Protests and the National Guard on Los Angeles streets
Protests and the National Guard: Finding Your Stability in Confrontation
By Joanna Poppink, MFT
Licensed Psychotherapist – Depth-Oriented Healing for Adults
Protests and the National Guard plus Marines on the streets of Los Angeles is not just a political issue. Rather, it is a profound emotional and psychological shock. Peaceful protestors—people motivated by compassion, a desire to protect the vulnerable—are also driven by rage, sorrowso driven b and indignation in the face of injustice, cruelty, and the armed forces in our streets.
At the same time, even so, those who are not directly involved find themselves anxious, angry, frightened, and powerless. Some are motivated to join the protests. In contrast, others speak out through letters, social media, and signs in their neighborhoods. Still, others provide support for those on the front lines with encouragement, food, water, and safe harbors.
Meanwhile, others are overcome with anxiety, numbness, insomnia, gut pain, or tearful breakdowns. Not surprisingly, many are disoriented by their own reactions. Their hard-won methods of maintaining emotional balance—meditation, yoga, therapy, prayer, walking, routine—begin to break down under the pressure.
So, what do we do when our inner structure is strained to near collapse in the face of outer chaos?
Protests and the National Guard Presence is Not Just Political. It’s Personal.
When the foundations of what we believed were safe begin to crack, our psyches react. For some, it means shutting down. For others, it means losing sleep, erupting in anger, or breaking into tears during a quiet moment. These responses aren’t weaknesses. Instead, they are signals—evidence of a mind and body trying to make sense of a world that suddenly feels unsafe.
You Need a New Kind of Stability from Within
As a psychotherapist, I urge you to stop and ask: What anchors me? What inside you has ever helped you feel real, grounded, capable—even in a small way?
Your anchor may not be dramatic. It might be your dog’s steady breathing, the feel of warm water on your hands, the sound of a trusted friend’s voice, a memory, or a practice. A practice can be writing, drawing, dancing, walking, painting, or gardening. In many cases, your practice may be something you haven’t done in a while, but now that your outer world shakes, you need more support from your inner world. Locate that now—not as an escape, but rather, as a foundation.
Then, use your anchor as a base from which to feel what’s happening. Let yourself describe your experience honestly—even if it doesn’t “make sense,” even if it doesn't match what others are saying. After all, your inner world matters.
Protest and the National Guard Presence Stimulate an Already Overstimulated Imagination.
First, breathe and gently separate reality from what your imagination conjures up.
Next, from the stability of your anchor, begin to examine your inner landscape. Ask:
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What am I experiencing?
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What do I know to be real?
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What might I be imagining, fearing, or projecting?
This is not to shame or diminish your experience, but rather, to bring clarity and reduce overwhelm. Even small shifts in perception can help alleviate panic and boost your strength.
Afterward, try moving slightly from your anchor in different emotional directions. Do certain thoughts or actions increase your anxiety? Do others bring more calm or a sense of dignity? In this way, you develop the subtle body of self-awareness and knowledge of your strengths and limits.
Protest and the National Guard Presence Change Us.
The truth is, you are not the same person you were before this crisis. None of us is. That doesn’t mean you are broken. Instead, it means you are being reshaped.
This reshaping is not easy. Nevertheless, it is real. When you acknowledge your changed self—different, raw, more alert, more vulnerable—you begin to re-form your identity. From that identity, new strength can grow.
The Crucial Question: What Can I Do Now?
Eventually, the moment will come when you ask:
What can I do—as I am, from where I am, with what I have and who I am today?
That’s not a small question. On the contrary, it’s the right one.
You don’t need to have grand plans. You don’t need to fix the world. You only need to find one next step that aligns with your inner truth. That might be resting. It might be calling someone. It might be writing, praying, protesting, helping, or creating.
Most importantly, it comes from you, as you are, now.
A Final Word
Protest and the National Guard
If your inner coping structures are collapsing, it doesn’t mean you’ve failed. Instead, it means something deeper is calling for your attention. This is a time for deep work—to find your anchor, rebuild your clarity, and reestablish your inner strength.
If you need help doing that, I’m here. My psychotherapy practice is a safe space to explore, rebuild, and reclaim your sense of self in times of cultural distress. This is not just political or psychological work. Rather, it’s soul work.
Contact Joanna Poppink, MFT
Virtual sessions available for residents of CA, AZ, FL, and OR. E-mail for free telephone consultation.
www.eatingdisorderrecovery.net
Summary
When National Guard troops appear in our neighborhoods and streets, our emotional and psychological safety can be shaken—even if we are not directly involved. Joanna Poppink, MFT, offers a grounded path forward: anchoring yourself with inner practices, differentiating between reality and fear-fueled imagination, and recognizing that emotional upheaval is not failure but a sign of transformation. This article provides thoughtful steps for cultivating resilience and restoring stability in the midst of public unrest.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Protests and the National Guard
Q: Is it normal to feel anxious or emotionally overwhelmed even if I’m not protesting?
A: Yes. Even witnessing upheaval can trigger fear, anger, grief, or confusion. These are normal responses to instability in the world around you.
Q: What does it mean to find an “anchor”?
A: An anchor is a sensory, emotional, or symbolic experience that helps you feel grounded. This could be a comforting routine, a creative practice, or a physical sensation—anything that reconnects you to your body, emotions, and inner strength.
Q: I can’t meditate right now. Have I lost my progress?
A: No. It’s common for coping strategies to feel inaccessible during high stress. This doesn't erase your past work. It simply means you may need new or adapted supports in this moment.
Q: How do I know what’s real when I feel overwhelmed?
A: Begin with your breath and body. From that grounded place, gently examine your thoughts. Ask yourself what you know to be true, and where imagination, projection, or fear may be distorting your perception.
Q: Is psychotherapy helpful during times of political crisis?
A: Absolutely. Therapy offers a private, nonjudgmental space to process your reactions, regain clarity, and build emotional resilience in turbulent times.
Q: What if I’m too numb or scared to act?
A: That’s okay. Start by naming your experience honestly. Small steps—like journaling, reaching out to a friend, or resting—are valid responses. Action begins from within.
Resources
BOOKS (✅ All accessible)
- Trauma and Recovery – Judith Herman, MD
✅ https://www.basicbooks.com/titles/judith-lewis-herman-md/trauma-and-recovery/9780465098736/ lacamft.org+10eatingdisorderrecovery.net+10eatingdisorderrecovery.net+10 - The Body Keeps the Score – Bessel van der Kolk, MD
✅ https://www.besselvanderkolk.com/resources/the-body-keeps-the-score - On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century – Timothy Snyder
✅ https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/545395/on-tyranny-by-timothy-snyder/ - Hope in the Dark – Rebecca Solnit
✅ https://bookshop.org/p/books/hope-in-the-dark-untold-histories-wild-possibilities-rebecca-solnit/18694680 - The War for Kindness: Building Empathy in a Fractured World – Jamil Zaki
✅ https://www.jamilzaki.com/the-war-for-kindness
🌐 WEBSITES (✅ All accessible)
- National Center for PTSD – Civil Unrest Resources
✅ https://www.ptsd.va.gov/understand/types/civil_unrest.asp - ACLU – Know Your Rights: Protesters' Rights
✅ https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights/protesters-rights - Zinn Education Project
✅ https://www.zinnedproject.org - Southern Poverty Law Center – Hatewatch
✅ https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch - National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
✅ https://www.nami.org
📰 ARTICLES & ESSAYS (✅ All accessible)
- “When Protest Is Trauma” – The New York Times
✅ https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/05/opinion/protests-trauma.html - “How to Stay Sane in Brutal Times” – The Atlantic
✅ https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2022/05/how-to-stay-sane-during-hard-times/629795/ - “The Psychology of Protest” – American Psychological Association
✅ https://www.apa.org/monitor/2021/01/psychology-of-protest - “What Happens When the Military Shows Up on American Streets” – The Atlantic
✅ https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2020/06/military-police-george-floyd/612469/ - “Coping with the Emotional Impact of Political Unrest” – Psychology Today
✅ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-clarity/202101/coping-the-emotional-impact-political-unrest
🎧 PODCASTS (✅ All accessible)
- On Being with Krista Tippett
✅ https://onbeing.org - Therapist Uncensored
✅ https://therapistuncensored.com - Code Switch – NPR
✅ https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/ - Ten Percent Happier with Dan Harris
✅ https://www.tenpercent.com/podcast - The Ezra Klein Show – The New York Times
✅ https://www.nytimes.com/column/ezra-klein-podcast
🎥 DOCUMENTARIES (✅ All accessible)
- 13th – Ava DuVernay (Netflix)
✅ https://www.netflix.com/title/80091741 - The Social Dilemma (Netflix)
✅ https://www.netflix.com/title/81254224 - The Force – PBS Independent Lens
✅ https://www.pbs.org/independentlens/documentaries/the-force/ - For Sama – PBS Frontline
✅ https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/film/for-sama/
🎤 LECTURES, TALKS & SPEECHES (✅ All accessible)
- Angela Davis – “Freedom Is a Constant Struggle” (2016 Keynote Lecture)
✅ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvV_4T8gpXY eatingdisorderrecovery.net+2lacamft.org+2lacamft.org+2eatingdisorderrecovery.net+1eatingdisorderrecovery.net+1 - Bryan Stevenson – TED Talk: “We Need to Talk About an Injustice”
✅ https://www.ted.com/talks/bryan_stevenson_we_need_to_talk_about_an_injustice - Rebecca Solnit – “Hope in the Dark” Conversation
✅ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htstajrxUIc - Cornel West – “Race Matters: Democracy and America’s Future” Lecture
✅ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Y6q1BtkikA - James Baldwin – The Fire Next Time Reading (Humanities New York)
✅ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOSxXmSHjUY
✍️ ARTICLES FROM JOANNA POPPINK, MFT (✅ All accessible)
- How Boundary Breakdown and Boundary Trauma Lead to Eating Disorders
✅ https://www.eatingdisorderrecovery.net/helping-others/how-boundary-breakdown-trauma-lead-to-eating-disorders - How to Find Stability in a Time of Crisis
✅ https://www.eatingdisorderrecovery.net/helping-others/how-to-find-stability-in-a-time-of-crisis - Dictators Fear Depth Psychotherapy: Why?
✅ https://www.eatingdisorderrecovery.net/psychotherapy-and-recovery-work/why-dictators-fear-depth-psychotherapy lacamft.org+1lacamft.org+1lacamft.org+6eatingdisorderrecovery.net+6eatingdisorderrecovery.net+6
Contact Joanna Poppink, MFT
Virtual sessions available for residents of CA, AZ, FL, and OR. E-mail for free telephone consultation.
www.eatingdisorderrecovery.net
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