5 Ways to Protect Your Mental Health Before and After the Inauguration
Coping with the Weight of the World Without Losing Yourself
As a therapist, I see the way political stress weighs heavily on so many of us — especially those of us who are committed to justice, equity, and change. With our 24 hour news cycle, every headline can feel like a personal attack, and for those of us fighting for marginalized communities, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the emotional toll.
You don’t have to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders, and your activism doesn’t have to cost you your mental health.
In a society where corporations are abandoning DEI initiatives, trans rights and reproductive rights are being systematically stripped away, our government is complicit in funding genocide, and the planet is signaling — loudly — that it’s had enough, it’s no wonder political anxiety feels overwhelming. The weight of it all can be crushing. But to fight effectively for the world you want, you must be rooted in your own well-being. Caring for your emotional health is not a retreat from action — it’s what allows you to show up fully, whether in protest, on social media, or in everyday conversations with loved ones.
So, how do we cope with political stress without losing ourselves?
1. Acknowledge the Stress
It’s okay to admit that this is hard. There’s no shame in feeling overwhelmed or anxious about what’s happening in the world. When you give yourself permission to feel, you allow yourself space to process your emotions, instead of running from them or suppressing them. This is step one in healing — and activism needs healing as much as it needs action.
2. Set Boundaries (Even with Yourself)
You don’t need to read every news article, scroll endlessly through social media, or attend every protest. For many in marginalized communities, the privilege of stepping away from political battles doesn’t exist — because the issues at stake directly threaten their lives and rights. But even within this reality, it’s essential to recognize that rest and boundaries are not luxuries; they’re survival tools. You can care deeply and still give yourself permission to pause. Sustainable activism means pacing yourself for the long road ahead, knowing that protecting your emotional health helps you keep showing up for the fight.
3. Stay Connected to Your Values
Political stress can make it feel like the weight of injustice is so big that it’s hard to see the personal or the local. But connecting to what you value — whether it’s family, community, or creative expression — keeps you grounded. Let those values guide you in your activism, and let them remind you that change often starts with small, personal actions.
4. Find Supportive Communities
Remember that this work doesn’t have to, and shouldn’t, be done in isolation. Find your people, the ones who get it, who share your values and who won’t just join the fight but will also help carry the emotional load. Support networks, whether they’re friends, online communities, or activist groups, can help you share your stress, strategize for action, and remind you that you’re not in this alone.
5. Be Compassionate With Yourself
You don’t have to do it all. You don’t have to be perfect in your activism or always stay strong. You can have days where you feel tired, disheartened, or angry — and that doesn’t mean you’ve failed. Compassion, for yourself and for others, is a crucial part of sustainable activism. Your emotional well-being is just as important as the work you’re doing to create change.
So allow yourself to feel it all: the grief, the rage, the hope, and the heartbreak. Caring deeply comes with a cost, but it’s also a reflection of your humanity, your empathy, and your desire for a better world. These are your greatest strengths.
Staying soft, staying present, and staying whole is its own quiet rebellion.
When we practice self-care and set boundaries, when we protect our hearts and minds, we refuse to let oppressive systems steal our joy or harden our souls. This is how we keep fighting — fierce, whole, and unapologetically ourselves — building a future where none of us have to shrink to survive.
