By Andrew Kravig
If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably looked around lately and felt the weight of it all pressing in. The news cycle feels relentless. Policies targeting trans people seem to sprout up overnight. One day, I’m planning my week around a normal routine — work, gym, maybe brunch with friends — and the next, I’m reading about a new bill threatening access to gender-affirming care in a state I used to call home.
Being a trans man in uncertain times isn’t new, but it is exhausting. So how do we navigate it all — the headlines, the microaggressions, the family dinners where we’re still misgendered, the internal pressure to keep showing up when it feels like the ground keeps shifting?
I don’t have all the answers, but I’ve picked up a few strategies that have helped me stay grounded when everything feels unstable.
Get Clear on Your Values
When the world feels chaotic, clarity becomes your anchor. I sat down a while ago and wrote out what really matters to me: truth, autonomy, community, and kindness. When things get hard, I come back to those. They guide how I respond — not react — to the chaos. I don’t have control over the political climate, but I do have control over how I show up in it.
Protect Your Energy
I used to think that being informed meant I had to doom-scroll every policy change, every hate crime, every hot take. It didn’t make me informed — it made me anxious and burnt out. Now, I set boundaries. I give myself 10 minutes a day to read updates from trusted sources, and then I log off. My mental health matters. Yours does too.
Find (or Build) Your People
There’s nothing like a group chat with fellow trans folks who *get it* — no explaining, no code-switching, just shared understanding. If you don’t have that yet, start small. Attend a virtual support group, follow affirming creators online, join a queer book club. Community doesn’t have to be big to be powerful.
Let Yourself Feel Everything
There’s no “right” way to respond to uncertainty. Some days, I feel angry. Other days, I’m numb. Occasionally, I even feel hopeful. All of it is valid. Being trans doesn’t mean we have to be resilient superheroes 24/7. It’s okay to grieve, to rest, to laugh, and to cry. We contain multitudes.
Remember: We’ve Been Here Before
Our history is rich with resistance, brilliance, and survival. Trans folks have always found ways to thrive, even when the world said we shouldn’t exist. That legacy lives in us. When I feel lost, I remind myself: I am part of something bigger than this moment.
Uncertainty may be the current backdrop, but it doesn’t get to define us. We define ourselves — with every breath, every boundary we set, every moment of joy we claim.
You’re not alone. And you’re not powerless. Keep going. We’ve got this.
Read more about therapy with Andrew here.