A Conversation About: Your Mental Health During Current Affairs and the Protests
June 12, 2025
The X-Podcast: Real Conversations About Mental Health
A Conversation About: Your Mental Health During Current Affairs and the Protests
Listen to this episode at https://blubrry.com/studio_talk_mental_health/146262311/your-mental-health-during-current-affairs-and-the-protests/
Listen to all episodes at https://blubrry.com/studio_talk_mental_health/
Episode #57
In this episode, the X-Podcast team reacts to and discusses the impact that current affairs and the political environment are having on people and what we can do to protect our mental health. Xiomara discusses her personal opinions, thoughts and also provides some tips on how she is managing her mental health during these unsettling times. Other contributors to this conversation include The X-Podcast Co-host JRoc, guest Ant, and The X-Studio Mental Health Intern Nichole Myles.
Xiomara A. Sosa
Creator, Host, and Executive Producer
#TheXPodcast #MentalHealth #Counseling #Therapy #SocialChangeAdvocacy #SocialChange
#CurrentAffiars #Protests #50501movement #NoKingsDay
Our Full Disclosure and Transparency Statement
Current affairs, including political and social, directly and indirectly affect mental health. Our mission includes education and social change; therefore, current affairs informs our conversations. Today, we will be discussing current affairs and the mental health implications.
We do not in any way support violence, vandalism, interference, or the attacking of law enforcement officers. We do, however, support everyone’s constitutional rights to exist without fear of authoritarianism, their freedom of expression, and their right to protect and advocate for others and themselves, including protesting peacefully.
The SC governor put out a statement using the term “Anti-American” and although I agreed and supported most of what his statement says about peacefulness, it did not escape me that he used that term purposefully to create the sense that SC was somehow being plotted against with “Anti-Americans” instead of using the real term which is a “peaceful protestors” who are openly organizing to protect human rights and constitutional rights. I found that deceitful and fear-mongering, and plays along with the insidious playbook to be able to support the offenses occurring in our country, and trying to villainize the people rising against it.
I am an independent voter, so I see all politicians and partisanship from a certain lens. I am a 9/11 survivor and also a military veteran - Air Force and Army. My lens is clear.
My family is filled with both parties, conservatives, liberals, moderates, black, white, and other people - indigenous, African, and European ancestors. I have straight, gay, transgender, non-binary, asexual, the entire LGBTQ+ community in my family, friends, work, all of it. I have Christians, real Christians, Evangelicals, all religious, agnostic, and atheist - people who have babies, people who do not - traditional people - people who are - Multiculturalism is my identity and my position with all of it. Although I do not agree with all of their beliefs and will advocate against them as I feel necessary in order to protect people, this is about the right for all of them to exist and to have their constitutional and civil rights protected under the law. Period.
Some tips from us for you to take care of your mental health
If you are planning to attend a protest/rally/March on June 14th, please know that outside agitators are planning on causing trouble to give the government a reason for the military to illegally step in. Do not get baited into violence!
Normalize blocking, unfollowing & muting people online to protect your mental health
Do not scroll endlessly and without intention on social media or watch the corporate news. Fox News is the number one complicit company and the fakest of all fake news, but all corporate news is not real news or journalism.
Find trustworthy, unbiased, and professional, independent journalists, historians, and sociologists.
Pick a time of day and limit your intake. Then do a self-care behavior afterwards.
Remain peaceful at all times. Walk away or take a time out if you get angry with them.
Do not argue with, respond to, or acknowledge anyone online who is baiting you.
Same for anyone in person. Do not try to inform, educate, change their minds, or defend yourself to them. They are not there for that, and you do not have that power. Instead, find people who think accurately, are informed, and think critically. Strength is in numbers.
Find healthy, effective, and constructive outlets: contact your representative in Washington, leave a voicemail, or send a message online. Be polite and confident. Contact your state representative and do the same. That works better than anyone understands.
Find and join small groups or national groups to contribute to effective change actions. Do not argue with neighbors or anyone else who has zero power.
Do not believe everything you read on social media and what the corporate news is reporting. Watch what people on the ground are reporting and showing you.
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS
You have the right to peacefully protest.
Yes, you can wear a mask — Trump’s tweets aren’t law.
You can film the police in public.
They need a warrant to search your phone — lock it.
Sharpie your emergency contact on your arm.
If detained: “I’m remaining silent. I want a lawyer.”
Bring water, ID, and a charged phone — leave the drama.
Don’t engage with agitators — stay focused, stay safe.
Your voice matters. Show up loud. Show up proud.
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Resources
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References
https://www.wbur.org/news/2025/06/11/moutlon-marines-newsom-california-los-angeles-protests
