Opinion: This isn’t just a coup of the government; it’s a coup of the mind.

Here are tips to hack your mind, protect your peace in these tumultuous times and the science behind it all.

May 06, 2025

Submitted by a 50501 Chicago member.
By Joy

We've heard it time and time again,

Authoritarians need your fear to succeed.

It's true, which makes the saying

the only thing to fear is fear itself

truer than ever. Even still, the bombardment of horrible news launched at us from every direction, paired with the instability we feel through it all makes for a ravaged mind.

When we find ourselves struggling, oppressors succeed.

Something about myself: I have been in therapy for the last 23 years for OCD and depression. I was also raised by a narcissistic parent and, if you weren’t, you should know that narcissism and fascism use a lot of the same tactics: lack of empathy, scapegoating, projection, control through fear and dependence, and gaslighting among others.

These life experiences make me feel uniquely equipped to share what I know to be helpful as we navigate this treacherous time. So, here’s my take:

The absolute first thing you should do throughout all of this is have patience with yourself. I know it sounds like a tall ask but here's why.

When we get stressed, our brains go into “fight, flight, freeze or fawn” mode. Many of us are familiar with this but did you know it can take at least 20-30 minutes for that to even begin to wear off?

Enter, the prefrontal cortex. The prefrontal cortex, right behind your forehead, is the part of the brain responsible for things like problem solving, emotional regulation and decision making, among other things. Well, it essentially goes offline. Think of it flipping up and exposing the amygdala (our "monkey brain" that identifies threats and urges us to find safety).

The saying "they flipped their lid" refers to just that. Our brains don't give up easily when it comes to safety, so it takes time for the prefrontal cortex to come back online. Be patient and gentle with yourself!

Something else to note is that when the prefrontal cortex is offline, so are our problem-solving skills. That means choosing ways to calm your nervous system is more difficult So, take note of what works and create a reference somewhere you have easy access to it. Leave post-it notes where you can reference them when in need.

With all that said, below are some brain hacks you can use to get out of these funks and insight into why those hacks actually work.

Make art. Making art doesn't just offer a creative outlet for self-expression. Working with our hands by coloring, writing, crocheting, etc. requires both left and right hemispheres of the brain to be active. Making these work together means our brain must focus on what is in front of us rather than the fear that is within. Better yet, join a club to do so! Statistically, the more people that are in clubs, the more democracy is protected.
Dip or splash your face in ice water. This isn't just a trope on tv shows or movies- there's science behind it! When our faces are submerged in water, our brain thinks "oh no, are we going to drown? We must conserve energy/oxygen until we get to breathe again!" You know you're not submerged but your brain doesn't. Therefore, you're forcing your brain to chill the F out. It's called the diving reflex and it can help.
Hold and smell frozen fruit. Keep an orange or something of the sort in the freezer so it’s always ready. When you feel stressed or panicked, take it out, hold it and smell it. You can help ground your nervous system with the scent and chill of frozen fruit.
Sing or hum. Singing and humming stimulates the vagus nerve. The vagus nerve is a major nerve that is part of the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS). The PNS is what puts us into the “rest and digest” state. By activating this nerve, you pull your energy out of the sympathetic state (fight, flight, freeze, fawn) which is the goal if you’re aiming to relax.
Walk/exercise- your brain can't put all its energy into stressing when it's got a body to move
Change your words. It's ok to admit things are hard. It's ok to admit you're struggling- we all do. But our brain doesn’t know the truth from reality. What we can do is use a "yes, but" statement to help shift our thinking, and response to stimuli, into a more productive state. Does everything feel intolerable right now? "Yes, but I've made it through all my hardest days, and I can do it again"

Most importantly, laugh! Find some way to laugh! There's a reason it's said that joy is resistance. Not only does it keep us functioning and able to fight back, but it actively dismantles oppression. This is well discussed in the book “Pranksters vs Autocrats” by Srdja Popovic and Sophia A. McClennen. You want to enjoy life and fight fascism? Perfect; be goofy. Doing so forces the hand of the oppressor to make a choice: allow resistance or look dumb oppressing it. It puts them in a lose-lose situation.

So, get out to a protest with a sign that you made, feel proud of, or is just plain silly. Make something beautiful. Feeling overwhelmed and scared is a rational way to respond to all the messaging we've been inundated with but that doesn't mean it has power.

We the people have the power, and we outnumber all who seek harm. Our self-care, our joy, our creativity and our laughter takes away any leg an oppressor has to stand on and brings fascism to its knees.

Yours truly,
Joy

Sources:

AiR - Activists in Resistance

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