When the Headlines Hit Home: How Current Events Affect Your Mental Health
If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or exhausted by the news lately, you’re not alone. When we see anti-trans laws passing, DEI programs being eliminated, ICE raids in our communities, or “religious freedom” bills being used to discriminate against LGBTQ+ people, these events hit differently for those of us in marginalized communities. They’re not just political news—they feel personal because they are personal.
Your reactions to current events are completely normal. When you see headlines about laws that could affect your rights, your safety, or your ability to get basic services, your brain treats this as a real threat. Your nervous system doesn’t distinguish between physical danger and social or political threats—it just knows something that matters to you is under attack.
Understanding why current events affect your mental health so deeply can help you be gentler with yourself while developing practical tools to stay engaged with the world around you without burning out.
