Like Vice President Kamala Harris, I suffer from a fair amount of stress. Doritos Since the 2016 presidential election, paper towels have Thrown at the people of Puerto Rico Brutal from the aftermath of 2017’s Hurricane Maria Questions about Vice President Harris’ mixed race ancestry Last month, I was subjected to multiple culturally-driven mental health attacks over the past eight years, and those outrageous attacks continue to spill into the political world. Just last night, Donald Trump echoed the comments of his running mate, J.D. Vance. Nasty and false allegations About Haitian immigrants.
Since January, I’ve been thinking about how to combat the stress and anxiety of the election, as the onslaught shows no signs of stopping. Lately, self-defense looks like morning Peloton rides and candid conversations with my mom, who lived through the civil rights movement and reminds me that this political turmoil is not new, and that we will get through this.
But even as I try to protect my mental health in this tense political season, I’m exhausted. And I know I’m not alone. Black women, in particular, have been taught for centuries to shoulder the problems of the world around us and bear its exhausting weight. Many of us watched our mothers endure racism from the seats of our cars as children, noticing how they kept forging ahead, bottling up their frustrations with micro- and macro-aggressions. We realized we shouldn’t talk about the stings. Instead, we should pick our fights and try to get through the day.
We have learned to put on a brave face to the world, but we need to recognize that suffering in silence does real damage beneath the surface. Chronic health problems and Psychological stressWe learn to put ourselves last and endure, but we don’t have to accept it.
Authentic self-care is needed to combat the enormous toll that racist political attacks have on Black women’s mental health. With that in mind, SELF asked 11 Black therapists to share concrete ways Black women can stay well amid a flood of misogyny surrounding the election.
1. Pay attention to your body’s signals as you digest the news…
“I tell people, when you’re watching TV or watching election coverage on your phone, check yourself. You should know your signs. So if my eyebrows are at my nose, my shoulders are at my ears, and my fists are like Arthur’s and I feel like I’m about to punch somebody, that usually means that’s not the resource to look at right now. And I think one of the big drivers of election stress and anxiety is that people feel like they need to know every second of everything all day. I tell my patients, if there’s a zombie apocalypse, you’re going to know it. It’s okay to take a break.”Dr. Raquel MartinAssistant Professor of Psychology, University of Tennessee
2. …or choose to skip it entirely.
“As Black women, we may feel pressured to support candidates, to listen, to be there. With this election in particular, give yourself permission to avoid any kind of information that may be inflammatory and that won’t actually change how you vote.” [You don’t need to monitor] Polls are about what other people think and how they intend to vote. That information doesn’t have to influence your behavior and will likely only increase stress over a decision that is ultimately out of your control. You do your part, go to the polls on Election Day, and vote according to your values. After that, try to eliminate as much stress and anxiety as possible associated with the outcome. And that will be enough.” —Kelly Ruggles, P.D., Licensed Psychologist, Psychology Thrives
3. Remember who you are…
“Remember where you come from. We are not the first generation to face oppression and fear over political freedom. Our ancestors found ways to build joyful lives despite oppression. You can do the same.”Collin Harris, PhD, LMHC, Owner Harris Counseling Services Assistant Professor, Capella University
4. …and celebrate your cultural identity.
“It’s important to be grounded in your cultural identity and celebrate it. That could be getting together with your girlfriend, your family, or chosen family and participating in traditions and activities that are centered around being black or your ethnicity, whatever it may be. You can also have beautiful things in your office or your home that remind you of the beauty of your heritage. There are stories out there about appearances, hair, looks, and so on that are deeply rooted in white supremacy, and sometimes we need to be reminded of that beauty.”Hazel Owens, MDiv, LMFTOwner of Owens Counseling & Consulting
5. Avoid sensational news sources.
“Limit or eliminate media exposure that attacks Black women and political candidates for being Black or female. Choose media that presents the news in a positive, non-sensational way. If we believe everything we hear, we forget that we are amazing people with great things to contribute to the world. It is also helpful to remember the work of incredible Black women who have changed the world. They may have been misunderstood at the time, but that doesn’t make them any less powerful.”Adia Gooden, PhD, Licensed Clinical Psychologist; Unconditionally Worth It, Inc.
6. Remember that you can’t solve the world’s problems, and you don’t need to.
“Black women often shoulder the burden in both our personal and professional lives. Yet, despite our importance, we are often ignored and discounted, and we constantly face the brunt of misogyny and racism. We are asked to do the impossible: to save everyone else. This is especially evident during election season. It is so important that we stand up for ourselves. As a Black woman and psychotherapist who has seen firsthand the effects of election fatigue, I urge Black women to lean into healthy self-care during this time. Anything that nurtures emotional, physical, mental and spiritual wellness can increase resilience, reduce stress, and improve quality of life. We, especially Black women, deserve this.”Kristin Pacheco, LMSWOwner of Sayasaicotherapy
7. Connect with what fulfills you and pay attention to what drains you.
“It can be tempting to fall into black-and-white thinking – to sink into despair, to believe things have never been this bad before, or to idealize activists and try to make radical, long-term change alone. But in-between perspectives tend to be more grounded in reality, and keeping a broader perspective can help you put things into perspective and give you a sense of stability.
