Resources for Feelings of Doomerism
Managing Anxiety and Hopelessness With Knowledge about What We Are Scared Of and Learning How to Fight Against It
Staring directly at what we are scared of, decreases its power. Walking towards the oppressor in numbers with our allies, threatens the effectiveness of fear tactics used by dictators. Outright rebellion and disobeying of authority in the name of social justice, while not being distracted from the core issues at hand, demonstrates to others that they can do the same. The upside down triangle of power is dismantled when fear and hopelessness of the masses is fought against with knowledge, organization and social movements.
Anxiety and crisis is fuelled by feelings of powerlessness and confusion. Knowledge and understanding helps humans establish understanding. Understanding decreases feelings of the unknown and can help outline a path and focus. Humans need to have a goal to move towards in order to feel a sense of purpose. Without a sense of purpose that is simultaneously aligned with our value system, feelings of doomerism, depression and chronic hopelessness can become our normative state.
I remember believing I was “bad at history” and “bad at understanding politics”. However, as the world continued to seemingly fall around us, I needed answers as to why. The only place I found these answers, was in history and politics. While my social work background helped me understand why certain individual behaviours make sense, history and politics provided the macro understanding I was missing. I have learned that I am not “bad” at history and politics. I was bad at dates and names. However, remembering every name and date is much less important than having an understanding of the general concepts, patterns and events that occurred. I also found it helpful to focus on specific areas of history and politics to understand this era of fascism in the United States that we will be witnessing with Trumps second presidency. I have focused on learning about social movements and rebellions which has made delving into this world of information much more manageable. I also found it helpful to have multiple different mediums to learn from that include video essays, podcasts and articles, as well as, books.
I am sharing these resources as a way to share what has helped me decrease my own anxiety and fear and increase my own understanding of what is happening around us. Similar to how I approach trauma work, I believe that the more we understand about why something “makes sense”, the less power fear around the unknown has over us. When we can decrease feelings of fear, we can more solidly tune into our cognitive brain to develop plans for political action, connect with our community and to fight for change.
Specific Articles:
In The Dark by Zofia Reych
Are You Willing by Fannie Priest
10 ways to be prepared and grounded now that Trump has won by Daniel Hunter
The history of anti-authoritarian struggle is a history worth repeating by Sarah Freeman-Woolpert
Many protest movements of the past decade have backfired. What would it take for one to succeed under Trump? by Aaron Gell
The Rise & Fall Of Civilisations An extract from “Who Do We Choose To Be” by Margaret Wheatley
People to Learn From:
Martin Luther King
Stokely Carmichael
Angela Davis
Che Guevara & Fidel Castro
Audre Lorde
Nelson Mandela
Social Movements to Learn About:
Civil Rights Movement
US Labour Movement
ANC South Africa
Queer Rights Movement
Feminist Movements
Unionist Movements in the United States
Other Relevant Things to Learn About:
The Satanic Panic 1980s and the role of the state, police and social workers in manipulating the unfounded fear of the public.
Cults in general and the roles that charismatic leaders play in manipulation and abuse of power.
Dictatorships to Learn About:
Adolf Hitler
Joseph Stalin
Benito Mussolini
Francisco Franco
Augusto Pinochet
The South African Apartheid
YouTube Channels:
Books to Read:
Check out this list of 16 books recommended by Leftist bookstores on social movements, rebellion and resistance.
A Long Road to Freedom by Nelson Mandela
Eye of the Storm by Terry LePage
Podcasts:
5-4 Podcast
Blowback
Canadaland
The Backbench
The Majority Report
Chapo Trap House
Specific Interviews & Videos:
The second interview in this video - which discusses 10 steps of how to cope with Trump coming into power for a second time.
The video by Second Thought about how to cope with Doomerism.
Websites:
https://wagingnonviolence.org/
https://bdsmovement.net/
https://ground.news/
https://postdoom.com/
Substack Newsletters:
Erin in the Morning
Cosmic Anarchy
Documentaries:
Pride - TV Mini Series (2021)
The Janes - Documentary Film (2022)
The Untold History of the United States - TV Series (2012)
The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975 - Documentary Film (2011)
Photo by Unseen Histories on Unsplash