Worried about Trump Now - similar to my HA!

[robin321]

So my HA has been pretty good lately. I haven't had any big issues, but when things popped up I have kept them in perspective.

But lately I notice my worry and obsessions shifting to President Trump. What started as just a 'reading the news' has turned into a familiar pattern of reading and reading to combat my anxiety. But it is feeding my anxiety.

I was feeling good 1 hr ago. I opened Facebook and saw an article about the possibility of US war with China, and I started to freak out. I have the same feeling as my HA.

I know a certain amount of anxiety about it is normal. I think the whole world is anxious. But I can feel this crossing into a very familiar path.

[Fishmanpa]

That's causing worry and anxiety all over the world and even to those that don't suffer from anxiety! I can imagine locking onto that and having anxiety would be rough.

Can't blame you in the least though... it IS scary!

Positive thoughts

[Panic sufferer]

Seriously, I know it isn't easy but if you can, try to consume as little news & current affairs as possible. I not a fan of the bloke either, but he was elected, he'll be there for 4 years, and the media are fascinated with him.

As for war, no one can predict the future. For example I remember reading about the Senkaku Islands two years back, and thinking "it will really kick off between China & Japan here", but nothing has happened.

If you can't have any control or influence over a thing, why worry about it?

[Rhiannon.]

Like others have said, it is scary. My partner is American, living in the UK, and he is the most level headed person I know.

When Trump was elected... I'd never seen him so frightened. Not angry or bitter... just genuine fear. Fear for the US and the rest of the world.

But we don't know what will happen. The media blows things out of proportion (was it last year the US was meant to be going to war against North Korea?)(or during the Brexit elections where the media said the US would invade the UK if we left Europe... ) The likelihood is nothing will happen.The media knows big topics like war will sell and that is all they want. They don't want to share the news, they want to sell it.

Who knows, Trump might turn out to be the best president ever... maybe... anything is possible right?

[robin321]

Thank you for the feedback everyone!

I had been holding about hope that maybe he would go to far and congress and the senate would remove him. But now they seem drunk on power and are going along with all of this. And each day it gets worse and worse. Talk of invading Mexico, pushing at Australia, and now what I read about China.

It just gets me thinking of the worst case scenario, and then I am scared for my 3 little kids and I lose my motivation to want to do anything because, what is the point?

Funny how this comes on so fast. 2 hrs ago I ran 7km outside, felt great, was listening to music. And then I read something and BOOM, it is like the HA obsession thinking starts!.

[ww1399]

I know exactly how you feel. I've felt like this during the entire election.

[Cakelady]

I still can't believe he got into the White House & will breath easier when he leaves! Think there's alot of uncertainty atm that makes alot of people uneasy, I have to turn tv over when Trump is on, can't look at the man& certainly don't want to listen to him. Easier said than done but try not to focus on this, don't watch the news for a bit. I have had periods
world affairs have terrified me into a complete state & I needed to avoid the news for some time. Hubby wonders why I get so worried about things I have no control over xx

[aaronrh76]

Stop panicking. The majority of this nonsense fear is from left wing paranoia and propaganda. Look man, Trump so far has not done anything other presidents haven't done as well. But Aaron the Muslim ban!!! Its not a Muslim ban, if it was it is poorly done since none of the top 6 most populace Islamic countries like Indonesia, India, Pakistan, or Egypt is on the list. Its an immigration ban, a temporary one. You know who else started temporary immigration bans? Obama (who created the country list Trump used for his ban) Bush Jr, Clinton, Bush Sr. Reagan, and Carter. Funny how Hollywood was completely silent then huh? Have to wonder are they against the ban because its the wrong thing to do or because its Trump who is doing it. Don't answer, it was rhetorical.

Same with the LGBT community worrying about omg hes going to ban gay marriage again, well he actually upheld the courts decision, so there goes that fear.

Look I am not trying to recruit you to Trumps side, I am not a big fan of him either, he is unprofessional and lacks tact, but you need to stop panicking. Every election cycle, the losing side screams bloody murder end of the world nonsense. Right now that the right has control, we are the second coming of Nazi Germany, going to start world war 3. The media are all crying because the Democrats are in trouble, they are obsolete, they need to change or be lost to history!!! Before When Obama won, the right were certain we would become a socialist dystopian society run by Sheria Law, OMG the Republican party is finished, we are done for!!! Same shit, different day.

All I am saying is, yes there is some scary stuff going on in the world right now, yes Trump definitely has his faults. But he is not Hitler. There will be some changes, there always is, but we will all be fine, the media live off of ratings and clicks, so they will sensationalize everything to keep the masses glued to the screen.

[ErinKC]

You literally took the words right out of my mouth. I was just coming here to post the exact thing and your post was on top. I also have HA that has been under control for almost two years, but after the immigration order they other day I've spiraled out of control. I worked on immigration for years and know the issue front and back, so the way he's misleading everyone was so insane to me. I also do the same thing reading and reading to find reassurance just like I used to do with health stuff, only to confirm and enhance my own fears.

I have the exact feeling of not wanting to do anything because I feel like the world is going to descend into choas. I'm going to plan a vacation and sign up for a half marathon to try and find myself positive things to look forward to in the future.

I have to get off Facebook completely for a while. I just had my husband change my password.

I woke up in full out panic attacks the last four nights and this morning. I have a therapy appointment next week that cannot come soon enough!

And I'm someone who has always been involved in politics. And I have a master's in National Security. I didn't vote for Obama either but never had this kind of fear. Now I can't even look at the news without feeling sick.

I'm sorry you're going through this!! I did comfort me to see how similar our experiences are, showing that even though things are crazy right now, most of this is or anxiety getting the best of us. Hang in there!!

[cattia]

My personal opinion is that Trump is a disaster. I think he is a fascist. I can't believe he has been elected. He is a dangerous, power crazed nutbag who is a threat to world security. However I think there comes a point, whatever your political views, when you have to re-focus. The press are having a field day whipping up hysteria about him. Although I feel that they are in many ways justified, it won't help to get sucked in by it. You will become exhausted, disillusioned and paranoid. I had similar feelings when we went through Brexit in the UK. I passionately opposed Brexit, and ended up constantly engaged in debates on social media, reading scare stories about it and generally feeling really anxious and scared about the future.

What helped me is to think about what I can do, and try to focus on my own situation. I made a real effort to connect with immigrant communities where I live and reach out to them so that they knew they were not hated and were welcome. I joined political groups and causes who could campaign on my behalf. I tried to look at what I could do locally that would create positive changes. I don't think that we should ignore world events or be ignorant about them, but we have to choose to engage in a way that is healthy and manageable for us.

I have a friend who has been a key campaigner in South Africa for many years. She now lives in America and is very opposed to Trump too, she is a political activist. However she recognises that the media hype can be counter productive, as people will exhaust themselves and burn out. What really helps is to pick your battles, and be in it for the long haul. If you need to switch off from the news for a while, don't feel bad. Do what you can to create a fairer society, but not at the expense of your health, otherwise you will be less well equipped to be a voice against injustice in the longer term.