Finding Steadiness in an Unsteady World: How Trauma-Informed Therapy Supports Collective Stress
A serene upward view of tall trees with sunlight streaming through soft green leaves, evoking peace, grounding, and connection — a visual reflection of finding steadiness and balance through therapy.
The world feels heavy right now.
Between climate headlines, ongoing conflict, and constant access to distressing news, many people are feeling a persistent sense of unease — even when life seems “okay” on the surface.
At Repose, we’ve noticed more clients describing a kind of background anxiety that’s hard to name. Therapists sometimes refer to this as collective stress — a shared, body-based response to uncertainty in the world around us.
When Global Events Echo in the Body
Our nervous systems are built to detect threat.
Even when danger isn’t personal or immediate, witnessing crisis — on the news, in conversation, or online — can activate our body’s survival responses: tension, fatigue, irritability, or a sense of being “on edge.”
Recent reports show record-breaking CO₂ levels and intensifying weather patterns worldwide, heightening fears about the future. Add in political unrest, economic instability, and digital overload — and our systems rarely get a chance to rest.
In therapy, this often shows up as sleeplessness, restlessness, or feelings of helplessness. These reactions make sense — but when left unprocessed, they can leave us feeling
disconnected from the present moment and from one another.
How EMDR Helps Rebalance the Nervous System
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is often known for supporting trauma recovery, but it’s also a powerful modality for helping the nervous system regain balance during ongoing stress.
In EMDR, clients work with a therapist to engage both sides of the brain through eye movements or other forms of bilateral stimulation. This process allows the body to integrate distressing experiences rather than store them as ongoing activation.
When used in the context of collective or chronic stress, EMDR can help:
Build emotional regulation and internal safety
Reduce overwhelm and physical tension
Reconnect with a sense of agency
Differentiate present stability from past or projected fears
By working directly with the body’s natural processing system, EMDR offers a path toward steadiness — even when the world feels unpredictable.
Grounding in a Changing World
While we can’t control global events, we can learn to steady ourselves through intentional presence.
Therapists often encourage practices like:
Taking breaks from constant news or doomscrolling
Creating rituals that anchor you (a walk, deep breathing, stretching)
Reconnecting with community and shared purpose
Focusing on what’s tangible and within reach
These small moments of regulation remind the nervous system: you are safe enough to rest, breathe, and stay connected.
If the World Feels Heavy
Feeling activated by what’s happening around you isn’t a flaw — it’s a sign that you care deeply.
Therapy can help you process collective stress, rebuild safety in the body, and find moments of grounded clarity amid uncertainty.
→ Explore our therapists and learn more about how Trauma & PTSD Therapy supports healing.