I started writing this post a few weeks ago, during the Los Angeles wildfires. And then…I stopped. I suppose I was a victim of the very shock I was trying to write about.

This week, Trump is up to all sorts of “shock and awe” tactics; people and organizations are reeling. The question on everyone’s lips: How do we deal with this?? How do we mount an effective response to catastrophe when we are freaked out of our minds?

The chaos that ensued during and after the wildfires is not unlike the havoc we are currently confronting in national politics. We care about it, it affects us in a big way, and we may not see where we have any agency at all. To be at the effect of life-threatening or “life-as-we-know-it”-threatening events is a terror indeed.

It’s normal to feel infuriated, heartbroken and terrified in times like these—or to be completely numb. A lot is happening. As we anticipate what the future may bring, our minds get overwhelmed with terrible possibilities. Our nervous systems were not built to process and integrate so many big changes in such little time.

And through it all, we are supposed to function—which frequently demands that we think clearly. How can we possibly problem solve and make good decisions when our brains are in fight/flight/freeze mode?

Unfortunately there are no magic bullets here, but there are a few things you can do to steady yourself during a chaotic time:

Stay in the day you’re in. Thinking about how much you will have to do to in coming months to set up a new home, or find a new school or work, or whatever you are facing is overwhelming. It adds to your cognitive and emotional load, which drains your energy and your agency. Chunk your tasks into what you can/must do TODAY—and do that. And then do the next thing and the next thing. There’s plenty to do—don’t add fretting to an already intense list.

Delegate when you can. Are there tasks you could entrust to someone else? If you need help with insurance paperwork, or rewriting a slide deck, or dropping a family member at an appointment, ASK. People around you want to help; if you trust them, let them have the gift of supporting you.

Feel and release your feelings. A good cry, or screaming into a pillow can be very cathartic. If you are very anxious, simply pressing one hand to your heart and the other to your face can be comforting. Simply saying, “I’m anxious” or “I’m so sad” can be a pressure release.

Acknowledge your current capacity, and tell others. During chaotic times, it’s reasonable that you might not be able to bring your whole attention to your job. Without sharing too much information, you can let people know if you are having a particularly challenging day, and try to arrange for lighter duty. Give your colleagues the opportunity to make an accommodation for you when possible.

Know that this is not a “one and done.” Getting through chaotic times is a process, not an event. You need to pace yourself, and give yourself the sleep, exercise, nourishment, and connection that supports your process, as best you can. Every day.

The events of January 2025 have left many of us traumatized, while countless others are having reactivations of old traumas. The months ahead may well be perilous. If you would like executive coaching, team coaching or leadership training that is trauma-informed and focuses on self-regulation of the nervous system, please contact me at danamgallagher@gmail.com.