Resources to navigate stress and anxiety during political turmoil

At IHAN our daily intention is to help communities transform trauma into resilience. 
Since our founding in 2017, disaster-impacted and first responder communities were our focus. Natural disasters are overwhelming, and survivors struggle to cope while their minds are locked in fight, flight, and freeze responses. These are a protective reflex against trauma, but they keep the nervous system too excited for survivors to recover and move forward.  

Then 2020 happened. COVID-19 inflicted stress and isolation on the entire planet. Unprecedented fire seasons in both hemispheres stretched our resilience even thinner. Political unrest and dangerous displays of white supremacy and racism reached a fever pitch in the first days of the new year, one which we all hoped would be brighter and more hopeful.

There is no question: we, as individuals and as a community, are traumatized. We at IHAN want to support your path back to resilience as much as we can. Below you will find simple practices to help guide your nervous system out of an excited state, help bolster your body against stress effects, and more. These resources from experts in the fields of trauma, racial justice, mindfulness, and behavioral health are all meant to be simple, practical, and applicable no matter the other resources available.​

• Chaos at the Capital: How Do You Cope When You Witness Violence and Trauma
• ​Crisis Stabilization and Safety Aid (SCOPE): Somatic Experiencing Trauma Institute
• Tips for Navigating Anxiety & Adrenaline in These Times: Prentis Hemphill, Somatics Practitioner and founder of The Embodiment Institute and Black Embodiment Initiative
• Guided Meditations: Brad Lichtenstein, The Breath Space
• Resmaa Menakem discusses healing racialized trauma​
• Self-Care: A Luxury or Necessity for Long-Term Health?: Duke Integrative Medicine

​Resilience is a team effort. From our staff and volunteers, we wish you the peace and support that you need.