Coping with Current Event Stress

Current events continue to negatively impact the mental health of our clients. It’s normal and understandable that the events in your world impact you emotionally and mentally. You may experience waves of different emotions, increased stress, and even physical impacts as a result. This is a trend that does not appear to be changing anytime soon. In response to the Roe V Wade news this week it’s not surprising that as a women’s counseling center, many of our clients and staff are feeling the weight of this developing issue. 

(Important reminder that reproductive rights affect more than women)
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Here are a few strategies to help you navigate these, and other stressful times:

1. Allow yourself time to feel

Emotions need to be expressed and felt. Find time and ways to sit with how you feel and give time and space to your reactions. Journaling, meditating, mindfulness, talking to a support person, therapy, are all good ways to let it out.

2. Talk about it or don’t

Decide for yourself what you need and that may vary moment to moment or day to day. If you feel like it would be helpful to not sit alone with how you feel and what you think then reach out to others. 

At the same time it’s ok to set boundaries and decline conversations/debates/discussions if you find that you need a break. As a human you can only tolerate so much. Getting to know your personal limits is an essential coping skill. 

3. Move your body

Emotions exist to evoke motion. They move us into action. Yet today’s mostly sedentary world doesn’t align with that biological need. Exercise, go for a walk, stand up and stretch. Even a small amount of movement provides an outlet for that pent up energy.

4. Take action

Research what you can do to help. Find ways to contribute to issues that are important to you, volunteer, donate, march, write to your congress people. If you feel it would help how you are feeling, find a reasonable and attainable action step to take. 

Above all, remember that you are human and take it easy on yourself.