This Election Cycle Made Me Chubby, Anxious, and Acne-Prone—Thanks, Trump!

home insemination Kit

By: Mia Thompson

Does anyone else feel like this election season has taken over their life? I’m constantly on edge, waking up with my heart pounding, snapping at my loved ones, and feeling my blood pressure spike every time I hear the news. I’ve been baking cookies under the guise of making treats for my kids, but let’s be real—they’re mostly for me. My visits to the liquor store have skyrocketed, and the owners definitely look a little worn out (but at least they’re smiling).

As I type this, I’m stress-eating my children’s Halloween candy while obsessively refreshing FiveThirtyEight. Donald is not making America great again; he’s transforming us into a nation of anxious snackers.

I can only imagine that future historians will have a term for our collective breakdown after this madness subsides. Maybe they’ll even create a new category in the DSM for the anxiety and stress this election has inflicted on us, especially those of us already prone to such feelings (raises hand).

Just think about it: it’ll feel like we’ve all crawled out of a massive pit of despair—one filled with racism, fear, misinformation, and poorly constructed sentences.

The saddest part for me has been watching smart, kind folks—people I care about—blindly follow a man who seems unhinged. It genuinely frightens me for the future of humanity. I can’t wait for this to end.

Here are some ways I’ve been handling it all (or not):

1. I scroll through articles about the latest outrageous comment Trump made and find myself chewing my nails.
2. I hide another friend on social media because I can’t bear the tidal wave of misinformation they’re sharing. I even ponder whether lunch beers are a smart choice.
3. I listen to a podcast and hear that a third of Americans still think Obama is a Muslim. Really?! I start mapping out escape routes to Canada.
4. I check the FiveThirtyEight polls for the twentieth time that day while devouring a donut—or maybe a whole box. Who’s counting?
5. I see friends dressed as Hillary in a prison outfit for Halloween and worry about their lives and their children’s futures. How are we living in the same reality?
6. I watch videos from Trump rallies and fear that if he loses, those folks will get even more unhinged. I start practicing my deep breathing.
7. I read the news and learn that some people refuse to believe fact-checkers, who exist solely to verify facts. I slam the paper down and bake a pumpkin loaf—then devour it before anyone else arrives.
8. I tune into comedy shows and see even the comedians struggling with this election joke. I end up yelling at my kids to clean their rooms or go outside—anything to get them away from me because my patience is shot.
9. I see arguments erupting in the comments of every political post and want to scream at everyone to take a breather and think before typing. Instead, I pour myself a glass of wine. Those comments drive me to drink.
10. My 5-year-old asks if the “bad man” is gone yet. Even she can sense it. I consider signing her up for karate so she can defend herself from guys like him. Don’t you dare touch her—she’ll knock you into next week.
11. I hear he might not concede if he loses and breathe a sigh of relief that I don’t live next door to any of his supporters.

So, no, I’m not coping well, and I’m sure I’m not the only one. For the next week, I propose we give each other some grace and space to be grumpy until this is all behind us. Then we can go back to un-hiding our friends’ posts and start stressing about the holidays like normal people—hopefully!

If you’re interested in learning more about our journey through home insemination, check out this post for helpful insights. Additionally, you might find this resource on IVF particularly useful for understanding the process better.

Summary: The election cycle has taken a toll on many, leading to anxiety, stress-eating, and a general sense of despair. Individuals are struggling with the overwhelming nature of misinformation and divisive rhetoric. As we navigate these challenging emotions, it’s important to give each other grace and space until the tumult subsides.