As far-fetched as it may feel in hindsight, I believe the majority of people watching the brutal testimonies of Dr. Christine Blasey-Ford and Brett Kavanaugh were holding on to a sliver of hope that justice would prevail and a possible predator would not be confirmed to the Supreme Court. For many men and women across America, the decision of the Senate Judiciary Committee is a slap in the face, a declaration that our justice system will not protect victims of sexual assault. This news has been exhausting to process, and has only added to the overwhelming fear that America is too deeply founded in inequality to ever change. In order to deal with this, I have created a list of coping mechanisms to help you get through this time.
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Take time off from the news—it’s good to stay informed but it’s also okay to take a break from all the negativity for the sake of your mental wellbeing.
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Register to vote—One of the most difficult sensations created by situations like this is a feeling of powerlessness against the government. Voting for candidates you believe in helps to add confidence and stability to your outlook on the impact you can have.
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Get involved—see if there are any demonstrations near you or organize one yourself. Reach out to women’s groups and see what help you can provide. Get active and vocal about how you feel to help normalize criticizing injustice.
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Talk to friends and family—open up to people about how you feel, and vent as much as you need to. Share how the testimonies at the hearing affected you if you feel comfortable. Allow yourself to fully process the situation and how you feel about it.
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Pull an Elle Woods—if you want something done right you have to do it yourself; for all my ambitious ladies, study for the LSAT and pursue your own law career. It’s never too late to change directions and the best way to make a difference is to face the challenge head-on.
Some ideas are easier than others, but even just thinking about the options and reminding myself that I am not powerless helps to keep everything in perspective. It’s important to always consider the effect of situations like this on our mental health and to have a plan in place to help combat the negative side-effects of staying informed.