Dealing With Mental Health During Protest: Therapist Recommends Finding Connection And Practicing Self-Care

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — It's been two weeks since the death of George Floyd. Countless protests and the fallout from Floyd's death that have filled computer screens and social media accounts for 14 days can be troubling for your mental health, according to therapist Destiny Robbins.

"We are being re-traumatized but on the second side of that, we are also being desensitized. So there is a part where this is becoming the norm," said Robbins, owner of Healing Solutions Therapy.

Robbins specializes in addressing trauma and depression. Since Floyd's death, Robbins said she has had numerous calls from new clients asking for help and resources to process.

"We don't want to lose hope and we don't want to deal with this alone," she said

As many people are looking for ways to process their emotions, Franzetta Cheathon, a Rancho Cordova resident, said she has had a hard time dealing with her emotions.

READ: Police Chief Responds To Sacramento Activists' Demand For Police Reform

"It's heart-wrenching because we saw a murder on tv that was taped by someone's cell phone," she explained "It has almost brought me to a depression. A sadness so deep that I just want to shut everything out. It's awful, it's awful. He was crying 'mama' that tore at my heart and all the hearts of mothers of sons."

As images, protests and the graphic video of Floyd's death circulate, people of all races and ages are demanding change. In Rancho Cordova, two high school seniors organized their own march Monday.

"Voice these thoughts and emotions. Your voice is your most powerful weapon," said Cordova high school senior Khyra Clark to a group of her peers.

Clark and her best friend Rylie Dimas organized a protest from city hall to the front of the Rancho Cordova Police Department.

"To know that you are not the only person feeling these emotions. Feeling the extreme happiness as a community and to know that people have your back, but to also feel the extreme sadness and fear and hurt that we even have to be our here protesting that someone's life actually matters, that shouldn't be a question," said Dimas.

Robbins suggests five ways to take care of your mental health during this time; finding spiritual connection (in whatever way is comfortable to you), practice mental and emotional self-care, finding social support by connecting with friends and loved ones, maintain a healthy lifestyle and practicing physical self-care."Instead of just walking away, you want to go and participate in something else that is actually going to reinforce or combat some of that negative energy," Robbins said.

As people continue to process, Dimas and Clark are finding purpose in protesting.

"I'm glad that we took this death, even though it was so savagely done, into such an amazing thing and we can be his voice," Clark said.

Read more
f

We and our partners use cookies to understand how you use our site, improve your experience and serve you personalized content and advertising. Read about how we use cookies in our cookie policy and how you can control them by clicking Manage Settings. By continuing to use this site, you accept these cookies.