Does anyone else feel like this election has taken over their life? I’m on edge, waking up at odd hours with my heart racing, snapping at my family more than I’d like to admit, and I can practically feel my blood pressure spike every time I hear news. I’ve found myself baking cookies that I claim are for my kids, but we all know they’re really for me. My trips to the liquor store have increased, and let me tell you, the staff there look like they’ve been through the wringer (though still smiling).
As I sit here, I’m stress-eating my children’s Halloween stash while obsessively refreshing FiveThirtyEight. Honestly, Donald isn’t making America great again; he’s just turning us all into stressed-out snackers.
I can’t help but think that future historians might label our collective anxiety surrounding this election. Maybe they’ll even need a new category in the DSM for the stress and worry this cycle has brought, especially for those of us already prone to anxiety (raises hand). It feels like we’re all crawling out of a massive pit of despair filled with racism, fear, and misinformation.
The saddest part for me is seeing people I care about—good-hearted individuals—blindly following a figure that terrifies me. I can’t wait for this to be over.
Here’s how I’ve been coping (or rather, not coping) with everything:
- I scroll through articles about the latest ridiculous comment from Donald and find myself chewing my nails.
- I mute yet another friend on Facebook for their endless stream of misinformation. I seriously contemplate whether day drinking is a sound idea.
- I listen to podcasts and hear that a third of Americans still believe Obama is a Muslim. I start mapping out routes to Canada.
- I check FiveThirtyEight polls for the umpteenth time that day, while polishing off a donut. Or maybe a box of donuts. Who’s counting?
- I see friends dressed up like Hillary in prison garb for Halloween and worry about their future and their kids’. How are we all in the same universe?
- I watch videos from Trump rallies and can’t shake the feeling that things might get worse if he loses. I start practicing my deep breathing exercises.
- I read the news and learn that some people don’t trust fact-checkers—who literally exist to verify facts. I slam down the paper and bake pumpkin bread, then devour it before anyone else gets home.
- I tune into comedy shows where even the comedians are struggling to make sense of this election. I find myself yelling at my kids to clean their rooms, take a shower, or just go play outside because I’m completely out of patience.
- I scroll through the comments on any political post and feel the urge to tell everyone to step back from their keyboards for just a moment. Then, I pour myself a glass of wine—the comments section really drives me to drink.
- My five-year-old asks if the “bad man” is gone yet. Even she can sense it. I start considering signing her up for karate class so she can protect herself from men like him. Nobody better mess with her!
- I hear he might refuse to concede if he loses, and I’m just grateful I don’t live next to any of his supporters.
So no, I don’t think I’m handling this well. And I know I’m not alone.
For the next week, let’s cut each other some slack and allow for a little crabbiness until this all passes. After that, we can unmute our friends’ posts and start stressing about the holidays, like normal people. I hope!
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Summary: The article humorously discusses the stress and anxiety caused by the current election cycle, portraying a relatable picture of coping mechanisms that include stress-eating and seeking refuge in liquor stores. The author expresses concern over the divisive atmosphere and the impact on personal relationships, while also highlighting the need for compassion and understanding during this tumultuous period.