The New Escapism
It’s not a shocker that Black people in America, and worldwide, are in a state of distress right now. I’m talking about physiological…
It’s not a shocker that Black people in America, and worldwide, are in a state of distress right now. I’m talking about physiological manifestations of stress and anxiety, like headaches, nausea, chest pains, increased blood pressure, and worst. It’s hard watching the news every day seeing Black people and other people of color disproportionately dying from racism, suffering from police brutality, Karen harassment, and healthcare bias in COVID-19 treatment. It’s not the case that Black people did not know that racism has deadly effects before, but it is in our face now, literally all through our social media feeds. It seems that every day there’s another incident, another hashtag, another absolutely terrifying occurrence broadcasted. I commented on a Facebook post recently, saying “I am literally scared AF.”
The New Escapism
I think what it is coming down to for me is Belief in a Just World. Belief in a Just World is a defensive attribution, a way of explaining what’s going on in the world, that protects people from feelings of mortality. It is the belief that the world is just, therefore good things happen to good people (and bad things happen to bad people); it’s believing “I am a good person, so good things will happen to me.” It’s how people cope with others’ homelessness, health issues, and even domestic abuse and rape. So, if I am polite, and pay my taxes, and take care of my friends and family, and drink enough water, and eat my vegetables, and mind my own business, no bad will come to me. That is just not the case. It is terrifying to know that you could die for absolutely no reason. You don’t even have to be innocently driving along or shopping, you could just be sleeping in your bed. I definitively no longer have Belief in a Just World to comfort me and make me feel secure and protected.
A few weeks ago I said to a friend that ‘escapism is the new self-care.’ I wholeheartedly meant that. This is what my nightly self-care: COVID edition looks like:
I get myself a HEALTHY pour of wine.
I light two good candles. You know, the ones that cost too much but make you feel comfy. I keep one in the bathroom and one in my bedroom.
I shower, slowly, taking my time to luxuriate in the lather and let the water beat on my aching neck, by candlelight.
I put down my phone and forbid myself from picking it back up before my alarm goes off. Otherwise, I will check social media compulsively.
If I don’t feel like reading, I watch lighthearted, funny, nonsense television. I watch the kind of programs that I used to think were stupid. The kind of programs that don’t strike a deep chord, but just allow you to escape in a few chuckles.
These are the ways I tell myself that it’s OK to breathe easily in this unjust world.
Written By Dr. Claire and Shaunte Young for STAEBOOM.com