Post election
If you are struggling with the results, please know you are not alone.
There is a lot we don’t know about the days ahead so my first suggestion is please try not to focus on too many unknowns. There is various advice for marginalized groups floating around in social media and if any of it feels relevant and urgent, you may wish to follow it.
I suggest the most critical area to focus on is your mental well being here are some suggestions:
1- Build your trust in yourself and your inner knowing. Learn boundaries with yourself, your energy and with others behaviors. If you need the help of a therapist this is the time to seek support. Part of boundaries are with yourself. Learn better coping, manage your energy better, better routines. Reduce excessive scrolling, game playing, addictions. Strengthen your values. Improve your diet, sleep, move more. Be as mentally and physically strong as possible. See https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/caring-for-your-mental-health
2-Connect more with others you trust. Get involved in causes, create social circles. Fear thrives on isolation and promotes the belief that we are alone. https://www.cdc.gov/social-connectedness/about/index.html#:~:text=Social%20connection%20can%20lead%20to,good%20times%20and%20hard%20times.
3-Take time to grieve. Americans do not have the best understanding of grief. We just want to move on and are uncomfortable witnessing displays of grief but true acceptance can not come until feelings are acknowledged. Give yourself the time and support to go through the feelings.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK591827/#:~:text=Types%20of%20Grief,disenfranchised%20grief%2C%20and%20complicated%20grief.
4-Radical acceptance. We can not change this situation. Look for what is in your control, especially the items mentioned above.
5-Learn how to discern accurate information. Part of this lies in the aforementioned strengthening your trust in yourself. But if you also genuinely need help assessing sources, ask a teacher or other trusted person. Either way, be careful about what information you share on social media.
6-Do your part to improve the situation whether you are able to volunteer or just minimize the spread of misinformation. We all can play a part to improve this situation for a better society.
For more information on coping:
For being politically engaged:
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