A note on anxiety and activism
Earlier this month I attended a rally in support of Palestine and spoke to Mohammad Ahmad with the Northern Kentucky for Palestine Coalition. He asked a question that sparked a moment of reflection for me. He said: “If you were able to make it and didn't make it: What are you afraid of? What are you really worried about?”
When Ahmad posed the question, I thought of 2020 Makenna and the deep fear they had of attending marches and rallies in support of the Black Lives Matter movement taking place all over the city.
While some individuals may avoid political acts because they fear the loss of personal comforts or public retaliation for openly supporting an idea that strays from the political norm, I wondered how many people shy away from activism because their mental or physical health keeps them from holding up signs and chanting at rallies.
I didn’t choose to refrain from participation because I was afraid of what people might think, because my support for the movement and everything it means was not something I was shy about. I wasn’t able to attend because I was an unmedicated anxious mess, dealing with claustrophobia and then-blossoming hypochondria.
“We have to challenge ourselves to do what is right. There’s no excuse to sit on the sidelines anymore.”
In 2020, I couldn’t go to a march—I could barely work up the courage to leave the house for work—but I did what I could given my situation. I made sure I was paying attention to those leading the movements to see what other ways, if any, I could offer my support. I made donations to individuals attending the marches and rallies so they could purchase food, water, gas masks, or whatever they needed to ensure the safety of everyone out there. I volunteered to make wraps and sandwiches to donate to those who were gathering. I made sure I shared social media posts with information. And I mostly just listened to what leaders were saying and asking for.
There is something we can all do to support a movement we believe in.
When I spoke to Ahmad, he explained that everyone has a skill that can contribute to the movement, whether it be art, food, music, writing, making and sharing social media posts; everything is necessary to shift the public narrative on Israel’s occupation of Palestine.
If you have a little monster hanging on your shoulder, preventing you from acting in one way or another, recognize it for what it is and figure out what else you can do in that moment. Maybe one day you will hold your monster’s hand and tackle those fears head-on, but for now there is work to be done in this world, and there is something you can do.
If you think it’s too late, that you’ve waited too long to speak up, and now you’re afraid you’ll come across as performative or not genuine, the only thing you can do is start.
As Ahmad said, “We have to challenge ourselves to do what is right. There's no excuse to sit on the sidelines anymore.”
