Anxiety among DACA DREAMers under the Trump administration
The recent migrant crisis hits too close to home for many DACA recipients and DREAMers.
Many of us know the story too well, and can even see our younger selves through reports like the ones presented by Vice News.
It’s hard to go day-to-day trying to manage your finances, your friendships, your work relationships and any other facet of life that makes you a person.
We assume that most people don’t deal with debilitating conditions that can often be triggered by a set of behaviors or the environment they live in.
Call it monotony, peace and quiet, or mundane: for many DREAMers and DACA holders words like these are a rarity in their lives. Many struggle with the reality of uncertain government policies on top of feelings of anxiety.
How anxiety affects DREAMers
Ruth states that “it has caused [her] more severe and frequent anxiety attacks.”
Yuri’s anxiety has significantly increased due to “ Seeing our own people being treated the way that they are and feeling helpless because of fear that I’ll lose the future that I’ve dreamed of if my DACA gets taken away…”
She is currently visiting with a professional to deal with her anxiety. Even though services are available, many still fail to identify their condition or choose to ignore it.
Identify the early signs of anxiety
Many young adults might not be seeking professional help or may lack the tools to identify anxiety.
Kirsten Brunner, MA, LPC, is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Austin, Texas.
Kirsten points out that early symptoms might look different person to person.
Kirsten mentions some of the most common signs are “…difficulty sleeping, avoiding social interactions or overstimulating situations, attempting to control one’s environment (in a response to feeling out of control), excessive worrying about the future and sometimes feelings of agitation”
While these may be less ambiguous to identify, Kirsten also mentions that “In the physical realm, people report stomachaches, headaches, tense shoulders/muscles and even heart palpitations.”
For many DACA DREAMers like Rubicela, today’s political tension on immigration and the future of DACA holders has been a real struggle for her mental well-being.
“ This political debate has affected me really bad. I rarely get 4–5 hours of sleep. I feel emotionally destroyed. I feel like I don’t have a stable future.”
How to lower anxiety
1.) Stay active
Kirsten places an emphasis on physical exercise. “It helps us to
release tension and stress, while pumping calming endorphins into our body.
Even walking is beneficial.”
2.) Eat Healthy food
“Avoiding excessive caffeine, alcohol or sugar can help people to feel more
grounded and stable. We tend to escape to substances or comfort foods when
we are feeling stressed, but these behaviors often make us feel worse.”
While it is easier and more convenient to grab food on-the-go, a healthy and well-balanced diet can give your body the necessary nutrients to feed your mind.
3.) Stay present and think positively
Kirsten also encourages her clients to create a calming and positive environment around them.
“When we are thinking negative, doom and gloom thoughts all of the time, it makes us feel horrible and tends to propel us in a negative direction. Focusing on the positive and listing our gratitude regularly can lighten our mood and change the direction our life is taking.”
Although it is important to stay informed, many of these negative triggers can be caused by constant newsreels and news articles.
Taking a break from social media, or media in general, can help us be more productive and to stay healthy.
Seek help and communicate
Sometimes, life can feel lonely and overloaded with negativity. Having a community of support can lighten this load and provide a level of comfort for you.
Addressing the various issues in your life can be the best aid to help you feel like you are working towards a goal. Kirsten says:
“This might mean a job change, a relationship change or a search for help and resources. If the person isn’t already working with a counselor, I encourage them to find one who specializes in anxiety. Even if their finances are limited, there are affordable or free counseling resources in most communities.”
Organizations across the United States, like The Empowerment Program, help immigrant communities with emotional issues. Go and find an organization near you.
Remain hopeful! In spite of all the negativity, we have also witnessed great support from various groups and communities around the nation.
There is plenty of work to be done and many policy debates open for discussion. As DREAMers and DACAmented people, hope will not be lost.
Even though today’s migrant crisis is a story we know too well, we also know that compassionate and determined people are protesting, signing, questioning, and most of all, voting in behalf for a more inclusive and tolerant America.
Javier Gutierrez is a personal finance blogger at DreamerMoney.com, DREAMer and former undocumented student.
