Finding Calm and Clarity in a Chaotic Political and Religious Climate
When the world feels divided, it’s natural to feel unsettled. Yet even in times like these, it’s possible to stay grounded in compassion and truth.
The current political and spiritual climate has left many people feeling anxious, disconnected, or disillusioned; me included. This reflection offers gentle guidance for finding steadiness, navigating difficult conversations, and healing from the deeper wounds that arise when faith, identity, and politics collide. This is a journey we’re on together.
It’s no secret that the current political climate feels heavy. Many people that I encounter in the therapy room and in my personal life have expressed this heavy, constant undercurrent of stress, anger, or fear sometimes without realizing how much it’s affecting their nervous system, relationships, and sense of safety. Whether it’s the headlines, social media debates, or conversations with friends and family that feel divided, the emotional toll is real.
As a trauma and grief therapist, I often hear clients say things like “I just feel hopeless about the world,” or “I don’t even know who to trust anymore.” These feelings make sense. Our brains are wired to react when we sense threat or injustice, but when that state of alarm becomes constant, it can start to wear us down.
When Faith and Politics Collide
The current climate isn’t just political; it has become deeply religious. Faith communities that once offered comfort and belonging have, for some, become sources of conflict or even pain. When beliefs are intertwined with political identities, people can experience confusion, loss, or shame as they try to reconcile what they once believed with what they see now. As individuals leave faith communities, they are trickling into therapeutic spaces disillusioned and deeply grieving.
This can be especially difficult for those who have experienced religious trauma, the kind that leaves a person questioning their worth, intuition, or connection with the divine.
If you’ve ever felt pressured to silence parts of yourself to stay accepted, or if your faith was used to control or shame, it makes sense that current public conversations might feel retraumatizing.
A Personal Reflection
I didn’t grow up in the church. I found faith as a young adult, genuinely seeking connection and purpose. When I later went through a divorce, I faced painful messages from well-meaning people who encouraged me to stay in a violent marriage “for the sake of faith.” Stay I did for some time with much detriment to me and my son. Some religious systems have emphasized saving souls for the afterlife more than nurturing wholeness in the present. There was a time when I also made that a priority. I came to learn when that happens, people in pain can feel unseen, as I did. This imbalance can deepen shame and disconnect rather than fostering compassion and healing. It was like my suffering here on earth mattered less than my then husband’s spiritual status later.
After the end of my marriage, I still longed to serve God and the church. I went to a private Christian collage for my undergraduate degree and there I felt called to be a missionary. After a BA degree in Biblical Studies and Cross-Cultural Counseling, I was told, not by my college, but my church denomination, that as a divorced, single mother, that door was closed to me. Needless to say, those experiences left me questioning the difference between the voice of God and the voices of human judgment. Over time, I’ve come to believe that love, not fear or shame is what truly reflects the divine. That shift has allowed me to hold both faith and freedom together.
I’m still very much a person of faith, though my understanding of it has deepened and expanded over time. I’ve come to believe that questioning religious systems isn’t a loss of faith, it’s often an act of faith itself. Real faith invites honesty, curiosity, and the courage to seek truth, even when it leads us beyond the boundaries we once trusted.
As a young woman, I never could imagine that my desire to help others, especially women would include religious trauma. I feel completely honored to walk beside others as they heal from their own religious wounds.
“Love — not fear or shame — is what truly reflects the divine.”
Engaging with Compassion and Boundaries
One of the hardest parts of this season, where we navigate the chaos of the political climate, is relationships with people we care about when our values clash. It’s okay to acknowledge that not every conversation will lead to understanding and that sometimes, protecting your peace means choosing when and how to engage. It’s important to tune in to your body for answers.
When you do have the capacity for dialogue, try approaching it as a practice in empathy, not persuasion.
A few guiding ideas:
Listen to understand, not to fix. Stay curious about the story behind someone’s belief rather than trying to debate it.
Use grounding tools before and after hard talks. Engage in deep breathing, stepping outside, or journaling what you felt.
Notice when it’s time to pause. If a conversation starts to erode respect or safety, you’re allowed to step back.
Hold onto your values quietly and steadily. You can stand firm in your integrity without engaging in every argument.
Respectful, restorative conversations are possible when both parties come with openness, but it’s also okay to accept that some relationships may not be capable of that right now. It’s okay to accept that you might not be capable of that right now. Letting go, or loosening contact, can sometimes be the most compassionate choice albeit difficult. Only you know if that’s what you need.
Returning to What Grounds You
When the world feels chaotic, grounding practices remind you that peace is still possible in small, real moments.
Limit exposure to constant news and online debates.
When you do engage, choose media sources that aim for balance and fact-based reporting. Notice how your body feels as you read or listen. Tension and confusion are signs you may need to step back.
Resist the pull of online rabbit holes and conspiracy theories. They can create a false sense of control while actually increasing anxiety and mistrust.
Spend time in nature, prayer, meditation, or silence; whatever helps you reconnect with something greater than yourself.
Build community with those who nurture your wellbeing and respect your growth.
and my favorite..
Engage in acts of kindness or service that reflect the world you want to live in. While we can’t control others, we can control ourselves.
When It Feels Too Heavy
If the tension and division around you are affecting your sleep, mood, or relationships, you’re not alone. Therapy can help. Together, we can explore the emotions beneath the stress, process experiences of grief or religious trauma, and create ways to stay grounded and hopeful even when the world feels uncertain.
Healing isn’t about detaching from what’s happening; it’s about staying rooted in compassion and truth while finding peace within yourself.
Author’s Note
This reflection comes from both my personal and professional journey.
Personal - As someone who has experienced the pain of religious rejection and the beauty of rediscovering a more loving, authentic faith, my hope is that these words offer gentle support for anyone struggling to make sense of the current climate or their place within it. You’re not alone, and healing, both spiritual and emotional is possible.
Professional - A key part of trauma recovery and nervous system regulation is learning to hold healthy emotional and cognitive boundaries especially in a world that thrives on reactivity. Healing often means creating space; space between stimulus and reaction, between fear and understanding. This isn’t about politics; it’s about protecting your peace, staying curious without becoming consumed, and cultivating space where compassion and clarity can coexist.
Heart of Grace Counseling & Consulting PLLC
Specializing in trauma, grief, and anxiety
Learn more or schedule a session at https://heartofgracecounseling.com/
