Why Pride Month Can Be Overwhelming—And How Anxiety Therapy in Seattle Can Help
It’s a crazy time to be alive. It’s a crazy time to be a person that belongs to a marginalized community. Real threats exist against the LGBTQ+ community that can lead to existential dread, stress, anxiety, depression, and trauma responses. While Pride month is a time to protest through joy, it can also be a time to reflect on how as a community we can care for our neighbors and ourselves. Therapy can be a helpful part of creating safety both in the external and internal environment. While celebrations occur, you might be experiencing stress or anxiety around trauma, dysphoria, or exclusion. Learn about ways that anxiety might heighten during Pride month and things you can do to take care of yourself during this complex time.
Understanding Why Pride Month Can Be Emotionally Challenging
Image from Unsplash by Katie- Rainbow 6/13/25
Queer joy is one of the greatest ways to fight back in this current environment. However, it’s okay if you don’t feel like you’re in a place to celebrate. Things are tough right now.
Pressure to Think/Feel a Certain Way:
You might feel pressure to be happy, or to be joyful when you just aren’t. Buying into pressure to think or feel a certain way is a sure way to increase mental distress.
Increased Visibility:
While ideally, we could all live in a world where it was safe to be visible while being authentically ourselves, the reality is, the world isn’t there yet. During Pride, you might feel pressure to be out, loud, and proud, but feel stress and anxiety about being seen.
Past Traumas:
Pride might trigger past or ongoing traumas including but not limited to family rejection, harassment, physical or mental violence, misgendering, deadnaming or dysphoria.
Intersectionality/Gatekeeping:
Unfortunately, within any community, gatekeeping can be a reality. Gatekeeping refers to the controlling of access. Every person on earth has a complex intersection of identities and members of the LGBTQ+ are no different. Marginalized communities exist within the LGBTQ+ community and can often be impacted by gatekeeping. Some examples are BIPOC, trans, disabled, or neurodivergent folks.
Common Anxiety Symptoms LGBTQ+ Clients May Face During Pride
Feeling on edge.
Feeling irritable.
Avoiding events or gatherings.
Feelings of guilt or shame.
Unable to relax.
Ruminating/Overthinking.
Overwhelm from loud, crowded, or overstimulating environments.
Panic attacks—can include pounding heart, sweating, shaking, shortness of breath, choking, chest pain, nausea/upset stomach, chills or heat, fear of dying, loss of control.
More tired than normal.
Difficulty focusing.
Tense
Disturbed Sleep.
Image from Clem-Onojeghuo 6/13/25
How Anxiety Therapy in Seattle Can Help
When affirming and trauma informed, therapy can be a safe place to explore your emotions and experiences. Together, we can tackle the physical responses of stress and anxiety along with making a solid plan to increase safety within your environment. We can work on grounding, boundary setting, and emotional safety. You are the expert on your own life, and if you’re at the point where you are open to processing past trauma, therapy can help you get your power back.
Address Anxiety This Pride Month
What would it look like for you to prioritize your mental health this Pride month? If you're looking for a space to breathe, unpack stress, or simply be heard—anxiety therapy in Seattle can be that space. Pride is about claiming joy and safety—therapy can help you get there. Schedule a free consultation through the link below.
About the Author: Seattle Washington Therapist, Chelsea Kramer LMFT PMH-C
Chelsea Kramer is a Seattle Therapist who works with individual and families facing grief, anxiety, reproductive and medical mental health concerns.
Learn more about Chelsea’s specialties: grief, anxiety, infertility, pregnancy loss, chronic illness, menopause, medical trauma
Learn more about Chelsea
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