01/26/2026
Many people are feeling unsettled, activated, or exhausted right now. Political instability, social conflict, and constant alarming information can register in the nervous system as threat.
Anxiety, anger, numbness, hopelessness, hypervigilance, or difficulty concentrating are natural responses.
So what helps when it feels like the world is on fire?
First, notice where you are. Pay attention to your breath, your body, and your immediate environment. Grounding is not avoidance, it signals safety to your nervous system.
Second, reduce unnecessary nervous system load. Constant exposure to breaking news and social media commentary can keep the body in a chronic stress response. You do not have to be uninformed to be boundaried. Consider limiting how and when you take in information.
Third, rely on safe connections. A trusted friend, a supportive conversation, or even brief moments of connection help your system feel regulated.
These small, repeated cues of safety do not fix the world, but they stabilize your internal system, allowing you to stay present, oriented, and capable of shifting out of freeze.
