Big, Beautiful, Bullied

When politics mess with your mental health (and you're tired of pretending you're fine)

Let’s not tiptoe around it: People are unraveling right now—and not just because of what’s happening inside their homes, but because of what’s happening outside them.

A lot of my clients are showing up in session unsure if it’s “okay” to talk about politics.

Let me make this clear: it is. Because this isn’t just politics—it’s personal.

When reproductive rights are stripped, Medicaid is slashed, queer and trans people are targeted, and the most vulnerable communities are constantly treated as disposable, your nervous system takes the hit. And it should.

You’re not too sensitive. You’re not overreacting. You’re living in a world where basic safety, autonomy, and dignity are being treated like strategy notes in someone’s campaign ad.

When Your Identity Feels Like a Political Target

If you're a woman, you've probably been told in a hundred subtle (and not-so-subtle) ways that your body is public property.

If you're LGBTQ+, your existence is politicized before you even speak.

If you're BIPOC, you're expected to show up strong and unbothered—while laws are written to erase your history, your needs, and your rights.

And if you're watching this unfold while trying to go to work, raise kids, or just stay regulated, it’s no wonder your mental health is frayed.

The world is starting to feel eerily familiar to anyone who’s read 1984 or The Handmaid’s Tale—except this version comes with push alerts, political gaslighting, and a president who exhibits more narcissistic tendencies than I care to count.

Our rights are being tossed around like debate team prompts—only this is real life, not a junior year extracurricular activity.

And while some people still have the luxury of tuning it all out, many of us don’t.We’re not panicking—we’re paying attention.

So What the Hell Do We Do About It?

Let’s talk about coping that doesn’t minimize your experience. No “just drink more water” advice here—although, yes, drink some water. But also, try these:

1 - Name the Thought

Say: “I’m having the thought that everything is hopeless." This tiny shift separates you from the spiral—it’s not denial, it’s creating breathing room between you and your fear.

2 - Talk to Your Inner Kid

When everything feels too big or too much, that younger part of you—the one who learned to stay small to stay safe—often kicks in. You don’t have to go digging through childhood memories to acknowledge her.

Sometimes it’s as simple as pausing and saying:

“You’re allowed to feel this. I know it’s scary. But I’m the adult now, and I’m here to protect you.”

You don’t need a perfect script. You just need self-compassion in a moment that calls for survival mode.

3 - The Ice Pack Method

Overwhelmed? Shaking? Can’t get out of your head?

Grab a cold pack or bag of frozen peas and press it to the back of your neck or wrists for 30–60 seconds. It triggers your diving reflex, slows your heart rate, and tells your body: You’re not in danger anymore.

It’s nervous system regulation, not witchcraft.

4 - Mute. Block. Unfollow. Repeat.

You are not required to consume endless horror to be a good person. You’re allowed to unplug from toxic discourse, block that cousin who posts conspiracy theories, and let peace—not algorithms—decide who gets your attention.

5 - Try the 5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Technique

Use your senses to get out of your head and back into your body:

• 5 things you see

• 4 things you feel

• 3 things you hear

• 2 things you smell

• 1 thing you taste

This works by engaging the part of your brain responsible for observation rather than panic. It pulls your focus away from racing thoughts and brings you into the present—where your body can start to feel safe again.

6 - Tiny Acts of Rebellion

You don’t have to save the world today. You can rest. You can say no. You can donate, volunteer, vote, or tell one person the truth about how you’re doing.

Rebellion doesn’t have to be loud to be powerful. Sometimes it’s just choosing joy in a world that wants you small and silent.

Therapy Isn’t Neutral—and Neither Are You

If your therapist can’t handle you bringing in grief about reproductive justice, rage over queerphobia, or fear over political extremism, that’s not neutrality—it’s avoidance.

Politics are impacting your mental health.

And they belong in the room.

So does your grief. So does your anger. So does your exhaustion.

You are not broken for feeling this way. You’re not the problem—the world just keeps rewarding cruelty and calling it leadership.

You Are Not Alone—and You Are Not Powerless

You are big. You are beautiful. And if you’re feeling bullied by systems built on control and cruelty—you're not imagining it. You're seeing it clearly. And you're still standing.

Let this be your reminder:

“Nolite te bastardes carborundorum.”

Don’t let the bastards grind you down.— Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid’s Tale

Your peace, your power, and your voice are not up for negotiation.

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About the Author: Carrie Summers, LCSW

Therapist • Mental Health Educator • Safe Space Creator

Carrie Summers is MDW’s trusted voice for all things mental health.

As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and the founder of Noreila Healing & Wellness in Wheaton, Illinois, Carrie brings a deep commitment to creating inclusive, judgment-free spaces where all people feel seen, supported, and safe.

Whether working one-on-one with clients or shaping mental health conversations within the MDW community, Carrie leads with warmth, insight, and advocacy.

Her therapeutic style is person-centered, strengths-based, and trauma-informed, grounded in the belief that every individual already holds the potential for healing within.

Carrie supports clients navigating a wide range of challenges, including perinatal mental health, relationship stress, divorce and separation, narcissistic abuse recovery, and major life transitions. Her work is guided by a commitment to meeting people exactly where they are.

Carrie holds a Perinatal Mental Health Certification from Postpartum Support International (PSI), allowing her to provide specialized care for individuals facing fertility struggles, postpartum mood disorders, and the often overlooked experience of hyperemesis gravidarum (HG).

She also serves clients as a certified Divorce Coach, helping people move through endings with clarity and empowerment.

“Healing happens when people feel heard. I want every person to know they matter and that there’s no shame in their story." - Carrie

Carrie offers both in-person and virtual therapy sessions through her private practice, ensuring flexibility and access for clients throughout Illinois.

Outside the therapy room, you’ll find Carrie joyfully curating her next Nordstrom haul (no apologies) and fully embracing the philosophy that treating yourself is a form of self-respect. Reach out to Carrie at (630) 474-5275 or

carrie@noreilahealing.com