Impact of Political Climate on Mental Health (Part 1) – with Jessica Gonzalez LMFT

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, host Dalton Huckaby sits down with Jessica Gonzalez, LMFT, a trauma-informed, bilingual Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, to explore how today’s political climate is affecting mental health.Jessica shares her perspective on therapy as a collaborative space for self-exploration and healing, explaining how trauma lives in the nervous system and why many people carry symptoms without realizing it. While experiencing trauma does not always lead to PTSD, ongoing stressors can activate dormant wounds — especially in today’s highly polarized environment.Together, they discuss how constant media exposure and “doomscrolling” keep the body in survival mode, creating a persistent sense of unsafety and emotional exhaustion.You’ll learn:• How trauma responses — fight, flight, freeze, and fawn — are natural survival mechanisms• Why people often judge their reactions and how therapy helps normalize them• The difference between natural emotions and manufactured emotions• Why shame and misplaced guilt are common but often undeserved• How “legacy parts” and generational trauma influence emotional patterns• Practical ways to reduce daily trauma activation from news and social media• How the Circles of Influence framework restores agency and controlIf you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, emotionally activated, or drained by the state of the world, this conversation offers clarity, validation, and grounded coping tools. Support the show