In this episode, Jamie, Lucy, and Avery discuss the Supreme Court’s recent decision to overturn Roe vs. Wade. We focus on strategies to manage the emotional distress that this decision has caused for many of us specifically in regard to politically charged conversations, general empathy and concern for others and the future, and the personal relevance of the decision. We touch on strategies to foster compassion as we each navigate our own response to the decision and our interactions with others.
Do try this at home:
- Know that you are not alone. This is a distressing thing that has happened and a lot of people are very upset. It’s important to allow yourself to feel your feelings and get support for them.
- There’s not one “right” way to manage your emotional response to this. When feeling a loss of control, attending to self and noticing the things that you can control (like your own behavior) can be helpful in managing your emotions.
- According to grief expert, David Kessler, “Grief doesn’t really get smaller- you get bigger.” Having a network of individuals to support you can help you to be able to handle what is going on. When you access support that can help you “get bigger”, it can be easier to manage the feelings associated with this current situation.