2024 Election: Support for a Divided Nation

The aftermath of the 2024 election has left many grappling with a profound sense of grief, fear, and uncertainty. While some may celebrate the outcome, others — particularly those within oppressed communities such as LGBTQIA+ individuals, people of color, and women — are processing a collective sense of loss that runs deeper than political defeat. For them, the results represent a chilling prospect of regression on human rights, freedoms, and safety. As a trauma therapist and specialist, I want to acknowledge these complex emotions and offer guidance on self-care and ways to process this grief in a divided landscape.

Understanding Election-Related Grief

Grief is a multifaceted emotional experience that encompasses sadness, anger, fear, and even despair. When we think of grief, we often imagine it tied to the loss of a loved one, but it can emerge just as profoundly in response to collective or societal losses. The results of an election can elicit a form of grief known as disenfranchised grief — a grief that isn’t always publicly validated or acknowledged. This can leave individuals feeling isolated, even as they share a communal pain.

In the wake of the 2024 election, it’s important to recognize the nature of this grief. Many people are mourning not just the outcome itself, but the potential loss of rights, bodily autonomy, safety, and dignity. For members of the LGBTQIA+ community, the election may signal a rollback of protections that have only recently been secured. Women and girls face renewed threats to reproductive rights. Communities of color may brace for a continuation or escalation of systemic racism and furthered oppresson. These aren’t abstract concerns; they are lived realities for millions, and the grief is both real and valid.

Processing Your Grief in a Politically Divided World

The emotional landscape following the election can feel like a minefield. You might find yourself surrounded by individuals who are rejoicing in the result, which can exacerbate feelings of alienation. This contrast can lead to a sense of being gaslit — where your deep distress is met with dismissal or invalidation. It’s essential to give yourself permission to grieve in your own way, even if those around you cannot or will not understand your pain.

In my practice as an EMDR therapist, I often see clients struggle with the cognitive dissonance between their experiences and the societal narrative. This election may have amplified that dissonance. You might find yourself questioning your own reality or feeling pressured to “move on” before you’ve had a chance to process what the outcome means for you personally.

Self-Care Strategies for Navigating Post-Election Grief

Self-care in the face of election-related trauma is about more than bubble baths and face masks. It’s about creating a compassionate space for your emotions and engaging in practices that ground you during uncertain times. Here are a few strategies I recommend:

1. Acknowledge Your Feelings Fully

Check in with what you need each and every day. It will be ever-changing. Suppressing grief or trying to rationalize it away can lead to greater emotional distress. Instead, allow yourself to sit with your feelings. Consider journaling, voice notes, or even recording a video message for your future self. Validate your emotions: they are a response to a genuine threat to your sense of safety and security.

2. Engage in Bilateral Stimulation

As an EMDR therapist, I often recommend bilateral stimulation (BLS) as a grounding technique. This might involve tapping alternately on your knees, listening to bilateral music, or using a sensory tool like a TheraTapper. BLS can help calm the nervous system and reduce the intensity of distressing thoughts, creating space for clearer emotional processing. Doing this alone is only one layer. If you have access to an EMDR therapist they can guide you through depth processing and deactivation of what your system is struggling to process.

3. Create Safe Spaces for Connection

Seek out community spaces — whether virtual or in-person — where you can connect with others who share your concerns. It’s crucial to find spaces where you don’t have to justify your grief or fear. LGBTQIA+ centers, support groups for people of color, and women’s advocacy networks can be excellent resources.

4. Practice Mindful Media Consumption

It’s tempting to stay glued to the news or social media, but the constant exposure can exacerbate feelings of helplessness and overwhelm. Give yourself permission to step away from the 24/7 cycle of information. Instead, engage with content that uplifts you, whether that’s a favorite podcast, comforting music, or a good book.

5. Focus on Small, Tangible Actions

When the future feels uncertain, it’s grounding to focus on small actions you can take in the present. This might look like donating to an organization that aligns with your values, volunteering your time, or simply writing a letter to an elected official. Taking action, even in small ways, can help reclaim a sense of agency.

Navigating Relationships with Differing Views

In the aftermath of a polarizing election, you may find yourself at odds with friends, family, or colleagues who see the result as a victory. Navigating these interactions requires a balance of self-compassion and boundary-setting.

1. Set Clear Boundaries

It’s okay to limit or avoid conversations that feel emotionally unsafe. Let others know that you need time and space to process your feelings. You might say something like, “I’m not in a place to discuss politics right now, but I value our relationship and would prefer to focus on other topics.” If your holidays need to be spent with others whom feel supportive and safe, gift that to yourself this season.

2. Give Yourself Permission to Grieve, Even if Others Don’t Understand

Remember that grief is deeply personal. Just because someone else isn’t experiencing the same sense of loss doesn’t invalidate your experience. It’s okay to feel the full weight of your emotions, even when it feels like you’re swimming against the tide of public opinion. Be mindful not to compare how you grieve against the process of another.

3. Seek Support from Trauma-Informed Professionals

If your grief feels overwhelming or triggers past trauma, consider reaching out to a trauma-informed therapist. EMDR therapy, in particular, can help process the layers of fear and pain that may have resurfaced with the election results. Therapy can offer a safe container to process the broader societal grief and any personal traumas it may have activated. If you need resources please do not hesitate to reach out to me. I have a beautifully engaged network of gifted healers and am always happy to meet with you to see if we might be a good fit or to provide appropriate referrals.

Resources for Healing and Support

• The Trans Life Line has created a great list of resources for the trans community as well as a fantastic crisis support

• The Trevor Project: Offers crisis support for LGBTQIA+ youth.

• Planned Parenthood: Provides resources and advocacy for reproductive rights.

• NAACP: Offers support and advocacy for racial justice.

• RAINN: Provides support for survivors of sexual violence, many of whom may feel particularly vulnerable right now.

Moving Forward: Holding Space for Hope and Healing

While the election results may have triggered fear and grief, it’s important to remember that these emotions can coexist with hope. The fact that so many people are grieving right now is a testament to our collective longing for a more just, compassionate, and inclusive society. While it may take time to process and heal, this shared vision for a better future can be a powerful source of resilience.

Grief, as painful as it is, can be a form of love — love for ourselves, for our communities, and for the rights and freedoms we believe in. Give yourself permission to grieve, reach out for support, and know that you are not alone in this moment of profound loss.