THROUGH MY WINDOW—When a Post Makes You Panic: A Social Security Example

A reflection on how one post triggered panic — and how the 3 Ps helped me step back and see what was real.

Resources for this Episode

Sometimes a post hits your feed and your stomach drops. It doesn’t matter how rational or informed we usually are — a few lines of text can punch straight through our calm and land right on our fears. In this Through MY Window reflection, I’m sharing a moment when that happened to me. A post about Social Security sent me into “fix-it mode,” even though nothing in my life had changed. A post is what changed.

Together, we walk through what actually happened in my mind, how quickly panic can override reasoning, and how the 3 Ps Clarity Method helped me slow down long enough to see what was real — and what wasn’t. If you’ve ever had a post make your heart race, this reflection is for you.

💬 Join the Conversation 💬

1. Have you ever felt a wave of panic from a post — even before checking whether it was true?

2. What helped you slow down? Your reflections can help others who feel the same way.

Join the conversation on the American Together YouTube channel under When a Post Makes You Panic: A Social Security Example | American Together video, or in our upcoming community space (coming soon).

🛠 3 Ps in Action: Comment Edition 🛠
Need a little extra help shaping your reply? This quick guide uses the same 3 Ps process I use myself: Pause, Pinpoint Truth, Proceed with Purposeful Forethought.

🔎 Full Sources & Further Reading 🔎

• Episode Sources (clickable)

  1. Center on Budget and Policy Priorities — Policy Basics: Top Ten Facts about Social Security(cbpp.org)

  2. Congressional Research Service. Social Security: Trust fund investment practices.(crsreports.congress.gov)

  3. Social Security Administration. Monthly statistical snapshot.(ssa.gov)

  4. Social Security Administration. Program Operations Manual System (POMS).(ssa.gov)

  5. Social Security Administration. Survivors benefits.(ssa.gov)

  6. Social Security Administration. Trust fund frequently asked questions.(ssa.gov)

  7. Social Security Administration. The annual report of the Board of Trustees of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance and Federal Disability Insurance Trust Funds.(ssa.gov)

  8. Social Security Administration. A summary of the 2024 annual reports.(ssa.gov)

  9. U.S. Department of the Treasury — Federal Disbursement Services (FDS)(fiscal.treasury.gov)

• Further Resources (clickable)

  1.  News Literacy Project — Free lessons and tools that help people of all ages spot misinformation and verify sources.

  2.  Media Bias/Fact Check — Outlet database with bias and factual-reporting ratings; use it to compare perspectives, not crown one “right.”

  3.  Stanford History Education Group – Civic Online Reasoning — Research-based digital-literacy lessons on evaluating online information.

  4.  American Psychological Association – Psychology topics — Hub of readable articles on cognition, reasoning, misinformation, social media, and more.

🔗 Continue the Journey 🔗

All Episodes This Series Previous Episode

Back to top ↑