Politics and Mental Health: Why So Many Americans Feel Anxious Right Now | Dr. Shanté Holley

Politics doesn’t just shape policy — it shapes our nervous systems.
In this conversation, Dr. Shanté Holley explores how political stress, anxiety, trauma, and civic overwhelm impact our mental health — and what it means to care for ourselves while staying engaged as citizens.

In this episode of From Discord to Harmony: Charting America’s Path to Unity, I’m joined by Dr. Shanté Holley, a certified, trauma-informed mental health coach and former college professor with over 20 years of experience. Dr. Holley helps us unpack how anxiety, depression, and emotional exhaustion show up during politically charged times — and how individuals and communities can build emotional resilience without disconnecting from civic life.

We also talk about:
• How anxiety and depression show up differently
• Why anger is often a hidden symptom of depression
• The mental toll of political uncertainty and “shock and awe” news cycles
• Racial battle fatigue and emotional exhaustion
• Why community — not isolation — is key to healing
• How to protect your mental health without disengaging from the world

This is a grounded, compassionate conversation for anyone feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or emotionally drained by what’s happening around us.

🎧 Find Dr. Shanté Holley
Podcast: The Whole in Your Heart (trauma-informed mental wellness)    / @drshante  
Substack: https://drshante.substack.com

📺 From Discord to Harmony is a series dedicated to helping us understand division, strengthen democracy, and care for ourselves and one another along the way.

If this conversation resonated with you, please like, subscribe, and share — and let us know your thoughts in the comments.


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About me

I’m Danita Jones, a TV/Film writer turned historical novelist and civic storyteller.
I create conversations, tools, and stories that bring hidden history to life
and help us strengthen democracy.

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