How EMDR and the G-TEP Protocol Can Help You Cope With Anxiety and Trauma During Political Unrest
Political unrest has a way of seeping into daily life.
Even when we are not directly involved in protests, elections, policy decisions, or global conflict, the constant exposure to divisive language, disturbing imagery, and uncertainty can quietly wear down our nervous systems. For many people, political unrest does not just feel stressful—it feels destabilizing, threatening, and deeply personal.
In recent years, mental health providers have seen a significant increase in anxiety, hypervigilance, sleep disruption, irritability, hopelessness, and relational conflict tied directly to political and social instability. For individuals with a trauma history, political unrest can reactivate earlier wounds and intensify feelings of powerlessness or danger. EMDR therapy, including the Group Traumatic Episode Protocol (G-TEP), offers a structured and effective way to address these responses and restore a sense of safety and emotional balance.
Why Political Unrest Impacts Mental Health So Deeply
Political unrest is uniquely stressful because it combines several nervous system stressors at once. There is uncertainty about the future, repeated exposure to emotionally charged content, perceived threats to safety or identity, and a loss of trust in systems that once provided stability. Together, these factors can keep the nervous system in a prolonged state of activation.
Unlike a single traumatic event, political unrest is ongoing. News cycles repeat distressing stories. Social media amplifies conflict. Conversations with family members, coworkers, or friends may become tense or avoidant. Over time, this creates chronic stress rather than a clear beginning and end.
Common responses include persistent anxiety, feeling constantly on edge, difficulty concentrating, emotional numbing, anger or irritability, disrupted sleep, and strain in close relationships. These reactions are not signs of personal failure. They are natural nervous system responses to perceived threat and lack of control.
Political Unrest as a Trauma Trigger
For some individuals, political unrest is not just stressful—it is traumatic. This is especially true for those whose identities, rights, or safety feel directly threatened by political discourse or policy decisions. It can also strongly impact people with histories of war, displacement, discrimination, or systemic harm.
Indirect exposure plays a significant role. Repeatedly watching footage of violence, hearing aggressive rhetoric, or reading fear-based messaging can activate the same neural pathways as direct exposure. The brain does not always differentiate between past and present threats, especially when reminders of earlier trauma are present.
Both individual EMDR therapy and group-based approaches such as G-TEP are designed to address this type of cumulative and sensory-based stress.
What Is EMDR Therapy and G-TEP?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence-based therapy developed to treat trauma and post-traumatic stress. EMDR works by helping the brain reprocess distressing experiences that have become stuck, allowing them to be integrated in a more adaptive way.
G-TEP, or the Group Traumatic Episode Protocol, is an EMDR-based group protocol designed to help individuals process shared or cumulative traumatic experiences in a structured and contained format. G-TEP draws from the same neurobiological principles as EMDR while emphasizing stabilization, pacing, and nervous system safety.
Neither EMDR nor G-TEP seeks to change political beliefs or opinions. Instead, they focus on changing how distress is stored in the body and brain so individuals can engage with information and relationships without becoming overwhelmed.
How EMDR and G-TEP Help With Political Unrest
Political unrest often creates a sense of ongoing threat with no clear resolution. EMDR and G-TEP help by addressing both present-day triggers and the earlier experiences they connect to.
These approaches can help reduce emotional reactivity when encountering political news or conversations, process cumulative stress tied to prolonged exposure, and shift negative core beliefs such as “Nothing is safe,” “I have no voice,” or “The world is out of control.”
G-TEP is particularly helpful in times of collective stress because it allows individuals to process “episodes” of distress without requiring detailed verbal sharing. This makes it well suited for communities, organizations, or groups experiencing shared political or societal strain.
Anxiety, Uncertainty, and the Future
A defining feature of political unrest is uncertainty. The nervous system is wired to seek predictability, and when the future feels unstable, anxiety often increases. EMDR and G-TEP help target anticipatory anxiety, imagined future threats, and the body’s fear responses to uncertainty.
Through bilateral stimulation and resource development, these modalities support nervous system regulation and help individuals remain grounded in the present moment. This creates space for clearer thinking, emotional flexibility, and intentional decision-making.
Group and Resource-Based Support During Collective Stress
In addition to individual EMDR therapy, G-TEP offers a way to support stabilization and resilience during times of widespread unrest. G-TEP emphasizes grounding, sensory awareness, and internal resources before any trauma processing occurs.
This approach is especially helpful when distress is shared across a community or when individuals feel isolated in their reactions. Learning how to regulate the nervous system in a group setting can reduce shame, normalize stress responses, and foster connection.
Healing Without Disengaging
Seeking EMDR or G-TEP support does not require disengaging from civic life or becoming emotionally detached. Instead, these approaches help individuals stay engaged in a way that is sustainable and aligned with their values.
When the nervous system is regulated, people are better able to think critically, communicate across differences, set boundaries around media consumption, and maintain relationships despite disagreement.
When to Consider EMDR or G-TEP
EMDR or G-TEP may be helpful if political unrest is significantly impacting your mental health, triggering past trauma, interfering with relationships or work, or leading to chronic anxiety, numbness, or hypervigilance.
Both approaches are collaborative and paced to prioritize safety. Clients and participants remain in control throughout the process.
Finding Stability in Unstable Times
Political unrest may continue to ebb and flow, but your nervous system does not have to remain in a constant state of activation. EMDR therapy and the G-TEP Group Traumatic Episode Protocol offer effective ways to process distress, integrate difficult experiences, and reconnect with internal stability.
In uncertain times, cultivating nervous system resilience is not about avoidance—it is about creating the capacity to remain present, grounded, and engaged with the world as it is.
Start EMDR Therapy in St. Paul, MN
EMDR therapy and the G-TEP protocol can help you calm your nervous system, process what’s been building up, and feel more grounded—even when the world feels unpredictable.
If you’re looking for EMDR therapy in St. Paul, MN, our team is here to support you.you can start your therapy journey with Sage Leaf Wellness by following these simple steps:
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Other Services Offered with Sage Leaf Wellness
Sage Leaf Wellness is committed to providing the support you deserve. This is why we are happy to offer support with more than one mental health concern. In addition to EMDR, we also offer a range of services, including Anxiety Therapy, Trauma Counseling, and Marriage & Couples Counseling. Visit our blog and learn if therapy is the right thing for you.