Choosing a topic for this month’s blog has been harder than expected. Do I continue writing about self-compassion? Or do I open up about the stressors of our current landscape? At first, I worried that sharing my reactions might feel more like a personal diary than a professional reflection meant to support others.
But as I think back to stories from colleagues who were activists in the 1960s and 1970s, I wonder what wisdom they might offer about resilience in uncertain times. In that spirit, I’ve decided to weave both together — self-compassion and reflection on the world we live in — because perhaps what we need most is both acknowledgment and encouragement.
The Landscape: What We’re Seeing Right Now
Research continues to confirm what many of us already feel: anxiety and depression are steadily rising, and access to timely mental health care often lags behind. This creates a collective pressure cooker where stress ripples through homes, workplaces, and communities, making it hard to catch our breath.
I’ve been reflecting on an idea I’ve read in several places: the distinction between stress and concern. Stress is our body’s response when demands outweigh our resources, while concern is our mind’s thoughtful attention to something important. Recognizing the difference allows us to honor real worries without letting them spiral into patterns that harm our well-being.
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Carrying Stress — But Not Being Crushed by It
As we think about how stress and concern are showing up in our own lives, here are a few compass points for navigating the current landscape:
1. Be deliberate with information intake
- Choose “news windows” instead of staying plugged in all day.
- Curate your sources to be reliable and balanced; mute what fuels unnecessary worry.
- Limit doom-scrolling — timers or app blockers can help.
2. Anchor in the basics of self-care
These are simple, but they matter most when life feels heavy:
- Sleep: Protect your rest with consistent routines.
- Movement: Even a short walk or stretch resets the nervous system.
- Nutrition & hydration: Fueling your body is the foundation of resilience.
- Mindful breaks: Small pauses to breathe, notice, or reflect can shift the nervous system. Keeping a post-it with a favorite quote or photo nearby offers your brain a break and shift focus.
- Gratitude practice: Even one or two small things to appreciate can reframe the day. I often do this at night — but lately, I’ve found it helps in the middle of the night too, when anxious thoughts threaten to take over.
- Transition rituals: Whether leaving work, commuting, or winding down at home, marking boundaries between roles supports mental balance.
3. Strengthen connection (even in small doses)
- Share fears or uncertainties with people you trust. Talking lightens the load.
- Seek out community groups, support circles, or volunteer opportunities.
4. Move from passive anxiety to active engagement
- Focus energy on what’s within reach — whether civic engagement, volunteering, or supporting neighbors.
- Set limits on causes you follow intensely; it’s not possible to carry everything.
- Practice “good enough” activism: small, steady contributions matter.
- If you explore mental health apps or AI chat tools, do so with awareness of both benefits and limitations.
5. Cultivate psychological flexibility
- Accept uncertainty: resilience grows when we can sit with ambiguity.
- Reframe stress as a signal: let it guide adjustments, not dictate your path.
- Anchor in values: remembering what matters most (relationships, justice, compassion) provides direction when the way forward feels unclear.
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Looking Ahead with Hope
Yes, the moment is heavy. And still, history shows us that people can rise together through connection, resilience, and advocacy. It is possible to hold both grief and hope, both frustration and courage.
Lean into your trusted supports. Keep compassion close — both for yourself and others. And know that walking this uncertain terrain together makes it more bearable than walking it alone.
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If You Need Support
If you find stress rising beyond what feels manageable, please remember these resources are here for you:
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – Call or text 988 anytime for immediate, confidential support. 988lifeline.org
- SAMHSA’s National Helpline – Call 1-800-662-HELP (4357) for treatment referrals and information. samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline
- NAMI HelpLine – Call 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), text “HelpLine” to 62640, or visit nami.org/help
- Crisis Text Line – Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a trained counselor. crisistextline.org