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Anxiety In The Times of Immigration Reform
What is anxiety and how can it be preventeD?
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By Erika Olmos, Psychologist and Psychoanalyst

The immigration reforms proposed by Donald Trump have affected interpersonal relationships in our community. What has happened, and how can we deal with it? Think of a tug of war game, where a group of people pull a rope in one direction and another group pull the rope in the other. If the teams struggle long and hard enough the rope could break under the strain. Something similar has happened in our society: it has become polarized and there is a great tension between the factions. 

This climate of conflict affects our daily lives. Interpersonal ties that were once warm suddenly disappear. The neighbor we used to greet at the park, we fear, might have been swayed by hate speech and we may feel worry for our family. Some people might wonder if their children are safe in school and many have felt discriminated against more than once. This can affect our health because it causes anxiety, and may even lead to social isolation. How does this connection work? Our mind makes us think that if we lock ourselves in we will be safe. But if we isolate ourselves out of fear, the anguish will not disappear, and it might instead be intensified. 

What is anxiety? 
In the world of psychology it is defined as a “mental and physical state of intense unrest caused by something unpleasant or a threat of danger.” It is an emotional state that can affect anyone regardless of their origin, socio-economic level, age or gender. 

How do you know if you suffer from anxiety?
Anxiety is characterized by some or all of the following symptoms: an intense feeling of fear, irregular heartbeat, a desire to escape, sweating, a feeling of suffocation, nausea, and trembling in the extremities. 

What can I do to deal with anxiety? 
Think about the events causing it. This feeling, as we have already said, can occur when one experiences danger or internal discomfort. We can take control over these symptoms when we identify the events that cause them.  Talk with specialists in psychology, behavioral health, and social work, who can offer us strategies to control anxiety.  Performing some physical activity can help to control our body and therefore reduce anxiety. 
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Following these tips can help lessen or eliminate distress symptoms. However, while the community finds itself polarized distress will grow among its members. That is why we must create spaces for social encounters, spaces that allow us to talk with neighbors. If we look in the eyes of the cashier at the supermarket, and know what fears, dreams and concerns they might have, distress will disappear. Anxiety will lessen when we start weaving strong social ties. 

​Informar, Educar, & Unir
Inform, Educate, & Unite