How do you guys handle stress/ fright before and during a protest?

[La Comédie Noire]

Hey, I've been to a few protests and I always find myself getting nervous to the point of physical ailment. I always put myself through it because I want to help, but sometimes I get scared to the point of putting others and myself in danger. I have a lot of panic/anxiety issues in regular life and although it's a relief to have something to actually be afraid of, I'd really like to be in the best emotional state possible.

Anyone go through this and have advice to cope with it?

[Stand Your Ground]

I don't think I get as bad as you but I have some social anxiety issues as well. I find it best for me if I have someone with me that doesn't have those issues, it makes me relax more. Try bringing a friend along, someone you're comfortable with, that doesn't get nervous in those situations.

[Bubbles]

Please describe the situation more specific. Is it violent situations, risk of being arrested or fear of speaking with people that is your problem?

[La Comédie Noire]

Violent situations and risk of arrest usually, but even if the threat of those is minimal I still inflate it to larger than life proportions in my mind.

[Ele'ill]

Hey, I've been to a few protests and I always find myself getting nervous to the point of physical ailment. I always put myself through it because I want to help, but sometimes I get scared to the point of putting others and myself in danger. I have a lot of panic/anxiety issues in regular life and although it's a relief to have something to actually be afraid of, I'd really like to be in the best emotional state possible.

Anyone go through this and have advice to cope with it?


I like this post by the way.

I'll try to give insight from personal experience/opinion- It depends on the type of demonstration- to be honest, some of the labor marches I've been in were of course inspiring to a degree but they were for the most part boring as fuck. Those boring marches made me feel like we were marching in joy not because we were united but because we were so grateful to be granted the permission to march by the super power men and women in their offices and in uniforms and so happy that there would be little or no confrontation based on our submission. I don't feel like these are a good fit.

I get fairly depressed after these and I have noticed I also get anxiety. Immediately afterward I often sit down with friends and brainstorm ideas casually- be funny and keep it light hearted. Listen to music etc..


Let's take another extreme- a very small bloc (10 people) marching in the street with banners- masked- and maybe 20-25 more people on the sidewalk with about the same amount of police following while giving their dispersal order announcements over their pig-speakers. Then some affinity 'group' (2-3 people) decides it's a good idea to to break things and that the time is right and that nothing can go wrong- the pros to them outweigh the cons. So the 20-25 people on the sidewalk decide it's time to jet down the side streets leaving the bloc exposed to arrest.

I get anxiety in these cases too. I generally tell myself that if I'm tackled- beaten- arrested or otherwise abused by police it's ok to remain calm. That's right- it's ok to not say anything and give a slight smile and take a deep breath. It's all a process- pretend they're robots that don't care either way what happens to the world- you'll go through the system one way or the other. What happened happened and you're in bracelets- the tough part is over with.

If you're confronted by a police officer and they're not telling you if you're being detained or under arrest or whatever the situation is- always know your rights ahead of time and always have a legal number written somewhere on your body.


Being prepared is the best way to combat anxiety in my experience. Gaining experience little by little is the best way to actually make a difference. The people that rush in and get themselves arrested at their first street action can get serious jail time. Observe and think about what you're doing and what you're comfort levels are.

I've heard militants state that they didn't feel comfortable marching in the bloc that day- for whatever reason- they decided to step out and march a ways back or up front but not masked or not fully covered etc..

[Bubbles]

Violent situations and risk of arrest usually, but even if the threat of those is minimal I still inflate it to larger than life proportions in my mind.
Be open about your fears and your anxiety with your comrades. It's crucial in several aspects. First of all it brings a healthy social climate. It also contributes to a higher level of security because if you're gonna do stuff putting yourself and other people in danger because you get afraid. Maybe then you're not cut for doing some stuff, and have to start a bit smaller and build confidence. But there is no shame in that, and if somebody says that you're gonna have to ask your self if you do the stuff you do because you wanna strengthen the working class' power, or to for fill some macho ideals.

Fear is something good. It keeps us out of jails. It keeps us out of walking out in the road when a car comes. The key is controlling your fear. To be able to do a somewhat rational analysis of a situation and be able to master your fear. For example jumping from a big height into the water knowing you'lle be alright, but you can feel the adrenaline pump in your veins and you're scared shitless and want to run but you order your body to do what you have decided. Being scared of things if often conditional and can be overcomed. I don't know which ways you do it most effectively. But the thing that has worked for me is to do things in life growing my confidence.

[Quail]

I don't get anxious about protests, but I often get anxious in general, and I generally force myself to breathe slowly and distract myself by talking to other people. Letting your comrades know that you're feeling anxious could probably help a lot. There's no reason to be ashamed about talking to them or anything, and they'll probably be able to either reassure you or distract you.

[Communist]

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I tended to get a bit nervous only when I knew I was to address the crowd.


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[redSHARP]

if you feel uncomfortable just say to your group you are. you might not march in the bloc, but there are plenty of jobs and roles you can play in the march.

besides the bloc it self you can do:

recon of the site before hand/form escape routes

photographer to record important moments, cops being dicks, record vandalism, ect while looking like a regular tourist (works well from where i am from)

medic so you can help people near by

there is a lot you can do, i get nervous at any protest i go to, but remember...

be safe
be prepared
have fun


ps. a cig calms my ass down before

[Lun7200]

smoke a little marijuana, I usually take 3 or 4 hits and that usually lasts me throughout the entire protest, dont overdo it or else you wont know what the hell you're doing there....and dont carry it with you during the protest obviously.

calms me down, keeps me focused, removes all the anxiety and stress that I carried with my up to that point.

for me its a must but do what you feel comfortable doing

[punisa]

Something works for everyone, Lun7200 enjoys a good joint, you might like something else.
I would suggest physical exercise, not the iron pumping in gym, but stuff like running and exercises that require stamina, works great on anxiety.

[eclipse]

I think drugs are a very bad option, at least if you don`t know exactly how your body might react to them then and that`s quite impossible.

I think the best thing is a group of likeminded people you know you can trust, who stick together, know each other names in case of arrest and leave no one behind. Learn to communicate about personal feelings and to react quick together. Find a keyword that functions as a gathering call if there is trouble or someone is lost.

Being prepared well, in means as having as much control as possible (obviously very little, again, no drugs they just distort your view of reality and make you react slower/unaprobriate) over your situation as possible. Know the rules, so that you break them safely if you have to and that those who defend them have to obey them.
Have medicine and water with you (best inside a special bottle which you can use to clean your eye if teargassed, don`t know the english word), also some foodstuffs you like.
Chocolate, cookies, or grapes for me. ^^

If the police seems quite agressive towards the protest, it`s possible that they try to pull out people you can form chains by interlinking your arms, or use banners, ropes and so on. Besides making it harder for the cops to get to people (or at least rising the escalation level they have to provoke with this) this can be quite assuring too.

Keep yourelf busy with symbolic actions, handing out flyers, discussing, chanting or even singing together.
Be loud and proud.

[Adi Shankara]

just start humming or singing this song in your head every time you feel low on morale, and it'll instantly peak back up:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcEtqh3achM (if you want to see really inspiring bravery, go to 2:01 in the video--sends shivers down my spine every time I see it)

Revolutionary music gets me pumped, even though I never get nervous in any protests/riots. I always looked at it as an opportunity to fight fascists (they always show up) and to stand tall with others who wish to bring about revolutionary change.

Think of it this way: for what better cause could you possibly go down for that matches the magnitude of representing leftism as a strong movement? (that's assuming you even will go down)

[The Red Next Door]

(best inside a special bottle which you can use to clean your eye if teargassed, don`t know the english word), .




Jug?

[-A-kRud-A-]

Vandalism, trespassing and disorderly conduct don't necessarily stress me out. Resisting arrest is 30 days in jail. If I were charged with attempted murder or assault that would be different (not gonna happen).

As far as stress i usually have a good time. Socialize, take in the energy. Beer is good. Make fun of people who are taking themselves way too seriously- I go to a bar at home in the Tenderloin and drink booze after.

Life is good. But not really. We need to change the world but should have fun doing it.

[F9]

Get someone you feel comfortable with, at the protest with you, music may help also, i wouldnt advice the 2nd one though, you need all your senses 100% unless there is no danger of police,fascists etc. I havent tried those at protests, i dont feel like that in protests, but in other occasions, may feel nervous etc, those help me at least.

[Rusty Shackleford]

smoke a little marijuana, I usually take 3 or 4 hits and that usually lasts me throughout the entire protest, dont overdo it or else you wont know what the hell you're doing there....and dont carry it with you during the protest obviously.

calms me down, keeps me focused, removes all the anxiety and stress that I carried with my up to that point.

for me its a must but do what you feel comfortable doing


for me that is a pretty big no no.

if you have to smoke somethnig, smoke a cigarette and sit down for a bit. observe the situation.

if cops are scaring you, keep in mind, they are trying to scare you. hitting their body armor with batons, marching militaristicly, say hooah and all that, and standing in formation. and cameras. all a scare tactic.

if there is a situation you need help with, call a comrade over, or go to one and stick close to them.

[Bitter Ashes]

2 or 3 (NOT MORE) drinks will give you all the liquid courage you need :)

[Andropov]

Get a flute band to march behind, problem solved.

[DunyaGongrenKomRevolyutsi]

Get people around you who you trust enough, make sure you don't get separated and aren't by yourself facing counter-protesters, maybe start a song, that usually helps a lot to be honest, some of the old IWW songs or something are always good to get you and others going.

[Ele'ill]

Get a flute band to march behind, problem solved.


I'm a huge advocate of having drums. I don't mean a drum circle either- I mean bass and snare like we're going to a battle line with swords and spears.

It really brings out a lot of people's confidence.


In Pittsburgh (g20) there was a situation at the free concert (that had fairly low attendence) where the police in their riot gear came marching through in formation- obviously an intimidation tactic- they cut through the concert standing area and then had other groups standing around occupying the entire event.

The radical brass band started playing on the corner and handing out lyrics to various leftist political marching songs- they had quite a gathering and the mood started lifting a bit and then they sort of took off in the opposite direction of the police playing (full band) 'solidarity forever' and some other songs- a shit ton of people followed- probably 100 maybe more- the public loved it as well.

We only marched with them for about an hour- rumor has it they marched for like 4 hours around the city till 2-3 in the morning.

[Rusty Shackleford]

I'm a huge advocate of having drums. I don't mean a drum circle either- I mean bass and snare like we're going to a battle line with swords and spears.

It really brings out a lot of people's confidence.


In Pittsburgh (g20) there was a situation at the free concert (that had fairly low attendence) where the police in their riot gear came marching through in formation- obviously an intimidation tactic- they cut through the concert standing area and then had other groups standing around occupying the entire event.

The radical brass band started playing on the corner and handing out lyrics to various leftist political marching songs- they had quite a gathering and the mood started lifting a bit and then they sort of took off in the opposite direction of the police playing (full band) 'solidarity forever' and some other songs- a shit ton of people followed- probably 100 maybe more- the public loved it as well.

We only marched with them for about an hour- rumor has it they marched for like 4 hours around the city till 2-3 in the morning.

i can definitely agree with this! at the jun. 20. demo at the port of oakland, there was a ban call the Brass Liberation Organization(awesome name) who had various bits of precussion and wind instruments. the picket was very lively.
the second half of the demo, the BLO wasnt there and thus spirits were abysmal... at least thats what i thought.

[Autumn Red]

Down an entire bottle of wine and then get the hell back out there.