Right now, it feels like the world is unraveling. The constant shifts in policy, the threats to rights and benefits, the economic instability—it’s exhausting. Many people are feeling emotionally drained, mentally fatigued, and unsure of how to move forward. The truth is, this chaos isn’t just happening; it’s by design.

The current administration is deploying tactics that mirror the same strategies used by abusers in personal relationships: gaslighting, coercive control, and manipulation. Recognizing these patterns is the first step to resisting them.

Recognizing the Chaos as Intentional

In abusive relationships, an abuser keeps their victim off balance by constantly shifting the goalposts. One day, things seem stable; the next, there’s an explosive change that makes the victim question reality.

This is gaslighting—making someone doubt their own perception of events. The same thing is happening on a national scale. One day, federal benefits seem secure; the next, there’s talk of cuts. We’re told that these policies are “for our own good,” even as they make survival harder for millions.

Coercive control is another tactic being used. Just like an abuser isolates a victim from friends and resources, the government is enacting policies that limit options, restrict access to essential needs, and create a culture of fear and dependency. When people are overwhelmed and struggling just to get through the day, they don’t have the energy to resist. This is intentional.

And then there’s boundary-pushing, where abusers slowly escalate their control until what once seemed unacceptable becomes normalized. At first, it’s minor infractions—little policy changes that seem inconvenient but not catastrophic.

Over time, those changes add up, and suddenly, we’re looking at a landscape that feels unrecognizable. This is how authoritarian control solidifies itself—bit by bit, until people feel powerless to stop it.

Protecting Mental & Emotional Energy

The same way survivors of abuse have to develop strategies to reclaim their autonomy, we have to find ways to protect our energy and mental well-being in this political climate. Here’s how:

• Limit exposure to manipulative rhetoric. Abusers thrive on keeping their victims immersed in their toxic messaging. The 24/7 news cycle works the same way. Stay informed, but set boundaries—watching endless coverage only feeds the fatigue they want you to feel.
• Recognize your emotions as valid. If you feel overwhelmed, anxious, or angry, that’s because the situation is designed to make you feel that way. Acknowledging this can help you step outside of the manipulation.
• Find grounding practices. Whether it’s meditation, movement, or simply stepping away from screens, reclaiming moments of peace helps you resist burnout.

Choosing Your Role in History

In the past, when authoritarian regimes rose to power, many people supported them for reasons beyond just hatred—economic anxiety, patriotism, religious values. But history does not separate these motivations; it only remembers who enabled harm and who resisted it.

Right now, people are being asked—explicitly or implicitly—to choose a side.

This is not about political party alignment; it’s about whether we stand with those who seek to oppress or with those fighting for justice.

If you’ve ever found yourself trapped in an abusive situation, you know how easy it is to become numb to the slow creep of control. It happens so gradually that by the time you realize the full extent of the harm, it can feel too late to escape. But it’s not too late now. We still have the ability to recognize the patterns and resist.