Hello, I feel like I can hardly stand to talk about the HUGE POLITICAL SHIFT that happened a week and a half ago. On, pleasingly, National Ice Cream Day. Our dear old Uncle Joe and his ice cream cones!
Earlier this week I got together with a relatively new friend I see only every month or so, and she said, “…Soooooo…there’s been a HUGE POLITICAL SHIFT since we last met…,” and I said “YES…”—but with some hesitation because although she and I have discussed politics enough for me to be certain she could not tolerate the president-before-this-one, we have not yet discussed politics in enough detail for me to feel entirely confident that I knew how she would feel about This Particular Political Shift—and then she said, “I was sure I would never have Hope again, but as it turns out…” and I said “I know, right: I am totally 100% not getting my hopes up again this time, but also I want MERCH!!! I want to THROW MONEY AT THIS FEELING!!,” and she said “YES ME TOO” and we looked at each other with brimming eyes. Friendship level-up.
Then we talked a bit about Last Time. Both of us got through 2016 with shock and dismay and permanent crushing/disfiguring disillusionment, but nothing medical. Both of us were then surprised to find ourselves in 2020/2021 having scary medical issues that turned out to be related to stress—even though our guy WON, but somehow…? For both of us, things started in late summer or early fall, near the 2020 election, then got worse in early January 2021 with the insurrection, and then gradually improved in the ensuing months after that. Feeling like a foolish oversharing/overreacting/TMI fool, I’d mentioned I’d had stress hives and general GI/GERD/esophageal/intestinal issues: had to stop drinking coffee, had esophageal spasms that made me think I was having a heart attack, etc. But she was nodding: it turns out she’d had GI issues as well, leading in her case to severe weight loss and many medical tests to make sure she wasn’t dying. We talked a little here about Edward and Crohn’s disease (Edward is dramatically underweight), and about the various other relatives/pets we’d had whose weight loss had been an indicator of severe illness and/or impending death, and how these things had permanently changed our societally-imposed views of “Weight loss is always wonderful and always to be desired!!” and had made us realize that weight loss can be quickly/truly precipitous and scary and deadly. You can put on weight and society will SCOLD you about your increased risk of dying—but it is nothing like the CERTAINTY of your risk of dying if you keep LOSING weight. It was a satisfying discussion.
Then it shifted to: So…what are we going to do to protect our mental health this time? Both of us have run the gamut of psychiatric medications, and neither of us have found sufficient benefit from any of the daily-dose options/combinations; both of us have found sufficient benefit from short-acting options (i.e., various tranquilizers) but have also found that doctors are reluctant to prescribe them (my doctor, for example, will prescribe me ten of the smallest tablets of l0razepam per year; I need 1.5 of those tablets to feel any effect at all, 2 tablets to reach the low end of what the psychiatrist prescribed many years ago for me to take up to three times a day). We both get some relief from the “drinking and talking with friends” option, but of course do not want to overuse it. I am not kidding when I say I am considering experimenting extensively with p0t. (The children tell me I am supposed to say “w33d.”)
I have discussed this with William, too. He’s been doing things I find concerning (too much time monitoring polls, for example, which is something I learned in 2016 not to do), and I said to him that I thought he and I should compare notes about how we were planning to protect our mental health during this election season. He agreed. The ensuing discussion involved us saying things like, “…I’ve heard meditation can be helpful,” with both of us saying “Uh huh, uh huh, yes, I guess.” I’ve found Vigorous Exercise useful for emotional stress, but (1) my knee is a problem right now and indefinitely, and (2) it’s hard enough to get myself to do vigorous exercise when I’m NOT mentally shaky. William said he has some settings on his apps, so that it’ll only let him check certain things once a week—but then he said if he wants to check them on other days, it just makes him sit through a one- to three-minute timer, which he says is sometimes enough to make him reconsider his plan, but not usually.
My problem is more with Twitter-like apps (I now use Bluesky), and the doom-scrolling, but I FEEL like I do a pretty good job now of getting to the point where I think “This is no longer serving me” and I get up and do something else. But…do I do it soon/often enough? And also: this still means I pretty often get all caught up in a huge panic about some huge impending thing…which then ends up fizzling out naturally before it ever gets significant, so what good did it do for me to panic about it? Oh, sure, maybe, yes, maybe it WOULD HAVE gotten significant without all that buzz and commotion!! …But also: maybe not, and maybe it’s a good example of how Being Online isn’t useful, and only gets us all worked up over things we didn’t even NEED to be thinking about. It isn’t as if My Personal Panic Contribution did anything to prevent the thing from getting significant.
Well. What I am still wondering is: What are we going to do to protect our mental health this time? WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO??
Getting my medical card (I’m in a medical only state unfortunately), was the best thing I’ve ever done for myself. I use some in the evening before bed a few times a week, as needed. Relieves stress, improves sleep, improves sex drive, etc. Downside is that I get bad munchies and have put on a few pounds over the last couple of years since I got my card. It’s akin to having a glass or 2 of wine but doesn’t have negative side effects on my stomach like alcohol does. Can’t recommend it enough.
This. I don’t need a medical card in my state and use gummies/edibles sparingly, but IMO when bought from a dispensary and using a known brand, it feels more natural to me than a narcotic stress reliever. Again, only my opinion here. But 1000% helpful, whether for when my mood is iffy or for help with sleep. I’m a lightweight so I’ve never used more than a half of any gummy for the desired effect.
What I am doing is doing. I volunteer in several ways: I wear a Kamala t-shirt in the VERY red area in which I live. I am writing postcards. I do some social media work for the Dems in my county. When my HOA permits (90 days pre-election) I will put up yard signs. I will throw some $$ in the pot. On November 6, I want to know that I did everything I could. I am fired up! To be fair: I won’t block walk, I won’t make phone calls, but everyone can do something, and if we all vote, we will save our democracy, protect women’s reproductive rights, work towards gun safety, get some sensible border legislation, etc. etc. etc. Also: if your kids attend school in a swing state, and your home state is not in play. get them registered there. Every vote matters.
This sounds like what you are doing for the election! What are you doing to protect your mental health?—particularly if the election outcome is not as we hope?
I got tired of feeling helpless. I need to know I have done all I can, Also: I swim laps, I try to find something that makes me really laugh every day. Also: today I was out in our very red town. A woman in a store gave me a big thumbs up when she saw my ‘Kamala 2024’ shirt. I hollered, ‘Are you registered?’ and she said yes, and then said her 20 year old son had been apathetic about the election, but now was fired up, as were his friends. At the checkout, one clerk elbowed the other one and nodded at me. ‘Are you registered?’ YES! Later, at the library, several women remarked on my shirt: where did you get it? Aren’t you excited? etc. And all of this, ALL OF THIS, helps my mental health. I am not entertaining the possibility of failure. Women will win this election. xo
Sometimes writing GOTV postcards helps, even though these are not for the Presidential race. Like D in TX I want to fee I did what I could and if the unspeakable happens, it will matter who is in office at the state and municipal level. That thought sometimes comforts me.
I also have a wife who work at the national headquarters of a union that will organize for Harris and other Dem. candidates and a son who is working at a company that makes political ads for Dems, so I also try to buoy them and let them know I appreciate their important work.
But there’s nothing that helps all the time, if I’m being honest.
I am not sure I am doing anything great to preserve my mental health. I am painfully aware that I am kind of doing the same thing as last time, which is refusing to seriously consider the possibility that it could go badly. Which might be the best I can do for the next three months, and then I will either look smart or delusional, but if I look delusional being delusional will be the least of my worries.
But I am really here to say yes to the experimenting with p0t. I held out on even trying it until I was 35. Never having tried it was an important part of my identity. And then…it turns out you can have a gummy and then just feel not anxious for a few hours after that? I suddenly understood why legalization was something that people not just cared about, but were passionately invested in. I have a family member who used to disappear and get high at stressful family events, and that used to make me feel vaguely betrayed & judgemental, but once I actually tried it for myself my attitude shifted to, “Wow, excellent problem solving family member! Think of all the times you probably didn’t yell at us because of p0t.” Anyways, in case you needed some encouragement.
On the less legally dubious side of things, I find it is also helpful to get involved in something world-improving, but not specifically tied to the election, that presupposes that you are still going to carry on as a person in 2025 no matter what.
As someone who smoked a bit in college and now lives a mile from a legal recreational dispensary, gummies have been life changing. The cultural shift surrounding w33d since covid has been seismic here. In the 90s we had to do it furtively, with the understanding that if you got caught with a joint or a bag, it was pretty much game over for life prospects, kind of like getting a DUI. During covid it was a novelty to stand in line for over 2 hours to buy some, now it’s an app and you pick it up like KFC. Wild.
I don’t actually like smoking it so edibles are where it’s at. The gummies offered at my dispensary have increased in variety in the last 4 years, so much so I have a bunch in a drawer because they are my non preferred gummies and I can just go buy some preferred ones if I feel like it. No more ditch w33d! It does take some experimentation, and I’m a cheap date so 5mg is enough to zonk me out for the night.
I have taken some breaks due to job changes (my job requires a background check and peeing in a cup as part of the screening/hiring process) and at one point I slammed on the w33d e-brake because it wasn’t acting great with my other meds.
Regular therapy has been super super helpful for me. I guess that’s what I have to do living in a state where w33d is still illegal, even for medicinal purposes…
My state has medical cards. Cannot recommend enough. It’s not a regular thing for me but when I need a great sleep it’s a game changer.
I live in California, where dispensaries are a dime a dozen, and my college kids have encouraged me to experiment with w33d. May I suggest the Feals Tranquil Tangerine (I order them online) as a starter? They are microdoses (1.5 mg), and act as a very mild tranquilizer for me. I do have some 5 mg gummies as well, but haven’t found quite the right brand that doesn’t just chill me out to the point of nonengagement (which sometimes is nice but I’m looking for something with a little of the fun of being drunk — if anyone has suggestions, please chime in!).
I have yet to find a substance or dosage that makes me actively social, so I’ll hang back because my recs are for chill and bliss through a turbo mega introvert lens.
Consequently, I’m looking for recs for focus and getting shit done that don’t spike my anxiety like coffee does now. Oh coffee, how you betrayed me.
My personality means I need to be aware of taking care of my mental health even when the world is not in fire. My strategies are: (1) News sabbaticals where I intentionally do not follow the news on any platform whatsoever for a set amount of time, the length depends on how much anxiety I’m trying to address. Trust me, if anything truly important happens somebody will tell you. (2) Regular exercise, preferably a combo of cardio (usually walking) and strength building (yoga or tension band exercises) (3) Getting outside, to my yard in a pinch but better is to a hiking trail. (4) Reading escapism, not the important books but the cozy mystery or romance. This is not the time for books that teach me anything. (5) Consciously seeing my (non-political) volunteer work as a place where we are making the world better by making our community better. Just recently, I’ve also added volunteering for the campaign of someone I truly believe will make our community better. But not so much that I’m getting sucked in to thinking about politics all the time, at any level.
Cara, I love this response! Thank you for sharing.
Also, until menopause, I was very skinny and I tended to *lose* weight if I was stressed or upset. I also consciously ate well (fruits and veggies, real meat, etc and little processed food) and exercised because both are critical to how I feel both physically and mentally. People commented all the fricking time on it. If I ordered a salad or said I was heading to the Y for a work out, I regularly got comments along the lines of “like you need that.” I finally came up with the response “skinny is not the same thing as healthy.” It’s not.
Oh! I’ve given this quite a bit of thought!
First, I must point out that I am 45. We’ve been dealing with the other guy for 9 years. That’s 20% of my ENTIRE life. And almost 40% of my adult life. No wonder I feel like I’m going insane.
So I am a big fan of the current president and when he bombed the debate I went cold turkey on all news coverage, except VERY limited twitter. I was irritated that the media was holding him to a standard that the dumb one was not being held to. And I wasn’t sure what the right move was. And then we had the thing in PA, which made me especially glad I was going cold turkey on the news.
I was relieved when he decided to drop out because I felt like everyone could once again focus on what had been a fairly successful presidency. And I was excited to get the chance to vote for ANOTHER person who I really like and think will make a great president. So it is nice to have some hope again. I still think that the excitement doesn’t necessarily translate to a win (think 2016), but I have no doubt we are in a better place than we were a month ago.
I’m slowly starting to wade back into the news. But I’m being very careful to only watch ‘good’ stuff. I am not interested in reading about anything bad. I want my news to be biased. I’m only watching MSNBC (and the ones I like on there). It has been good for my mental health to be a bit removed from it.
One thing that has been helpful this week is the Olympics, particularly the gymnastics. Watching those women and especially Simone has made me so happy. Watching them appear to be healthy, happy, and successful has been amazing. And seeing Simone go out on top after 3 years ago is so damn cool.
***As an aside, as I mentioned in a different post, I’m dealing with some fairly significant mental health issues with one of my parents right now. It’s to the point that they certainly need medicine and honestly an inpatient stay would not be out of the question, but they won’t admit they need any help. So I guess this is to say that I’m teetering on the edge for many reasons right now. ;). I know that part (but definitely not all) of this parent’s issues are worrying about the election, so that just adds to the stakes I have.***
Oh! And another thing about feeling weird in late 2020/2021……I saw someone say around that time that past 4 years we had dealt with a lot and finally dealing with/acknowledging it was sort of traumatic in its own right. Even those of us who were lucky enough not to be personally affected by the actions of the former guy had lived 4 years with a lot of worry and stress and unease.
I’ve been pleasantly surprised by passionflower extract and CalmAid which has lavender—both are evidence-based for fast-acting anxiety relief or a mild sedative and you can get them at a health store or even Amazon. The psychoactive properties of weed are really bad for me (I have dissociative tendencies and am pretty sensitive to substances) so that isn’t an option for me. Passionflower extract really does the trick. There is a side effect of lavender-flavored burps with the CalmAid, which I find amusing.
In moments where I am starting to spiral with anxiety/panic/despair (such as when the assassination attempt happened) I tell my body/brain very deliberately (actually saying this out loud or thinking it) that it is responding as if a threat to my life is happening directly right now and thank it for trying to be helpful while showing it that in this moment I am safe through physical grounding. While all of the stuff happening absolutely has very real effects, when I am feeling that bad it is only adding additional suffering. Playing music and shaking out my body can be useful—as the anxiety is the body preparing to react to a threat, and physically letting the tension out can provide some relief in the moment.
Mindful media consumption is also helpful for me. Finding tangible things to do that align with my values in my locus of control can help increase a sense of autonomy. And being as intentionally kind as possible to all the negative feelings that can come up. Therapy too.
I love your advice and how you talk to your body.
My answer is going to sound completely bonkers., but I’ve been on ag home ketamine I am pushing it to everybody. If you do it through a company like I do there’s not a ton of oversight but there is enough. It sounds like a crazy solution! But I have tried literally everything-meds, different minds of treatment, ect, tms-
And is by far the best at giving me a buffer to the rest of the world
Otherwise- I think I will try phone banking this year!
I’m DEFINITELY phone banking again this year. Starting next weekend, probably.
the only thing that really helps me is cleaning when I’m stressed. I anticipate that by November my house will be spotless and completely organized. I also work on some local campaigns which helps.
forgot to mention that I have not watched regular tv since 2020. I only watch Netflix, Hulu, etc. I get my news from podcasts, NYT and The New Yorker. My husband watches the news 15 hours a day and now has to watch with headphones if I’m in the room. I choose when I want news now.
Thank you for your comment about losing weight. Any amount underweight is literally worse than the same amount overweight! You can be 60 pounds “overweight” and still be healthy; you CANNOT be 60 pounds underweight and not be close to death. As a person that struggles to keep weight on (and this has gotten worse not better during perimenopause), I am terrified if I lose any because my IMMEDIATE thought is, am I sick?
My stress reliever for difficult times is to start a new hobby. I throw myself into it wholeheartedly and it really helps. In find that it eats into the time I spend Doom Scrolling and gives me something to ruminate on when I can’t sleep. Over the years I’ve variously taken up knitting, dying wool, reading murder mysteries, volunteering, learning a language. I never gained much mastery in any of them but they have saved my mental health. High recommend. I have heard that the best way to deal with anxiety causing recurring thoughts is to crowd them out with positive ones.
All in addition to exercise, sleep hygiene, cutting back on alcohol and keeping social, which I need to stay sane and well. I find the times I feel least like doing these things are the times I need them most.
YES. It’s never “don’t think about the hippopotamus” that works for me, it’s “think Vigorously about the giraffe, and how graceful it sometimes looks while eating from the treetops and also how ridiculous it looks while drinking from a watering hole, and what would it look like if one made a Met Ball Gown for a giraffe and if you invited a giraffe to your house how would you need to remodel…?” [continue non-hippopotamus thoughts, have some default handy to always have available to redirect to when hippopotamuses knock on the brain]
For those who have trouble keeping their mind on a hobby, or whose mind runs double-time while knitting/etc., and who are more on the extroverted side, volunteering can also be useful, both by giving Things That Are Happening that you can think about that are not national news, and providing a sense of yes, we will try to keep these good things going. Helping kids read! volunteering at a pet shelter! doing programs at a nursing home! or informal “I will check on these elderly ladies in my neighborhood about once week and bring them at least three tiny items of happy everyday news” [like “my geranium is going to flower” or “I found a great recipe for hummus” or similar; and then also hear their happies – clearance cheese! grandkid made a school project with cotton balls and toothpicks!]. Collecting the happy/funny is mutually beneficial and helps keep everyone a little closer to sane, sometimes?
… but also yes, for reducing the impact of external stress, all the physical and mental health tools/hygiene strategies that we know are useful but… yeah. More deep breathing ahoy!
I am not discussing politics in life or online
I am also changing the channel (TV and radio) if I hear his stupid voice.
2017 was VERY BAD for my mental health and I cannot do that again.
I’m writing pro-voting postcards, often while listening to a podcast or an audiobook. Repetitive tasks that Do Something are good for my brain. I have a full pack of multicolored sharpies and I like picking the color palettes, too. (Not to mention all the names I see!)
I was referred to an online course about something called active hope training. I may do that as well. If weed were legal where I live, I would try that.
I no longer consume news via TV. I use a news amalgamator app called Ground News and LOVE it. If you pay for the app, it gives you a Blindside report that was fantastically revealing about both sides of my family on either end of the political spectrum. They are NOT receiving the same news feeds. I love that with a click of a Right/Left button, I can see the news that they are not even seeing. I felt like I gained understanding of their information gaps plus peace of getting news updates without commentary.
Like Maree suggested, I’m focusing on a new hobby this year–improving my personal style. It lets me channel my time, energy, and creativity into something that benefits my mental well-being. I started by figuring out my color season and what style lines work best on my current body. I take outfit photos and analyze why a piece works or not. I’m learning so much and enjoy getting inspired. When I can’t go back to sleep at night, instead of my usual fear-reel, I imagine myself wearing my dream style. When I’m tempted to doom-scroll during the day, I’ll “shop” online for clothes I like, and later just close those tabs because I don’t really want to spend money. Four years ago, my stress-reducing strategy was doing yoga in my dark bathroom with candles. But once I was done with my daily practice the stress just crept right back. I still do yoga (sans candles), but I realized I needed a more positive place for my mind to go the other hours of the day.
I love this question.
I do not consume news regularly, and when I do, I look for online accounts, like Under the Desk News, that make it feel more approachable and bite sized.
I am reading only books that make me feel good. For me, this means lots of romance, mysteries (but not thrillers), and nonfiction about pleasant topics.
As the kids say, I am touching grass as much as I can. Spending time outside (and most specifically, around trees and running water) has a calming effect. I also plan to go to a local store and purchase a palm stone. I think holding something smooth and heavy will feel grounding.
After some recent work stress, I visited with a therapist, who encouraged me to ask myself “what world am I creating” when I’m in the middle of anxiety about the future. It feels trite, but it does help to remember that the bad thing has not yet happened, and may never happen.
I also echo many of the things above about action being an antidote to anxiety – I am volunteering with a local campaign, writing postcards, and donating. I have a group of like-minded friends, and am trying to lean on them and to be leaned on in turn.
I have been trying to think some more about this and surprised at how little I come up with. In pre-2016 elections that felt high stakes (but now seem considerably less so) swimming laps used to help. It doesn’t as much any more. What I was doing before Biden dropped out of the race was trying not to think about it, with mixed success. I can think about it a little more now that it seems dire but not hopeless, but it’s still pretty terrifying.
::Waves to my sisters in tidying/decluttering::
I was persuaded that I need to take up embroidery because it forces you to focus on the task at hand, not to ponder other people’s messes or what to do about them or how to steer loved ones away from doing things that have been shown not to work as well as we hoped they would or whatever. Eyes on the needle and off other people’s pages.
I ordered a couple of embroidery starter kits and haven’t opened them yet. It’s been weeks.
I feel as though this is an accurate reflection of my ability to follow my own plans.
I *have* been doing a pretty good job of getting/staying in touch with friends. Tip: If you miss someone who lives more than an hour away and there’s an store that sells knockdown furniture and meatballs roughly at the midpoint, meet there. You can spend hours chatting and walking in climate-controlled comfort, and seating, snacks, and bathrooms are right there whenever you need them.
What a timely post! I decided just this weekend that I have to get off Facebook until after the election; it is too tempting to get in ridiculous arguments with people who won’t listen anyway, and it proved to be very bad for my mental health in the last go-round. I’m also limiting my Twitter intake and after the Olympics I may get off that platform as well. My Instagram feed only shows me travel and cat posts, so that’s fine.
The other difference for me between now and 2020/2021 is that I am much more busy. I cannot recommend enough having something to DO–a job, a regular volunteer gig, a consuming hobby, maybe a combo of all those–something that gets you out of the house or away from your phone for hours at a time. Last time around I was in a job that I hated with very little to do, and spent wayyyyyyyy too much time scrolling on my phone. Now I don’t have time for that and my outlook is much better for it.
I am protecting my mental health by insulating myself and mentally blocking out all election news to the extent that I am able. Not necessarily the healthiest thing, but it’s what I got. I am trying VERY VERY hard not to get my hopes up, because for 2016 I predicted that America was not ready for a woman president right after a Black president, but then he was just so terrible that I was like ‘there is literally no way’ and I got completely blindsided on election day. I can’t do that again.
Like Amy, I am only reading comfort books right now, which means basically just rereading certain series from the beginning, and I’m watching comfort TV (mostly food shows) and watching comfort movies. Despite my news moratorium, my days are still filled with constant low level stress and anxiety, and I can’t handle any media that increases it (even in a “good” way, like a thriller movie. Dumb action movies with big explosions and things I’ve seen a million times before, like Jurassic Park, are where it’s at these days).
It’s time for me to learn how to knit. I loom knitted my way through anxiety a few years back but it aggravates carpal tunnel. Am hoping good old fashioned stabby knitting needles might be easier. And if not, I have stabby implements handy. Also practicing active kindness. If you see a need, meet it. Fingers, toes, eyes crossed.
The 2020 election, especially Jan 6, was not good for my mental health. I limit my news consumption to earlier in the day (and actively avoide cable news) and not close to bed time, when I might ruminate. Also finding the wise voices of reason for these times helps. I love Heather Cox Richardson’s live political talks on Facebook; her knowledge about American history/policitics and framing the current antics in the long lens of history is good at recentering me. Other than that… exercise. I don’t have much time for other hobbies, but try to make it to the gym often. Now that the election is getting close l have to avoid the part where the tvs are blaring the news, including one Truly Awful station.
avoide = avoid
I am finding that perusing Threads is more like hope scrolling than doom scrolling and I love it! I am careful not to stay too long at once, though, because I can’t yet shake the feeling that too MUCH hope is setting myself up:( Still enjoying it anyway for a few minutes a day! I live in a deeply red state and sometimes it’s a truly hopeless, lonely feeling but it turns out there are a lot of us blue dots:)
*blue dot waves to another blue dot, whether we’re in the same deeply [bonkers] red state or not*
We’re here! And maybe someday we can make a bigger positive difference even in the deeply red states? But until then: here and holding on to sanity and hope!
I’m throwing myself into doing for others. I made lots of freezer meals for my niece who just had her first baby (Claudia Grace❤️). I made a certain fancy cookie recipe for my friend’s brother, who is on a hard cancer journey. I’ve started my Christmas shopping early. I might even buy cards early and get to work on those. I think we should paint indoors but I’ll probably try to get consensus on that. My daughter has a demanding semester coming up; I’ll offer her freezer meals and lots of check-ins. My husband wants a fall weekend somewhere and this will take a little research. I left Twitter for good and went to Threads, where I try to leave only positive comments. I like TikTok cleaning anccounts and NYT games. I take a nap whenever possible.
I’m also doing a lot to help with the election. I think that I and others who do it have not accepted that we me feel anticipatory grief for a lost election…because it is not guaranteed. It’s not like the impending death of someone old or ill. There is a chance it’ll go our way, and pouring energy into that feels important.
I gave up the news entirely. No more NPR, no more newspaper, none of it. That’s been hugely freeing. I also swim laps in the morning, which is so calming and helps my body feel loose and free. I focus on what I can do locally to make the world a better place. I try and remember that this too shall pass.
I’ll add to the gummies vote. I’m in a legal state and was convinced to try them to help me sleep, and they mostly work. A fun thing I blame on menopause, but also *waves hands*, is that I can fall asleep but then wake in a terror with my brain swirling and never get back to sleep. With gummies, I might roll over, but I’m immediately back out. I don’t feel groggy in the morning. I don’t use them every night – sometimes I drink wine and so I don’t like doubling up – but when I do, I really get a little refreshment to counteract all the angst.
Another vote for the gummies! It took me quite a while to find the right dosage, and the right CBD/THC balance (it turns out I need some THC to feel anything at all) — but the gradual amping up was pleasant in itself, like a little mini-science experiment, and I like knowing it’s an option if I’m feeling particularly amped up.
Quitting Twitter entirely has been very helpful, and also makes me feel like I’m sticking it to El0n.
I signed up for Pod Save America’s Anxiety Relief Program, too, and I do think it relieves some anxiety! https://www.votesaveamerica.com/donate/
Also writing postcards with a FRIEND
— whoops, hit post too soon! Writing postcards with a friend really helps me feel better, even if I’m always unsure that it’s really Doing Anything. Writing them alone doesn’t work as well, unless I am also watching trashy reality TV at the same time, and then it does help.
I avoid the news, it doesn’t upset me but I get fixated, waste too much time and that causes issues in my life and that does upset me. I will donate $$ and vote. I don’t believe these politicians deserve our time watching their awfulness.
I hired cleaners (sensitive topic, I acknowledge 😔) a few months ago ultimately as a mental health action.
I try to enjoy doing a task around the house each day. Tiny things that aren’t part of the daily or monthly but feel good getting done. The mindset is really one of “I’m enjoying puttering in my imperfect house” nothing else. I scrubbed a pair of kids’ shoes the other day and donated on a community page, while ignoring the greater chaos in our mudroom in general. It was nice.
Trying to figure out a proper bedtime. Not easy, I’m a night owl but the kids school day starts early.
The 2016 election absolutely destroyed my mental health in ways that I’m still unravelling 8 years later so this has been on my mind, too.
My #1 strategy for this season is the same strategy that I suggest for people that are about to have a baby and that is to actively build a network of like-minded, loving, and thoughtful friends and family both in person and online via group chats, text, etc and then lean on that network when you’re feeling crappy. Being able to text someone about developments in the news helps me to feel like my concerns are valid and shared and that I’m not alone. I also love having folks to send my favorite memes to! Friendship is the antithesis of doom and gloom according to my brain.
I also second finding ways to support your community. I can’t sit still if I’m feeling anxious and doing anything I can to get out of the house and help out is helpful.
I would also like to give a shout-out to “touching some f*cking grass” when you get too far into your head. Just stepping outside and taking ten deep breaths and laying on the ground can be incredibly restorative.
I have never had a good experience with w33d before and I’ve given up on it entirely so a stiff drink is my favorite panic button solution when things get really bleak.
In 2020 I filled an Amazon cart with a variety of tempting items that I was only allowed to have if things went badly and it was weirdly comforting? I also stockpiled some relaxing books, podcasts, and tv episodes and told myself that I could take a day off of a work and just wallow as much as I wanted and just knowing that I had SOMETHING to look forward to helped to take the edge off.
Hi! I have recently been using these gummies, which such a small amount of THC, they are technically not illegal and really recommend them. It’s like having ~2 glasses of wine, but without the headache the next day. I’ve repurchased several times. https://earlybirdcbd.com/products/full-spectrum-cbd-gummies?utm_source=ShopMy&smsclickid=de1f5512-35ce-4867-b5cc-4ffe88426892&smscode=GRACE20&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=Grace%20Atwood&utm_content=Quick%20Link&utm_referrer=l.instagram.com
Check for discount codes. I think I used Grace20.
This doesn’t fully answer your question but at least shows that many people are thinking like you are! Plus, this is a good podcast in general and Ezra Klein as a guest is appealing in particular . https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/search-engine/id1614253637?i=1000664807718