What to do in a political upheaval and scary situation
I have been upset since the election. VERY UPSET. For the first few days I didn't want to leave the house because of my fears. In my 47 years on spaceship Earth I have never seen an American election go so horribly wrong as to elect a mysogenistic, racist, able-ist, ignorant and, most definitely, dangerous sexual predator to the highest office in the land.
I have not known what to do. Being on the fringes in some way of this administration due to my disability *which he openly mocks* and my sexual orientation I feel threatened in a way I have never felt threatened before.
It opens my heart to see so many participating in the marches all over the world today. I wish my disability would let me join the crowds and take part. I have sent in my name and why I don't want him to be in charge in to the National March for Disabled. So I am there. But I want to do more. But when you have some disability(ies) it can make it challenging.
So I have composed some ways those with mental challenges could deal with all of this:
1. Keep up with your self-care. You cannot care for anyone else unless you are taken care of first
2. Talk to your doctor if this situation is making your symptoms worse
3. if you feel helpless and suicidal due to this please call a suicide hotline and speak to someone
4. If you have paranoid thoughts try to talk yourself out of that place by looking up facts online, talking to a friend or just distract yourself from the news for a bit.
5. If you feel in danger at any time do not be afraid to call 911. They will not take you to the hospital simply for being afraid.
6. Listen to your caregivers and trust when they say you will be safe. The only way to get through this with a disability is to take the care and trust in other people.
7. Take time away from social media, the news and any other medium that feeds your anxiety and paranoia. Go to the woods. Go to a park. Don't take your phone. Unplug. Write things down. Do something ever day that helps you feel better
8. Use what you have. Write letters to senators, sign online petitions, post on social media about things that anger you and let people know what is going on, give some money to organizations that need it right now, buy a subscription to a paper...you can do much if you just have a little ingenuity.
Most importantly remember that though you may not have the capacity to do as much as some others do you still are important, you still have value to participate in the movement in as many ways as you are able and you are needed.
