Never in the history of our planet, has a decision or change that the country/world is so split on, ever come down – while we have the these 24 hr megaphones in our hands that FEED the volatility & the divide. This is not a political post – it’s a mental health one.
I remember in 2001, when 9/11 happened right outside my windows at work. I came home (after they finally let us out of the building) – & my friends & I watched the news for 24 hrs straight…3 days in a row. We did sleep…but in front of the TV. We couldn’t get enough – bc we were so taken by what happened – we craved discussion, answers, others w the words that’d help us better understand the emotions we were feeling. It’s been over 20 yrs, & the memories of being planted in front of our TV are engrained in my brain. My fear brain was on fire, & I was pouring kerosine on it.
I can’t imagine if we had social media when 9/11 happened. And here’s the thing – that was an event 99% in this country (most of the world) were united on.
Yesterday’s decision brought up SO many emotions. For some – fear, anger, gloom, sadness, etc. For others – relief, celebration, joy, etc. Look how different those emotions, listed next to one another are. And you may HATE that the other “side” on this issue feels just that way.
But thinking of all of this gets us into our animal fear/anger brain. It heightens our sympathetic response. Bc of that we search for msgs that we agree w, bc when we are caught in that brain, it feels soothing to swim there as we’re only capable of all or nothing thinking.
This post won’t get the love it would if I took a “side.” But I’m not concerned abt likes or engagement. I’m concerned abt YOU.
We just had 2.5 yrs of volatility, then so many other disconcerting events we are still in the midst of. MH is cumulative when that sympathetic response sets up shop. Please take care of YOU, & each other. Hold space. Find time away from the news/SM, even if it “feels” right in the moment. Your/our MH as a world depends on it.