When the World Feels Out of Control

I hope this newsletter finds you with a peaceful mind and heart.
4-minute read

Photo credit: Shane Kell - Pexels

July Reflections 
While Pride Month is observed in June, I believe these moments of recognition transcend dates. As a therapist in Ohio, I want to acknowledge and honor the experiences and resilience of LGBTQIA+ people year-round.
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Mental health care should feel safe and affirming for everyone. If you identify as LGBTQIA+, know that your story matters. I hold space for all people to be seen and supported without judgment. Turning inward doesn’t mean turning away, it means gently making space for your truth.
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Photo credit: Ketut Subiyanto, Pexels

A Quick Summer Mental Health PSA: SSRIs & Heat
If you’re taking an SSRI (such as Prozac, Zoloft, Lexapro, etc.), please be mindful in the summer heat. These medications can sometimes affect your body’s ability to regulate temperature and increase the risk of dehydration or heat-related illness.

Helpful reminders:

• Stay well-hydrated
• Avoid prolonged sun exposure during peak heat
• Rest in cool spaces when needed
• Check in with your prescriber if you notice unusual symptoms

Mental health support is essential, but it works best when paired with physical safety and care. You can learn more here:
 https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/antidepressants-and-heat

Photo credit: RDNE Stock Project, Pexels

When the World Feels Out of Control: Reclaiming Calm by Returning to Local
Many people and frankly, myself included, have expressed how overwhelming the world can feel lately. Between constant headlines, climate concerns, political unrest, and a general feeling of disconnection, it’s easy to feel helpless.

One quiet but powerful mental health practice I recommend is this: zoom in.

Instead of trying to fix or even carry the weight of global issues, try restoring your nervous system by reconnecting with what’s local, small, and tangible. This isn’t avoidance, rather it’s healthy boundary-setting and resilience-building.

Here are a few simple ideas:

• Support a local business or farmstand: It reminds us that good things are still growing near us.
• Volunteer your time or kindness: At a food pantry, library, or animal shelter. Small acts of service can help reduce anxiety and restore a sense of agency.
• Attend a small community event: Farmer’s markets, book clubs, art walks, or even council meetings can shift your focus from doomscrolling to doing.
• Tend to your own home and neighborhood: Water your plants. Wave to a neighbor. Sit outside. Sweep with a broom (my favorite). Take a small photo walk or pick up litter.
• Create or preserve a small ritual: Brew tea in the afternoon, stretch, journal, or go for an evening walk.

​You don’t have to change the world to reclaim your sense of self. These small, grounded actions bring us back to our body, our breath, our local reality, which is often far more manageable than what’s scrolling across the screen.

In therapy, we often explore these shifts. How to move from spiraling thoughts to centered awareness. If you're feeling depleted or discouraged by what’s happening around you, you’re not alone. There is a path back to steadiness, and sometimes it starts right outside your front door.

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Stay cool, stay connected, and keep turning inward.

With care,
Tracy Hunt, MSEd, LPCC
Turning Inward Counseling
www.turninginwardllc.com