If you look at the headlines lately, you will read about the recent decisions made by politicians and various commentary on these decisions. I see it everyday, every time I get online and to say the least I am overwhelmed. So for today’s cup of tea or coffee, as I now prefer, is all about how to navigate stressors and decompress when it becomes too much.
As someone who identifies as a female American citizen, the abortion ban, neglects my freedom of choice. The more I read, watch and conceptualize with the information, the stories and the conversations on the subject, the more stressed I become. I personally feel completely helpless. I feel angry, confused and frustrated. I feel scared and unprotected from the people who are supposed to protect my rights. I’m not sure how to sit with this to a point where it feels paralyzing.
The abortion ban being one of the many headlines this month. Transgender’s rights in sports. Gun control laws or should I say the lack thereof. The Supreme Court hinting at reconsidering laws of same sex marriage, interracial marriage, and contraception. The Supreme Court ruling in favor of praying on school fields. Not too mention regular day to day stressors. Such as dealing with an unpleasant customer at work, receiving additional bad news, having to schedule a doctors appointment (not my favorite thing ever so it’s stressful for me), and the list can go on. Maybe not even something that is completely stressful, but not getting enough sleep can make one feel off balance.
This week has been lots of more downs, negativity, and harshness. It has felt like all week that nothing is going well, that everything is spiraling and that I have no control over my life. Doing the little things have been difficult, and because those have been more difficult, it’s been harder to deal with my anxiety, body dysmorphia, and feeling productive. More so it has been hard not to react emotionally-especially acting out of anger and fear. Where I normally am able to acknowledge that it’s just a trigger and can respond differently, I struggle to do. I am so burnt out. And I have had to take tums everyday to calm my upset stomach from the constant “stirring” from my anxiety.
I have been stuck in a cycle that does not allow me to feel good about myself, that makes me feel consistently let down and makes me not at my best. Now I will go into ways that are helpful for me whenever I am more on edge and feeling out of control. However, I understand why one would be furious and you have every right to be. So that being said there are spaces where you can feel safe to be angry, and get any information or help necessary; a few resources listed below.
Getting back into the loop can feel overwhelming in itself and probably like too much work. That’s why you always start small and slowly ease your way to where you want to be. My starting point is being easier on myself, the recognition that I am being harsh. Realizing that I am picking at myself. Sometimes I can even be more judgmental towards others, and once again reacting out of emotions more quickly.
Step one, would be to walk away from the situation and acknowledge you are exhausted, that you are not all of those negative things. Acknowledging that you mishandled the interaction with the other person, without being a bully to yourself about it of course! This also includes being more aware of your bodily reactions. When you are hungry, tired, anxious, and stressed- all of which can physically show up on your body. I find that handling the physical symptoms first such as putting the phone away, drinking some water, going outside to scream, and going to bed earlier make the emotional work easier to manage. Taking care of your body can help relieve stress. The next step, would be to incorporate the things that make you feel more at peace and if these activities began to stress you out then to repeat step one (acknowledge, walk away and take care of body’s need). For me it’s little things like the satisfaction after being at the gym, vibing to music, doing my skincare routine, reading in the hammock and recently painting. The little things may look different for you, so make sure to take the time to think about what makes you feel content. Some of these, especially getting exercise and going to sleep earlier, require giving yourself tough love and discipline. You will most likely have to be more secure about your boundaries, and create that space for yourself to recollect. But with time you will feel so much better. You will also feel more in control of your little bubble, because that’s all you are responsible for.
As for the political events going on, you should definitely consider taking an active role! You should be involved, informed and engaged amongst your peers. I would just be mindful of when you start to feel yourself falling into that place again where hope seems to be lost. It’s a balance of being apart of the community while also understanding that you have your limits. Acknowledging that there is only so much one can do before they need a break. Something I try to keep in mind is this: One person can’t be everything but one person can do something, and that is enough.
Resources for those needing help and/or want support:
- Planned Parenthood https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/abortion/it-still-legal-me-get-abortion?utm_source=google&utm_medium=search&utm_campaign=CK.PPFA.PatientNavP3LP2.KY.SEM.EN.How.B.AL.NA.ETA1&gclid=CjwKCAjwk_WVBhBZEiwAUHQCmR6vcI1W_81-xbMR6jkd_8iDBoPKU0-FkQPq1l0X-873DZEfYtJQJBoCSBYQAvD_BwE
- Donate to Planned Parenthood https://www.plannedparenthood.org/get-involved/other-ways-give
- Abortion funds https://abortionfunds.org/need-abortion/
- https://prochoice.org
- Some accounts on instagram: wetestify, AOC, plancpills , theslacktivists- https://www.instagram.com/wetestify/ https://www.instagram.com/aoc/ https://www.instagram.com/plancpills/ https://www.instagram.com/theslacktivists/
Resources if you want to be more informed:
- Paying attention to credible news outlets (Washington Post, New York Times) (local louisville news: Courier Journal)
- The Instagram accounts listed above are also credible sources to receive information!
