Protest Anxiety? Here are Other Ways to Show Solidarity

With protests held in every state and an estimated 5 million people participating nationwide (according to organizers), the No Kings protest was one of the most attended social change movements in recent years. This sign of unity and solidarity can ignite feelings of hope and change within the public. However, there are others who may have feelings of guilt and shame if they were not able to attend. For those who want to attend and who struggle with social anxiety or nervousness in crowds, this can feel like living out of alignment with their values. It can be helpful to think of how we can honor our mental health and make space for advocacy. We went ahead and created a list of ways that those who are socially anxious can participate if they still would like to engage with social change. 

1. Engaging with Elected Officials

There are many ways to engage with local officials that we can sometimes forget about. Attending a town hall, sitting in on a meeting, or engaging with local initiatives to give back. You can also engage with officials in a way that isn’t face to face such as a phone call or an email. 

2. Advancing your Education 

Trying to be up to date on policy and procedures can be immensely helpful for navigating times when things can be in flux. We always want to make sure to fact check and cross reference resources to make sure our information is up to date. Engaging in education that is online can also be a useful source. We can also help with engaging with individuals and organizations that may need additional support at this time. 

3. Volunteering/Donating

People always need help and there are always ways to donate our time. When it comes to volunteering, there may be remote options to engage with organizations if you are feeling anxious. Donating to local organizations is always helpful, especially in times of uncertainty. We can also look into monetary donations as well. Finding organizations that feel aligned with our values can make a big difference.

4. Making Space for Others

If you feel up to it, offering support to others is another way to practice advocacy. Is someone having a hard time taking care of their basic needs, is there someone who wants to talk through things, maybe a friend would like to go on a walk to get a break from socials, and so much more. The little things can build into a net of support for our social network, and shouldn’t be forgotten. 

5. Self Actions

Sometimes we can forget about this area of advocacy, that is supporting ourselves. We want to make sure that we are still engaging in self care practices in order to give ourselves longevity through challenging times. This means being mindful of our social media/news engagement, making sure we’re sleeping enough, going to therapy, and making sure that we are taking care of our basic needs. While this might not seem like much, we want to remember that our bodies are the vessels that carry us through challenging times. 

Going through times of civil unrest can be stressful and can initiate a lot of anxiety. Remembering to take care of ourselves and acknowledging our limits is important for sustained ability to enact change. While there may be large demonstrations of social change, we are also allowed to engage in those smaller ways as well, acknowledging our needs are important at any time. 

The information on this website is not intended to diagnose or treat any medical or psychological condition and is not a substitute for therapy. If you are experiencing an emergency please call/text 988 or go to your nearest emergency room.