Checking In: 3 Ways to Process this Loss of Freedom & Choice
We are deeply saddened by the overturn of Roe v. Wade. At Prackind, we are pro choice, value reproductive rights and believe in autonomy, justice, fairness and freedom.
By now most of us have heard about the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, a decision made by the SCOTUS over 50 years ago to protect a woman's right to choose whether or not a woman would like to terminate pregnancy. Some of us knew this shift was coming while others were completely surprised. Some of us are deeply saddened and engaged while others simply don’t know what they feel.
This recent news has caused a wave of fear, grief, disappointment, anger and confusion leaving many afraid and asking the question, “what's next for our people with uterus’, their allies and the people who love them?” Many have lost a sense of autonomy, hope, freedom and progress, and are wondering who are they to tell a group of adult human beings what they can do with their own bodies? It may feel scary to live in a world that repeatedly disregards or devalues you, your body or your choice.
No matter how you feel or where you stand, it is important that you take time to check in with yourself, acknowledge what your mind and body are communicating to you, honor your inner self and process your personal experience with compassion and care. In doing this you can enhance your mental and emotional wellbeing and develop deeper clarity on how you can make a positive impact and what you can do next. Here are a few steps you can take to help you take care of your mental and emotional selves as you live and respond to this shift in freedom, reproductive rights and women's health.
1). Acknowledge and normalize what you are experiencing, what you’ve lost and what you need
Whatever you may be experiencing, know that your emotional response to recent news is completely normal and there’s nothing wrong with you. Grief, a deep sense of loss or sadness, is universal and unique to everyone. Everyone’s grief process and experience is different. Know that your emotions are a natural part of your humanity and are here to send messages to us about what we need more or less of.
Ask yourself the following questions:
What am I feeling?
What do I need at this moment?
Where can I safely access this?
What do I need to hear?
What do I need to feel?
What do I need to see?
What do I need to do?
If you need comfort, maybe you can ask a trusted person to hold you. If you need hope, maybe you can listen to a hope infusing song. If you need peace, perhaps you can belly breathe to help you self soothe and feel calm.
Further ask yourself:
What does the SCOTUS’ decision mean to me? What did I lose?
What does this mean for those I love?
It's important to acknowledge what you feel, what you need and how overturning Roe v. Wade will personally impact you. And it’s important to use this truth to inform what you do next.
2.) Access and engage your inner and external resources
When we experience the loss of something or someone important to us, and it was out of our control to prevent the loss, it is important that we look within and continue to exercise our right to choose and create space to nurture things we have control over.
Ask yourself: What do I have control over?
One thing we can control is our breath. Mindful breathing is known to soothe, communicate that we are safe to our bodies and promote peace and mental clarity. Movement and mindfulness practices such as belly breathing, body scanning and mindful dance allow us to release unwanted energy and process our emotions in a healthy way through our body.
A second thing we can control is what we allow to consume our mental space. It’s important to pay attention to your thoughts and mood. If you’re having unwanted thoughts and the news is consuming too much of your mental space, setting healthy boundaries around content consumption along with engaging in activities that bring joy may be helpful.
A third thing we can control is where we find support and who we choose to reach out to in times of emotional crisis. There’s a sense of healing in support. Find a safe, positive outlet where you can emotionally decompress and speak freely about how you feel and what you are thinking. You can do this by scheduling an appointment and consulting with a licensed mental health professional, reaching out to a crisis hotline or utilizing wellness resources like the ones listed further down on this page.
3.) Act and stand on what you believe
We tend to feel good when we live a meaningful life and make decisions that align with our personal value system. There’s safety in a trusted community, power in numbers and influence can happen from using your voice. Seek a community that shares the same values and belief systems as you and engage with them.
Ask yourself the following questions:
What do I believe?
What change would I like to see happen?
Is there a small group or large initiative that supports this?
If not, can I create one?
No matter who you are, what you're experiencing and how you feel please know that you are not alone. Remember there's hope in a trusted community and together we can get through this.
Here are a few resources to help support you in your wellness journey:
What's Your Grief - Resources
https://whatsyourgrief.com/resources/
Crisis Text Line
https://www.crisistextline.org
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org
Project LETS - Peer and Crisis Support for Liberated Healing
https://projectlets.org/resources
FireWeed Collective- Crisis Toolkit
https://fireweedcollective.org/crisis-toolkit/
Exhale Pro Voice - Abortion Support Text Hotline
Connect & Breathe - A Nonjudgmental Talk Hotline
https://www.connectandbreathe.org
89 Abortion Funds That You Can Give To Immediately
https://www.autostraddle.com/abortion-funds-how-to-help/
If you enjoyed this read, share with someone else who may enjoy it too. And remember, we’re here if you want to talk. Contact us here to schedule an appointment with one of our therapists today.
