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Chaos Relies on Dysregulation
Many people are unable to cope with the emotions caused by the deluge of executive orders and policy blitz. This is not a byproduct of the current administration’s strategy; it is the strategy. Straight out of the “flood the zone” playbook of Steve Bannon, the idea is to continually attempt to overwhelm political opposition and all forms of media through a flurry of moves impossible to respond to.
This deliberate overwhelm creates decision paralysis and emotional exhaustion, making it nearly impossible to mount effective opposition to any singular issue.
But this isn’t just impacting elected Democrats and the media, we as human citizens naturally sense threat because the world as we know it is changing, crumbling, and creating a lot of unsafety and uncertainty. When basic certainties about rights, protections, and democratic norms are threatened, it strikes at our fundamental human need for safety and predictability.
Trauma’s Response to Chaos
Our sympathetic nervous system controls fight, flight, freeze or fawn responses in a temporary effort to help us get out of danger. During these responses, especially when prolonged, we can become easily confused, disoriented, and fearful. And when we are not grounded nor standing in our power, resting can be difficult, let alone resisting in any meaningful, coordinated way. In these impaired states, our capacity for strategic thinking and collective organizing is significantly diminished—exactly as intended by chaos agents.
“Research suggests that most people in America are living in a constant state of mild to extreme dysregulation due to being underslept, overworked, overstimulated (such as by a constant feed of information and misinformation), poorly nourished, overly stationary, and (likely most importantly) feeling disconnected and lonely.”
This perpetual state of dysregulation makes us more vulnerable to manipulation and less capable of sustained resistance, creating a vicious cycle that serves those in power.
Some people numb themselves until the next day’s news cycle, and the nervous system dysregulation continues. For some, it can feel particularly potent because trauma lives in the body; when policies target marginalized communities or echo historical oppression, it mirrors past wounds. The avatar of the abuser in power can also activate those who have been on the receiving end of any kind of abuse in their lives. The body remembers discrimination, violence, and erasure, whether experienced directly or inherited through generational trauma.
Make no mistake that eradication and control are the goals; the objective is a fascist, supremacist state. Because of the pace of executive orders—and people now passing away both here at home and abroad due to funding cuts and political attack—any and all emotions that arise are entirely valid.
And, it could also be helpful to remember that each one of us does, in fact, retain our individual sovereignty—even if that feels like that is the furthest thing from the truth right now.
Breaking News Doesn’t Have to Break Us
By understanding how chaos relies on dysregulation, we can choose a different response. We can ground ourselves, support each other, and take focused action. There’s little power in matching the chaos. We need to stay regulated enough to resist it meaningfully. Here are a few simple yet effective ways to keep yourself intact:
Practice grounding techniques: Feel your feet on the floor and become aware of the energy buzzing at the bottoms of them; Practice 54321: In any space you’re in, name 5 things you can see, 4 things you can touch, 3 things you can hear, 2 things you can smell, 1 you can taste
Set boundaries with media consumption: Choose specific times to check updates rather than giving in to constant monitoring. (I recommend not checking anything before bed because it will more than likely impact your sleep.)
Be in community: Share space with others holding town halls, working toward justice, resistance efforts, or simply getting together in solidarity. Being with other like-minded humans, physically or virtually, is almost guaranteed to help ease feelings of isolation and fear.
Take action within your capacity: Channel anxiety into movement. If you have more emotional bandwidth, try phone banking, local organizing or joining a protest. Less bandwidth? Move your body, reach out to friends for an in-person gathering, or sign a Strike Card.
Opt out of funding billionaires with your money and data: Cancel your Amazon Prime subscription and shop elsewhere. (I did this last week and it was incredibly satisfying!) Consider using a lesser known search engine than Google, as well as Google products and services—such as DuckDuckGo or Mojeek. Think about removing your self from Meta’s platforms (Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp), or at least manually changing privacy and data collection settings for “relevant” advertising, as well as objecting to AI training.
The goal of chaos is to make us feel powerless (without choice) and alone. But historically, lasting change has come through sustained collective action, not reactive panic. When we regulate our nervous systems and connect with others, we can respond strategically rather than react frantically.
Don’t Believe Him
Amidst the chaos, there was one clear directive: “Don’t Believe Him” —the episode of Ezra Klein’s podcast from February 2, 2025 that has now gone viral. You can read the transcript here for free. (It’s worth noting that I do not subscribe to the New York Times because of its one-sided reporting during Covid and its more recent inaccurate and irresponsible coverage of the transgender community.) That said, in this particular episode, Ezra Klein reminds us that, as it relates to Trump, "the projection of strength obscures the reality of weakness."
They want us scattered, overwhelmed, voiceless and separated, but we do not have to default to victimization. Every time we ground ourselves, connect with others, or take focused action—no matter how small—we prove their strategy ineffective. Prioritizing a regulated nervous system becomes an act of resistance.
Like all bullies, this administration relies on the illusion of strength to mask profound weakness. They bet on our exhaustion and our belief in their invincibility, but they fundamentally misunderstand our capacity for resilience and innate interconnectedness. We don't need to match their chaos or cower to their performative power. What they fear most is that we might remain steadfast, communally networked, and determined.
And I believe in us.
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