I'm not sure how to title this post. Re: Anxiety.

[LuckyCharms]

I've posted before how my wife thinks I'm "Cassandra".

I was remodeling my kitchen in 2015. I remember this exact moment: I was on my knees, brad nailing a plywood skin onto a cabinet.

Wife walks in, and as I dripped sweat onto the floor, I simply said "If he gets elected, it's going to be fucking bad". She asked me what I meant, and I just shook my head. She wasn't really that far into politics at the time, but she is now.

She reminds me of that moment to this day by asking "How did you know"?

At that time, I barely paid attention to Trump. He was just then becoming an artifact in to my everyday consciousness.

What I felt at that time, however, was a sense of existential dread. I could not identify that feeling as such back then, but looking back...that is what I was feeling. It was something that I could not explain at the time.

What I'm trying to say is this...I have that feeling right now, in spades. 100 times worse.

I'm sensing that what Trump is doing is purposeful.

And that purpose is to destroy the world.

He either knows he is dying, or it has to do with the Epstein files, or it could be due to any number of reasons. Maybe it's simply due to the fact that he is out of his fucking mind.

And I'm feeling that our governmental mechanisms will not make any SERIOUS attempts to stop him, until it is too late. It may already be too late.

Us peons are never going to know the real reasons for all of this...not completely, anyway.

Anxiety is eating me up, and I'm avoiding the TV, but it's difficult for me to close my eyes to this completely.

Am I getting my message across here?

He's trying to destroy the world.

Because he can.

[Fiendish Thingy]

1. You're overthinking it.

Which is probably worsening your anxiety.

You should consider getting help in anxiety management, as perseverating on an unproven theory of total world destruction is not healthy.

(I say this with compassion, as a retired psychotherapist)

[LuckyCharms]

4. Well...

I guess we'll see, won't we.

I've said this the past few years..."It took a world war to stop Hitler."

And I didn't ask here for any fucking armchair psychoanalysis.

If you want to get into my head for expressing a feeling, an opinion, you're going to have to do better than that.

[Fiendish Thingy]

7. That's why I didn't address the substance of your post

Rather than debate whether Trump really wants to destroy the world, I focused on the emotional content, as that seemed to be the part that was the most significant.

Wishing you the best in coping with these difficult times.

[Joinfortmill]

25. With all due respect, this should not be discussed here.

[erronis]

13. I say that you should keep on thinking the way you are.

Personally, I feel a bit of cynicism and even a touch of paranoia are merited.

Of course, IANPA. (I Ain't No Psych Analyst.)

[some_of_us_are_sane]

2. I too had that same DEATH KNELL moment when he was first elected

I was IN SHOCK. I remember my grandson coming out to the kitchen, all grins, to ask, "Aren'tt you happy that Trump was elected?" "NO!" I answered, nonplussed. He asked me why.

'HE'S A MONSTER!" I said.

[yellow dahlia]

6. You were calmer than I was. But there was only me and Mr. Dahlia in the house.

I could swear up a storm.

[Deuxcents]

49. I literally cried. Never felt so disappointed

Maybe because I campaigned like I never had before and believed we were on the best path to get our country running on all fours, as they say. I cry for my grandchildren..a lot

[yellow dahlia]

58. I imagine. I don't have grandchildren, but I have nieces and nephews and they have little ones - I worry.

What I do for the resistance, I do for their future....whatever little bit I can try and save.

[yellow dahlia]

3. I hear you, Cassandra.

I became a politics and information junkie in 2016, as we headed toward November - because I was worried.

In the wee hours of election night of 2016, I was screaming and ranting and beyond apoplectic. I was crying and reminding Mr. Dahlia that he promised me...he promised me he wouldn't win. (And in my opinion, he did not do so legitimately.) But back to the sentiment of your OP.

I haven't breathed easily since.

I wrote a piece after the election in 2024. (And the fact that it was orchestrated by irregular interference from Musk and others, is another discussion...and not the subject of your OP.)

I predicted destruction. But I underestimated it. It has become clear that the destruction is the point.

I have been a Chicken Little ever since. The sky has indeed fallen. I too feel the dread.

And I get it - Mr. Dahlia calls me Cassandra. We so often wish we were wrong!

[dalton99a]

5. POS is not an "imperfect president" or a "flawed character". He is an evil monster.

[markie]

8. Right there with ya....

I was telling people in 15/16 is this ever happened it will takes decades to recover (or maybe not at all). It is real for us empaths

[debm55]

9. My sweet Lucky Charms. try to stay calm. We are all in this together. I am trying, yes trying to not let it overtake me.

I remember the Bay of Pigs. We love you and care about you. I stay in the Lounge or do my jewelry. You are right about tRump. Please take care. Love, debbie.

[ZDU]

27. You are so sweet!

I'm taking your input, kindness, and wisdom too! BIG HUG!

[Ferryboat]

10. Having followed politics since I turned 18 during Watergate

We both have witnessed the decline of American values in the political sphere.
Trump is manifestly different political animal than anyone we have seen. No need to regurgitate the endless examples. The existential dread you feel is wildly shared by many of our age.
Never one for conspiracy theories but I'm beginning to wonder.
Recovering from surgery, I watched the entire 2016 Republican convention. Pain killers made it easier to watch. But what really stuck with me was at the very end. The very last song played made the hair stand up on the back of my head, made my skin crawl.
Sympathy for the devil, Rolling Stones.
It felt ominous, very dark. Just thinking about it makes me queasy.
Your not wrong in your assessment.
Find your inner peace.

[erronis]

17. Ditto that. Excellent.

[Fiendish Thingy]

41. IIRC, it was a different Stones song

“You Can’t Always Get What You Want”

[some_of_us_are_sane]

42. OMG, Ferryboat!

Spooky....but I know EXACTLY what you mean!.

[blubunyip]

11. I hear you

Yes, he is out of his mind. A psychopathic maniac. Criminally insane. And he has many enablers and protectors, using him for their own ends. That makes it a very dangerous situation. Feelings of dread are warranted and normal in this case. I don't think he's focused on trying to destroy the world exactly, more like he doesn't care if he does. He knows his job is to create chaos and he's doing an ace job of that. Chaos creates opportunity for all kinds of grabbing by the morally corrupt. The fact that we can't remove this fascist felonious pedophile from office, or severely cut off his power, is anxiety producing in the extreme. But maybe we had to see just how vulnerable our democracy is. This is a real test of the bipolar country known as the United States. It is not wrong to worry that we may actually fail. It's a possibility. Let us hope that something positive will emerge from the ashes. We must pull together, or it really will be over.

Realize that there are millions feeling what you feel, LuckyCharms, here and around the world. You are not alone.

[pat_k]

12. He's chosen the "do whatever it takes hold power" path forward.

A rational president faced with the utter rejection of every aspect of their agenda would look for ways to course correct

Not the felon. He made it clear in the SOTU that he is doubling down. Yet he remains hellbent on holding power. The means to that end? Do
whatever it takes. Nothing is "off" the felon's table.

Increased dread is appropriate because we are entering a more dangerous stage. But we are not without weapons. We can, and must, defend against the onslaught. We know he can be stopped because mobilized people and mobilized state governments have fought back and won. We cannot allow the dread to immobilize or undermine our faith in each other.

But we need to be clear-eyed about the challenges ahead. We need to keep pushing our state governments to employ every lever of power available to defend our elections and our rights. State governments need to band together in coordinated action. And keep pushing Democratic members of the House and Senate to step up to the challenge and stand united in opposition.

Related post:
The Felon's "whatever it takes" path forward. We MUST defend against this!!
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100221057403

[Joinfortmill]

26. Donald wants to be King

[Wednesdays]

46. He already is. nt

[wnylib]

14. You are not alone in feelmg anxiety, Lucky Charms.

It comes from knowing that things are not normal and that there is a fascist in the WH who is turning us into a fascist nation.

But he has backers who are his handlers at this point due to his mental decline. They will prevent him from physically destroying the world. So.total destruction is not in the cards.

But losing our democracy is a real possibility. We fight against it now and will find ways to survive it and subvert it if it happens.

Deep breath exercises help with anxiety. So do humor and being in good company. We all need R&R to keep balanced.

Take. care of yourself. We will get through this.

[calimary]

50. REALLY great post!

Seems to me it’s perfect for right now - at a time when we all need a little reassurance.

For me, it’s often reminding myself that “this too shall pass.” NOTHING lasts forever. Not even trump. And I find that oddly comforting.

[wnylib]

51. Thanks. But I think that we should not

make the mistake of thinking that the threat of fascism and the destruction of our democracy will end with Trump's demise.

He is backed by a fascist group who will step in when he is gone. I don't mean to sound discouraging. I just think that we should be careful about getting lax and letting our guard down. I believe that the fight for the soul of the country will be a long one. I also believe that we will win in the end. So we need to support each other in the battle and stay vigilant.

[KS Toronado]

15. I too stay away from the TV news most of the time.

I feel better.

[cachukis]

16. After studying climate change over 20 years, I decided

we would not stop it, even if some of us tried. I will continue to consume less.
When Bush, with the help of the Brooks Brother brigade, shut down the vote in 2000, I knew we would descend into fascism.
We are now in predicament. The rich know it too. They have the benefit of money and will ride out the coming calamities with more ease than we. They will not blame themselves because that would cause them mental anguish.
We cannot fix nor prevent what is coming. All we can do is manage as best we can.
Wish it wasn't so, but I have not figured a way to get people to give up their sense of individual privilege. That is the fallacy of the Enlightenment. While individuals, given opportunity, can achieve greatness, can they stop to consider the damage they leave behind?
Consider yourself lucky; to have enjoyed getting this far and enjoy what you can in the time you have left.
Your sense of humor has made me enjoy a bit of my time.
Thanks.

[BigmanPigman]

18. I dropped to 81 pounds

a year ago. I knew it was "tRump stress". I even told my Prim Care doctor a year ago that I'd disappear by Xmas due to tRump stress. He is a Dem and very thin. He told me he understood for a while but even though I have gone up to 84 pounds he seemed surprised and he even thought that I am not telling the truth and I'm secretly dieting. I look like hell!!! Also, I have "industrial strength insomnia" and stopped watching ALL news for 6 months last year. It did not help at all.

I am not an idiot and my subconscious KNOWS what is going on and my body is responding as I knew it would.

[summer_in_TX]

30. Sending the only thing I can: hugs.

[BigmanPigman]

43. Thank you!

Also, he told me to start drinking like most stressed out people. I laughed, thinking he was joking but when I saw his expression I knew he wasn't.

[summer_in_TX]

48. I've got several anxiety management strategies. Before bed I make sure to watch cute cat and dog videos,

I avoid news on television but substitute public radio news – calmer voices and without the videos it seems to keep my anxiety down. Or I get it on PBS.

Singing to favorite songs helps too. And we now have a back deck that is getting me outside more, so I get to listen to wind rustling leaves and birds enjoying our bird feeder. Right now in Central Texas we've been having daytime highs in the 80s, so it's lovely out there.

Taking some kind of action seems to help me too. You''re probably already doing some of those.

I haven't turned to alcohol yet. It lowers my immunity so I get sick more often and interferes with my sleep. I've never been particularly prone to anxiety until now. But mostly I've managed to keep it at bay.

[BigmanPigman]

52. Currently I watch old TV show reruns

before I sleep. The early reruns of the Mary Tyler Moore Show episodes help a lot but when I watch Murphy Brown reruns I realize how far we HAVE NOT changed in over 35 years. Even in 1987 the "radical left" term is prevalent and that pisses me off. The show brings up issues related to universal health care, unfair labor practices, GOP attacking unwed mothers, equal pay for women, bloated military spending, attacking minorities, etc. Nothing has changed, everything stays the same!

[blubunyip]

56. get another doctor

the last thing for stress management is alcohol. And it promotes insomnia. But doctors often look the other way in older people who drink too much.

[1WorldHope]

19. We're right here with you. It's almost like death,

in that we can't stop what is coming, we don't know what comes after, and we don't know how painful it will be.
My memory sucks and I don't remember if you are able to get out. The only hour I feel whole all week is the hour between 4 and 5 on Friday afternoons. That is when about 10 or 15 of us protest in front of Pete Ricketts and Deb Fischer' offices in downtown Lincoln. Every week we grow more in numbers and the cars passing us are ecstatic to see us out there. Every week more and more people feel exactly like you and many of us do. We are not alone and we will over come these fascists again. Make a sign and go outside, you'll soon not be alone.

[PatSeg]

20. Loud and clear

I picture him knowing his time is short and he wants to go out with a huge bang, like maybe World War III. That way people will really remember him. Better than his name on buildings.

[Trueblue Texan]

21. I get anxious like that too...

Lord knows, there is plenty of evidence to warrant the feeling! But sometimes, even if there is ample reason to feel that way, I have to make myself stop, completely change my focus or I'll lose my mind AND my health. I start watching gardening or cooking videos or old comedies on TV--anything to allow my brain to loosen its strangle hold on my thoughts of doom. So often I'm torn between the need to escape reality and the anxiety it produces, and my need to stay informed and alert. But when it gets to the point where it is causing me real pain and torment, I have to turn it off.

Take care of yourself, whatever it takes. You are not alone.

[jfz9580m]

22. Understood

That is why I am going to the authorities - the sane ones. Not protests or movie making.

The biggest political influence in my life (other peons like you all or Yasha Levine, Chris Ketcham etc aside) was the awesome Lina Khan. Before her I was hopeless. I would see the left also do this peurile and pointless stuff. She even had bipartisan support and would have had more.

I have faith still in reality in extreme circumstances. I have been hobbled by a noxious and parasitic form of engagement called “kayfabe”. It used to drive me to inarticulate rage. But now I have channeled it into sardonic disdain.

As consumer extraordinaire Taylor Swift would say “I needed to calm down”. I have a feeling I will end up being doxxed by both Swifties and men’s rights activists. That’s kind of fair and balanced..lol..

[WestMichRad]

23. Naw, I don't think that's it.

TSF always, always does things for his own benefit. Doesn’t give a shit about the consequences to others.

IMO, the two things he wants from this are: bury the Epstein files brouhaha, and create an “emergency” thru which he can try to commandeer election control. The fact that this military action creates chaos for tens of millions, and will bring about all sorts of bad consequences, I don’t think he cares about at all. He just wants to retain power. It’s his cash cow.

I share your anxiety about all this, Lucky. If we thought ‘25 was bad, it was just training wheels for the crap that this year will bring, no thanks to that fetid child eff’er.

[Joinfortmill]

24. Yes. Dangerous times.

[applegrove]

28. Look up belly breathing techniques. Or breath in filling your belly

with air over 5 seconds, they breath it all out in 2 seconds. Repeat 3 times. Do you feel better?

[Jarqui]

29. It bothers me to phrase it this way but I've had a long day:

We have this much in common with him: we're all just trying to survive and get along in life.

Trump is all about Trump
Trump is doing whatever for Trump. He's feeling the heat.
So he's dangerous. He'll lash out as things close in on him.

I do not think there is a master Trump plan to destroy the world.
He may well do serious damage to the world if he hasn't already.
But is is all about Trump.

[txwhitedove]

31. LC, i felt the same horror and death knell. Feelings in your bones like that cannot necessarily

be psychoanalyzed. I saw the sick abusive man and have been wondering how the hell he got elected.

Hold faith in your heart that the goodness of this world will come through.

[flashman13]

32. The President is an evil, insane monster. I feel like I am watching a trashy end of the world movie.

I'm with you LuckyCharms. I have a bad feeling about this. Hogsbreath's performance this morning only reinforced that feeling.

[Bmoboy]

33. His handlers don't control everyone

There are other countries, other groups of elites, other cults that have their own delusions.

There are no guardrails.

We are descended from the most violent branch of our ancestral tree. Generations of savagery have us at the mercy of "alpha males."

Just as it always has been.

[LuckyCharms]

35. I just set a timer...

[moonscape]

36. I did my part

[mvd]

37. I saw it on jury

Thanks

[Grown2Hate]

38. I haven't read any replies yet, so forgive me if any of this is redundant, but I feel you're 100% correct here.

He could give a FUCK about anyone but himself. If he does feel he's on the way out, he would LOVE to take the world with him.

That's malignant narcissism at it's simplest, really. Combined with the fact that it's pretty obvious he doesn't believe in a god (the only thing we share in common), it's a precipitous situation.

It's going to get WORSE before it gets better, but, (as another who suffers from anxiety, with depression in my case, even in the BEST of times), I'm hopeful.

I don't really know why. Kinda goes against my general way of being, actually.

Maybe I'm just seeing a flood of people standing up, whether that's No Kings or just people that are FINALLY waking up... I have a general hopeful feeling.

I will grant that it's not entirely with basis, but it just "feels" like a the Rubicon has been crossed in these last 13 terrible months and people that wouldn't GENERALLY pay attention or, "wake up", have indeed, "woken up".

All we can do is stand and fight, and, with our group here at at various ages/finances/stages in life, this will mean something different for ALL of us. But it's what we can do.

Stand and FIGHT.

I feel like we're doing that now. You're not alone. WE'RE not alone. We can just do what we can (until we can't).

Not sure if that helps, but wanted to try.

[some_of_us_are_sane]

44. Wonderful, hopeful words!

Thank you, Grown2Hate.

[BarbD]

39. They used to call me Pollyanna.

But here I am, an 88 year old great grandmother worrying about my 10 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. Wondering if there will be a world left for them. Being a political junkie, I feel compelled to know what is going on and show my progeny how to navigate these ridiculously difficult times. It is oh so tempting to curl up into a fetal position, pull the covers over my head and give up. However, I believe it is my responsibility to show them how to fight injustice, how to work together, how to feel and experience the joy of life.

Personally I use music, chocolate and romance novels, in that order as survival tools.

Also, DU is invaluable to me. Love this site.

[CommonHumanity]

40. I share your fear

We need to turn out in unimaginable numbers at the next NO KINGS protest on March 28.

[Bayard]

45. I'm with you.....

The first time the psycho was elected, I knew nothing about him except what I read on DU. I thought okay, it will be bad, but we'll survive it. We did, and President Biden did a terrific job of clean up.

This time, I got nauseous when it was announced on election night. I screamed, I swore, I cried. The anxiety and dread have been overwhelming at times. I have to tune out--go play with the dogs, work in the gardens, ride my horse, or read a good book. I'm getting those same vibes again when I think about what may happen with these next elections. Congress seems ineffectual, and so do judges when they don't enforce their orders. The Supremes seem to have pulled their robes over their heads most of the time. Our protests are like background noise for the big picture. Its scary. Its depressing.

My motto: If you're not paranoid, you're not paying attention.

[angrychair]

47. Right there with you my friend

Trying really hard to not let it eat at me. The problem is I cannot turn my brain off. It's maddening. I see all the pieces and I may not know what all of them are doing I know it's. It good.

[Another Jackalope]

53. I felt that same death knell just before 2016

I told FB friends, "If he wins, he will destroy everything he can." And sure enough, just as "the cruelty is the point" with ICE, "the destruction is the point" with the Orange Don.

I'm a third generation atheist, but he sure feels like the Antichrist.

Now with Islam and Judaism in the mix as well the situation has become exponentially more dangerous. Those religious MFs are going to burn down the world if they can.

I have bipolar depression, and I haven't slept during the night for several months. I'm having three teeth extracted tomorrow, but here I sit, typing my dread into DU at 1:00 am. Not a good recipe for a positive personal outcome.

[WSHazel]

54. I feel betrayed by my family, friends and neighbors

Trump should be a late night TV infomercial host, not the most powerful man in the world. We all know people who inflicted this monster on us.

I have a hard time reaching any conclusion other than these people want us to suffer and be in fear. My view of these people is permanently altered.

[radicalleft]

55. My anxiety comes from the fact that the mechanisms

Meant to counter this maniac have utterly failed-multiple times.

I do not for the life of me understand how ANYONE can listen to this creature speak and not be repulsed by it. The fact that so many Americans are OK with what is happening shakes me to my core.

The absolute perfection of the events that allowed him to rise to power and then maintain that is mind-boggling.

[hamsterjill]

57. Lucky, anyone with ANY sense is anxious.

I, too, felt the dread you describe in 2015. In fact, I had a very poignant and uncomfortable conversation with a then boss who normally voted Republican, but didn’t want to vote for Trump. They were voting for an Independent. I remember begging that they vote for Hillary and I remember my exact words were “the stakes are TOO high”.

Some of us knew. Don’t let someone tell you that you are overthinking. What we are seeing happening in front of our very eyes is reality. No one is stopping Trump from doing anything he wants and that’s what is scary.

I’m not sure how we deal with this. But I know one thing and that is to deny what we see would be stupid. Surely, surely SOMEWHERE there is someone who can stop him. Where is that person? I haven’t seen a Democrat offer a plan of action that seems feasible. I keep hoping. But all I’m seeing is rhetoric and sharply worded letters. We need someone who can stand up and fight like the Republicans do. I don’t care if they have to cheat. Whatever it takes at this point. Because we are that desperate.

[Clouds Passing]

59. This crap...

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=21064861

And their red heifer crap.

Lucky, wherever you are, you can ground all of your anxiety into the Earth. Just imagine your body growing roots deeply into the center of the Earth. Send your fear into these roots. Mother Earth transmutes those hard emotions into their neutral elements, you are not harming her. She gives back to you elements of healing, calm, and peace. I have been doing this and it absolutely works to help relieve the fear and bring in peace. 💚

[mnhtnbb]

60. You are right to feel anxious. In 2015 I tried to get my husband to move out of the US

We had made arrangements--buying property in Panama--in 2005 to get out because of Shrub. After our house burned down here in 2007 and then Obama was elected in 2008, we sold the Panama property to use that money in rebuilding here.

The orange a$$hole worried me, though. I thought we needed to get out if he was elected. But almost 10 years had gone by and health wise and marriage wise we were in a different place in 2015. My husband refused to go forward with an offer to purchase a condo on Bonaire in the Caribbean. After the orange a$$hole was elected, I suggested that we at least get off the mainland, maybe move to Hawaii? No. He wouldn't go.

After he died in 2018, I thought about trying to get out myself--maybe to France (where we had friends) or even Portugal. But I put things off because of my senior dog and then COVID. That was the end of my dream to move abroad.

I turn 75 next week. I could--financially--move abroad. But I don't have the energy to do it alone any more. I've tried to get both my sons to think about getting out, and they've resisted. So, here I am.

My way of dealing with this is to be aware, but not dwell on the fact this orange a$$hole is destroying the country. I will only travel in the US for the time being. I don't watch the news. Just this morning I ordered annuals for a number of my patio/porch containers. So I will garden, read, and carry on.

I can't change what is happening. It makes me very sad. I hope you find a way to divert yourself during this very disturbing time.

[ms.pamela]

61. Lucky Charms you have company

The first-time trump was elected I cried the whole night, I knew what was coming. My husband at the time was my boyfriend as we had not yet been married, he could not vote for trump but did not vote for Ms. Clinton. I told him he would regret it in time, he did. In my 71 years I have come across very evil people but none more so than this monster we have for president. Most people don't have a clear understanding of sociopaths. He is very high up on that scale as he has about every trait that a sociopath can have 32 out of 33. Remember the average criminal has usually only 7 of those traits. Of all the former and presents dictators of this world none that I am aware of have raped children and from what I have read on the internet Trump probably even killed a few. Trump hates pets even Hitler loved dogs. Everything is about him and only him. The number of people who feel the same way you do is higher than what most people will admit to. I feel he will try and take us down with him if he believes his time on this earth is almost over. He behavior mirrors those who commit murder suicides. What I cannot understand is how many stupid Americans voted time and time again over their own self-interests to put such a demon in any political office much less the presidency. What is causing your anxiety is your ability to only do so much, it is like watching a plane crash in slow motion and not being able to do a damn thing. Over and over I have been told by friends who thought I was overreacting then to be told by them I was correct. Stay strong and attempt to do things that give you pleasure to help take your mind off of this disaster. Plan for the future. Gather those of your community and family together, make plans on how to get through this. I read a great deal of what Jack Hopkins says and it helps.