Does anyone else feel like this election season has taken over their life? My anxiety levels are through the roof; I find myself waking up at night with my heart racing. I’ve been a bit snappier with my family, and my blood pressure spikes every time I turn on the news or check my social media. It seems like I’ve been baking cookies under the pretense of sharing them with my kids, but really, they’re just my coping mechanism. I’ve visited the liquor store more this past month than I ever have, and let me tell you, the owners look worn out but relieved.
As I sit here, I’m stress-eating my kids’ Halloween treats while obsessively refreshing FiveThirtyEight. Donald isn’t making America great again; he’s turning us all into stressed-out snackers.
I can easily imagine historians one day coining a term for the collective anxiety we’ve all experienced during this chaotic time. Perhaps they’ll even include a new entry in the DSM to account for the heightened stress and anxiety this election has stirred up, especially among those of us already predisposed to anxiety (raises hand). It feels as though we’re all trying to claw our way out of a massive pit of despair filled with racism, fear, and misinformation.
The saddest part for me has been watching good people—friends and family—blindly follow a man whose actions genuinely concern me. It’s terrifying to see how far we’ve strayed from reason, and I just want this to end.
Here’s how I’ve been coping (or not coping) lately:
- I catch myself reading about another outrageous Trump statement at a rally and start chewing my nails.
- I unfollow yet another friend on social media due to the flood of misinformation. I ponder whether drinking beer at lunch is a bad idea.
- I listen to a podcast revealing that a shocking one-third of Americans still believe Obama is a Muslim. Seriously?! I start plotting potential escape routes to Canada.
- I check the FiveThirtyEight polls yet again. I indulge in one donut—then another, or maybe even a whole box. Who’s counting?
- I see friends dressed as Hillary in prison garb for Halloween and worry about their future and their children’s futures. How can we share the same reality?
- I watch videos from Trump rallies and dread what might happen if he loses. I worry about the armed supporters fueled by hate. Time for some deep breathing exercises.
- I read the newspaper and learn that some people outright reject fact-checkers, whose sole purpose is to verify truth. I slam the paper down and bake pumpkin bread, devouring it before anyone else gets home.
- I watch comedians struggling to find humor in this election, and I end up yelling at my kids to clean their rooms, shower, or get outside. I just can’t take it anymore.
- I see the inevitable arguments erupting in the comments of political posts and want to tell everyone to take a breather and think before they type. Then I pour myself a glass of wine because, honestly, the comments drive me to drink.
- My 5-year-old asks if the “bad man” is gone yet. Even she can sense the tension. I consider enrolling her in self-defense classes so she can stand up for herself. Don’t you dare touch her; she’ll take you down.
- I hear he might refuse to concede if he loses, and I find myself relieved that I don’t live next door to any of his supporters.
Clearly, I’m not handling this well, and I know I’m not alone in this struggle. For the coming week, I propose we all cut each other some slack and allow ourselves to feel cranky until this ordeal is over. After that, we can return to un-hiding our friends’ posts and redirect our worries to the upcoming holidays.
If you want to read more about managing stress during these chaotic times, check out this excellent resource for pregnancy and home insemination at March of Dimes. Also, if you’re interested in mindful living, be sure to explore this authority on the topic. And if you’re looking for a more personal touch, visit our blog post about the BabyMaker home intracervical insemination syringe kit combo.
In summary, this election cycle has taken a toll on many of us, leading to stress, weight gain, and anxiety. It’s important to acknowledge our feelings and support one another until we can return to normalcy.