Election anxiety

I know you are all going to think I'm crazy (again) but...when trump was elected my immediate reaction was fear. I knew what he was capable of well before the country realized how crazy he is. So the next day I made a promise to myself that I would NOT let fear drive me. It has been a battle of course, but with a lot of practice, over the years I have been able to curtail my initial reaction of fear with all of the news stories. Of course there were times I was very fearful. But all it did was use up my precious energy.

Last week my anxiety was sky high. I was pretty bitchy and I hated people. I was definitely on edge. But I realize that my worrying of the outcome is not going to change the outcome. Instead I've been helping my liberal friends recruit others to vote. And I gradually felt better and back to my non-living in fear self. I do worry about how the crazies are going to react but all I can do is keep my family safe and calm. And if I were full of anxiety like i was last week I would be useless. So I'm okay not stressing about it right now. (Ask me again from Nov 4-Jan 20th when the orange turd causes drama.)

He needs the adulation.

I'm a mess. I'm stress eating and hair pulling. I'm mad at dh because I suspect he voted third party, despite me telling him how important it was to our daughter, who is gay, that the people who love her don't vote Republican. I'm mad at my son because he's tired of me talking about politics. I'm mad at the Texas governor and Republicans for screwing over the voters. My daughter was one of the 110,000 voters that voted curb side that they are trying to get thrown out. I'm mad at my neighbor who has a trump sign and blue lights hung outside her house. I'm just glad that election day is soon. I'm not too worried about violence, but that's probably because my anger is so high that I could see myself (nonviolently) protesting.

I'm so sorry to hear that, and I understand the intense anxiety behind it.  Just wanted you to know you'll be in my thoughts, and I hope you can find some calming activities to distract yourself until this crazy nightmare is over.  

I've got a pragmatic attitude. It is what it is. I did my part to try and get the outcome I want, but if it doesn't happen, I'll just have to cope with what happens, as it happens because I have no choice but to.

My husband, however, is stressed out bad. He believes that no matter who wins there will be violence from the other side. Not widespread like a civil war, but definitely violent reactions. Probably in cities. Probably rioting, possibly targeted violence.

He's worried about us living in a mostly rural, mostly Republican country. If Trump loses, he thinks the locals will lose their minds. They won't be happy but I can't see them rioting or committing violent targeted attacks here.

While there are a handful of political signs in our neighborhood, people just aren't very passionate and public about their politics here. Voting is seen as important and a civic duty but we really don't have rallies and such in the county. Other than some snarking and meme-warring on local Facebook news groups, there hasn't been any real political ugliness here.

But who knows. It's really unprecedented territory.

We aren't leaving the house until after the election, so we will have to see what happens. I don't feel like we're not going to be safe in our home or anything. But beyond that, it's not a good feeling.

I am not so worried about rioters/protesters and violence. I am worried about what Trump may do between Nov 3 and Jan 20 if he loses. He is so vindictive that there is not much I would put past him.

I remember waking up that next day expecting to see that Hillary was elected, heard the news and thinking WTF just happened? HOW did this happen?   I too knew it would be bad because of everything I knew about Trump, but like you I had no idea it would actually be as bad as it is. I honestly don’t think America can survive intact for another four years of Trump after so many of our founding principles have already been eroded, and so quickly.

On a related note, my kid has been doing school online this fall and at one point her teacher asked the kids in class, “If you could live anywhere you wanted to, where would that be?” Several of the kids in her class said California in spite of the wildfires, a few said Hawaii or other places. When my kid was asked, she thought for a moment and said, “Canada. I would want to live in Canada right now.” She’s only TEN and she gets it.

I share your anxiety.  And yes, I fear some unrest after the election, but I have a bigger fear that if Trump is elected again, there won't be much of a country left for the next President to try to restore to some reflection of the country we were prior to Trump's damaging.   Our reputation in the world is shot.  Our respect for each other is damaged, but hopefully not permanently.  All of the things I was taught as a kid, kindness, respect for others, morals, acceptance of science, and respect for the planet, and just basic good manners have been pretty badly beaten up this last 4 years.

There are changes I would love to see in this country, but they won't happen, so there is no point dreaming about it.  The current political system just doesn't work for me any longer.