Welcome to Joy's House!

Welcome to Joy's House!

Unmuted Daughter

When Everything Feels Urgent

Political Stress, Emotional Exhaustion, and the Cost of Constant Alertness

Andrea M. Garraway's avatar
Andrea M. Garraway
May 27, 2026
∙ Paid
A green banner with the word urgent
Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash

There is a particular kind of exhaustion that doesn’t come from physical labor, but from sustained emotional vigilance.

It shows up in the way people scroll headlines before bed “just to stay informed,” only to find themselves more anxious than when they started. It appears in conversations that begin with policy and end wit…

User's avatar

Continue reading this post for free, courtesy of Joy-Ann Reid.

Or purchase a paid subscription.
© 2026 Image Lab Media Group · Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start your SubstackGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture