resistance. Our history is full of promises made and broken—especially to marginalized communities.
Today, that pattern continues in precise and painful ways:
- Book bans and anti-Black education laws
- Voter roll purges and gerrymandering
- Attacks on reproductive autonomy
- Politicized Supreme Court decisions
- Executive overreach and threats of political violence
- Authoritarian behaviors cloaked in "law and order"
If you feel anxious, overwhelmed, or hopeless, you're not imagining it. These are natural responses to an unnatural level of stress and uncertainty.
We may not control what's decided in Congress or the courts—but we can reclaim our own clarity, capacity, and connection.
Every breath, boundary, and act of self-preservation is part of a legacy of resistance. Prioritizing your wellness pushes back against a system that relies on your burnout.
Empty space, drag to resize
Set Boundaries with News Consumption
Stay informed, but not overwhelmed. Choose trusted news sources. Designate media-free hours. Give yourself permission to step away when needed.
Prompt: "What am I afraid of right now—and what truth can I hold onto instead?"
Let your journal be a space where you name your fears and honor your survival.
When your thoughts begin to spiral, come back to your body:
- Place your feet flat on the floor
- Take three slow, deep breaths
- Say aloud: "My body is wise. I honor what it's telling me without shame."
Empty space, drag to resize
Ask yourself: What values do I want to live out today?
Let your choices reflect those values—truth, joy, protection, creativity—instead of fear.
Shadow Work in Times of CrisisThese difficult times often call us inward. They invite us to examine the parts of ourselves that we've been taught to hide:
- The silence we've kept to avoid conflict
- The internalized feelings of powerlessnessThe fear of taking up space
- Where do I shrink to feel safe?
- What part of me is ready to be visible?
- How can I lead from my values, not my fear?
Your anxiety might be the first sign that you care deeply.
But your breath, your boundaries, and your truth—that's what moves you forward.
This moment may feel heavy, but it's not just yours to carry.
You are not too sensitive.
You are not weak.
You are not alone.
There is historical precedent for what we're witnessing—and for how we rise in response.
We've endured before.
We've resisted before.
We've rebuilt before.
You carry both the warning and the wisdom.
So yes—grieve what should have changed by now.
Grieve the burden you didn't want your child to inherit.
Grieve the illusion that we had moved past this.
But don't stop there.
Breathe. Write. Rest. Speak. Move.
Your well-being is a radical act of defiance.
Let Your Healing Be Part of the Revolution
Our joy is sacred.
Our rest is necessary.
Our healing is powerful.
Educating our youth and ourselves is resistance in action.
And our wholeness—our laughter, our softness, our breath—
That is the revolution.
Stay connected.
For weekly journal prompts, trauma-informed resources, and political wellness reflections, follow at ebdavismsw or subscribe to my newsletter. Together, we can move through this moment with clarity, courage, and care.
