Coping with Trump

Having trouble coping with the constant chaos emanating from the Trump administration?

I have so far avoided discussing politics on this site because I want it to be a resource for everyone. However, most of the country is concerned, if not alarmed, by what is happening in Washington right now.

Since my mission is to help you live a happier life and it is really hard to do that when you are being constantly bombarded by bad news, I’d like to offer some suggestions for helping you cope.

• Don’t despair! I know things seem pretty scary right now but more and more people are waking up and starting to take action--through the courts, letters to Congress, and in town hall meetings. Also, Trump and Musk are becoming more unpopular every day. Those are all reasons to be hopeful.

• Stay informed but avoid wallowing in the news. Check the headlines from at least a couple of news sources, two to three times a day, to make sure you don’t miss anything. However, try to focus on the stories about what has happened instead of stories about what could happen. Obsessing over what might happen is ineffective and bad for your mental health.

• Fight back—in any way that works for you (see below for ways to do that). Don’t worry about whether or not it is enough. Anything will help, and doing something will help give you a sense of power over the situation. Action is a great antidote to fear.

• Do something to wind down your mind for at least the last 30 minutes before you go to bed at night. It’s hard enough to get a good night’s sleep without ending your day by thinking of Trump.

• Focus on the parts of your life that don’t involve politics. Engage with friends and family, experience nature, focus on your career, spend time on your hobbies, etc. Life is short. Don’t let this administration hijack four years of it.

• Most importantly, remember that you are not alone!

If you are one of those people who have been laid off or fired or are concerned that you might be next, all of the suggestions above still apply to you. Obviously, you can’t stop there though. Brush off your resume. Reach out to everyone you know who could possibly help you find a job (either directly or indirectly). Search job sites to find a position that will work for you—even in the short term. The good news is that no one is going to blame you for having lost your job in this environment. Also, you’ve got a head start on the others who are likely to come later.

Potential Ways to Fight Back:

• Speak out to friends and on social media and even write letters to the editor—to help others be informed and to combat disinformation.

• Contact your representatives—even the ones that are Democrats. It might seem unnecessary but they can use huge numbers of responses as ammunition when they advocate for (or against) legislation and action.  Stories are especially helpful so if you have examples of people actually affected by policy decisions, let them know. Those stories make advocacy more impactful.

• If you know Democrats (or unhappy Republicans) in red states or districts, encourage them to contact their representatives. The Republican majority in Congress is very small. We just need to get three Republicans on our side to make a difference. They are all rolling over for Trump now but they do listen to their constituents. We can help by mobilizing their constituents to act.

• Contact the White House directly. You can comment online at  https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/ but you have to give them a lot of your contact information. If that makes you uncomfortable, you can always send a postcard to The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington DC 20500.

• Join protests, marches, rallies and press conferences to let the administration know that you don’t think what they are doing is okay. Don’t try to go to all of them though or you’ll wear yourself out.  Save your energy for causes you really believe in and events that promise to be attended by enough people to actually make a difference.

Note: I believe people are more likely to listen to you if your letters, social media posts, and protest signs are non-inflammatory. It is okay to state your positions passionately but avoid name-calling and insults.

I hope all of this information helps!

Lynda