Equality Center Holds Workshop on Managing Stress in Activism

The Equality Center (Markaz Musawa) held its third practical training session on managing psychological stress and fear related to political and community activism on September 3, 2026. The workshop, titled "Managing Psychological Stress and Fear," was facilitated by Suha Batheesh and Mohammed Mansour from the Humanity Crew organization.

The session focused on the pressures and fears associated with social and political engagement and fieldwork. Participants discussed their emotions, their sources, and strategies for managing them without letting them impede their work. A practical exercise explored the connection between emotions and the body, highlighting how stress manifests physically, particularly in the stomach and back muscles, and emphasizing the importance of heeding bodily signals.

Attendees shared their coping mechanisms, including walking in nature, listening to music, and taking temporary breaks from stressors. The facilitators provided practical tools for healthy stress management, stressing the role of physical activity in releasing accumulated tension, likening the body to a sponge that needs regular emptying.

The series aims to enhance legal and practical knowledge, develop tools for psychological well-being, and reduce burnout, thereby supporting activists' ability to continue their community work. The workshop concluded with participants sharing a single word to describe their feelings upon departure.