And so it begins (again): coping during politically wild times

A week from now, the country’s leadership will change, and a felon will enter our nation’s highest office. (Words I would not have imagined writing… ever, but particularly prior to 2016, when US politics took a turn I never thought imaginable.) What are we to do, and how do we cope?

In some ways, therapeutic interventions involve the same skills, just applied differently or discussed from a novel perspective, so none of this may seem like a significant change from other blogs I’ve written. However, if these past two-ish months taught me anything personally, it is the necessity to have energy reserves, to moderate my commitments, and to identify gratitude or joy somewhere. 

I haven’t heard any podcasts or read any articles that were particularly insightful about the election outcome. A lot of in-fighting is happening as folks try to determine what the next messaging will be and how to re-build some type of coalition.

On top of the impending inauguration, there are the absolutely devastating wildfires in Los Angeles. So, our leadership is changing; fires are ravaging the second largest city in the country; and it’s winter, which is a time that our bodies have historically needed to rest. It’s dark; it’s colder; it’s wetter. (I’m based in Seattle, so these things are true for me; if you’re based elsewhere in the northern hemisphere, winter is still likely a time for rest.) I highlight the wildfires in addition to the inauguration because we’re living through what many have termed a polycrisis: we’re never just facing one crisis; we’re facing many these days. And I’m throwing in the fact it’s winter because in addition to some inherent desire to rest, it’s also a time many folks experience seasonal affective disorder. Which means some of us are struggling on multiple fronts these days.

Strategies to cope with the new administration:

Practice mindfulness (my favorite).

Breathing exercises and meditation help our nervous systems regulate. I don’t know about you, but when my nervous system is out of whack, I’m not my most rational, aware, kind self. Beside regulating your nervous system, mindfulness helps us to become more aware. Mindfulness asks you to notice what’s distracting you: what’s going on in your thoughts, emotions, and bodily sensations. When you notice, don’t judge because these are important messages but really notice and then come back to your practice.

Get curious about your emotions.

When we don’t acknowledge our feelings, or when we try to suppress them, they don’t go away. They usually stick around, becoming more intense and/or impacting our physical health. You might feel numerous emotions about the same event. With respect to the fires in LA, I feel empathy for all the beings who are impacted. I also feel despair and grief for the loss of lives (human and non-human) and destruction of both the natural and built worlds. Simultaneously, I feel absolute rage and indignation about the actions of powerful humans and corporations and toward systems like capitalism that continue to deny or minimize the impact of the climate crisis. To feel the feelings, you can reflect or journal or talk with others who listen well.

Care for yourself.

Regardless of what’s happening politically, take care of yourself. Sleep; eat as healthfully as time and finances allow; move in whatever way your body allows.

Additional strategies to help activists cope:

In addition to these coping strategies, the incoming administration may mean some of us want to become more active or involved in trying to counteract some of the actions of this new administration. In fact, you may not be someone who considers yourself an activist, and you may find yourself continually distraught by what you’re hearing from our various branches of government. (At least there’s an equal opportunity to hear a distressing headline from each of the three branches… though I’m not sure I favor that type of equal opportunity.) Rather than putting your head under the sand or getting lost in despair or grief, consider turning to action. If activism or engagement calls to you, it’s important to:

Prepare.

You know the headlines will likely be distressing; you can probably also count on listening to the news and questioning the felon’s vocabulary. Just as I advocated setting limits regarding media consumption related to the election, prepare for how much news consumption is healthy for you and in what format. Preparing is essential if you plan to participate in any collective actions. There are many websites that suggest how to prepare to protest safely and how to take care of yourself; there are also websites that outline protesters’ rights. If you’re engaging in protests, come up with contingency plans, so you know what you’ll do if circumstances change or something goes awry.

Find some joy and comfort.

Though predicting the future is one of many cognitive distortions I’d generally advise again, my experience from 2017-2021 suggests that 2025-2029 will be four years of constant bombardment. None of us can handle four straight years of activism. In between listening to the media or taking action to try to make whatever difference you can, know where you can find joy and some comfort. Maybe you’re going to be attending as many concerts as you can; maybe you’ll set aside time for art each week; maybe you’ll be certain to schedule a long walk with the friend who is always there to support you. Finding sources of joy and comfort is self-care but specifically a type that’s needed to counteract heaviness that comes with political stress and grief.

Rely on others.

Keep in mind that you’re part of a community. You need breaks for self-care, as does every member of your community. Know you can sit out for some period and others can have your back or take their turn. Simultaneously, help others in need. Caring for one another is pretty revolutionary in this capitalist structure. If you have financial means, help others who don’t; if you have power and privilege in various circumstances, speak up for those who are being targeted. If you’re not certain what to do, look for mutual air opportunities in your area.

Moderate your involvement.

I often find myself not only wanting to be active all the time but to be active on all of the issues. The issues about which I care are connected, potentially not in the most obvious ways, but environmental justice intersects with reproductive justice; both intersect with combatting racism and white supremacy. While it can be tempting to try to make a difference on each issue, sustained work on one or two actually is essential to build depth of knowledge and a better sense of historical efforts. 

As human members of a larger community, each of us has different skills, insights, and abilities. If each headline that comes out of this new administration leads each of us to perform one act that shows we care for another being, human or non-human, we’ll somehow get through these next four years. We can work to halt what we don’t want and begin to build what we do. This inauguration and the shift we’re all about to experience isn’t the time to give up on each other because we’re exhausted but the time to be there for each other because we actually care. 

If you’re a human who wants another human to talk to about how you’re feeling distressed by grief or despair or anything else related to the political climate, please reach out!