When the news cycle leaves us feeling sad, uncertain, and even shocked, it’s important to acknowledge our emotions and care for ourselves as we care for others. It’s also essential to remember that we are not alone in feeling this way.
It is normal to experience a range of emotions: anger, confusion, or even numbness. Whatever you are feeling is valid. During times like these, leaning on one another, checking in with your folks, and prioritizing self-care can make a meaningful difference.
In a world where control is being compromised, threatened, and lost, some folks feel okay; others decidedly do not. Just like with grief after a friend or family member dies, all feelings are valid. It’s also alright to feel all the feels today, tomorrow, and for as long as you need to.
I find it helpful to take a step back during chaotic times and think, “What can I control?” “What do I need?” I control my time, my energy, and my presence. Over the past week, I’ve been extremely intentional about who I allow into my space, how I spend my energy, and how I can shine in places where I feel valued and seen. It’s about allowing ourselves to feel what we need to feel, learning how to control what we can, leaning into the support of others, advocating for ourselves when we need to, and moving through the tough moments. It’s not easy, but we can do this.
Being intentional is how I manage. I understand how hard it can be to do this, but it’s the one thing we have control over. I am extremely aware of the world around me, the chaos that a lot of people are feeling, and the suffocation that it can bring.
Sometimes, in all the noise, we have to get very quiet and listen to what we need amidst the mayhem. The world around me does not get to control that for me.
Brie Overton, Chief Clinical Officer at Experience Camps, is a doctoral candidate at the University of Missouri – St. Louis in the Department of Counseling and Family Therapy, where she educates and supervises master and doctoral level students on grief-specific issues in counseling. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor and specializes in anticipatory loss, grief and bereavement, life transitions, and working with underserved populations. She is a member of the Association for Death Education and Counseling and has worked as a clinician and Clinical Director for Experience Camps since 2016.
