I appreciate this— labeling the fear has helped me in the past to get the rumination loop out of my head. When I was studying for the NC bar exam in 2013 I wrote down my fear that I would fail. And I actually did fail by 1 point, and I had to take it again in February 2014. But now that I’ve been licensed since April 2014, it doesn’t feel like the end of my world like it did at the time.
I’m fucking terrified of this election, I wrote 75 postcards about voting for Josh Stein over Mark Robinson, I canvassed, I did a voter registration drive, I early voted and I’ve posted and texted so many people about how important this election is, worn all my Kamala merch and my friendship bracelets for democracy (favorite is Cat Lady for Kamala) but ultimately me worrying and doom scrolling isn’t accomplishing anything. I slept somewhat better this week, I did put my phone away at 9 pm and last weekend I had low cell service in the mountains and I didn’t miss anything and felt like my nervous system could relax.
My husband doesn’t get caught up in the doom spiral, he is concerned about the election but somehow he has internalized that worrying doesn’t accomplish anything and he keeps suggesting I read more light fiction instead of political articles. I know we have to get through it and the time will pass. I’ve written several comments about my oldest kid, he turns 8 in January and I was 30w pregnant with him when Hillary lost. Since the day Biden dropped out he has kept saying it’s time for a woman to be president and Kamala is the woman for the job— when we left the voting booth last week he said “We have voted for the first woman president!” And I keep trying to channel his optimism but my realist self is worried.
Elizabeth I appreciate ALL of this. I am terrified with you. But you said something so powerful, that you let your "nervous system relax" That's so key. We have to tend to our bodies so that we can move forward no matter what happens. Gratitude for all of your efforts as well. Fingers crossed with you my friend.
The most beneficial 'scrolling' of my week! Thanks for explaining what my brain is trying to do for me. Thank you for using your platform to sow knowledge, health, and self-care. Going out for a walk with my four legged companion! ❤️
Aww thanks my friend. And that walk with your friend is a key part of this nervous system regulation. I literally laid on a bean bag cuddling with my dog for two hours one night this week to soothe myself and also get off the scroll!
Thank you 🙏🏽 so much for this Tanmeet I’m currently moving through something I’ve never experienced before I think it’s a depression but it’s manifesting with very acute anxiety, 😥 and I honestly don’t feel like myself…its very frightening actually. I have two young children and know I need to be strong and present for them (which only exacerbates the anxiety more) I feel like my nervous system is highly activated and it’s as if I can get out of this anxiety spiral. It’s helpful to know a bit of how my brain is responding to this state. I will lean hard into my rituals to help get through the day!!!
Let me know if and how it helps Frances. Sending you love, this is hard stuff. Consider as well regulating your nervous system with and for your children. What I mean is that they often get more anxious with the uncertainty of why we are anxious. When we tell them “I’m taking deep breaths to calm my body” etc we get to do this with them and it’s great teaching for them as well. None of it is easy. Sending you solidarity as a parent and human trying to live with ease as well ❤️
Tanmeet, I am so grateful for you and your wisdom. I’ve been struggling with exactly this. Just last week my cancer survivor group - as we were finishing up the session, the NP goes around to check on how we are feeling and a meds check. I told the NP, “I’m good.” And then I paused and said, “actually I’m not good. I’m really really not sleeping because of election anxiety - and ruminating on all the things and the sleep deficit is NOT HELPFUL.” She suggested I just double my dose - as needed - that I currently take for sleep. She didn’t even bat an eye. Everyone in the group even nodded and it was apparently a thing. Most of us are experiencing election anxiety.
I’ve reacquainted myself with the feelings bubbles you talk about in your book and I really think trying to name “worry” or “anxiety” or whatever comes up will also help. And YES. I have really forced a scroll limit on myself and deleted social media apps minus this one.
Love that you’re using the bubbles exercise (I’m always astonished at how much it helps!) and the limiting of scrolling. I’m working with that one as well. Grateful for you in this community.
You always explain things so well Tanmeet. As others have said, I really appreciate the scientific explanations you provide, so that we have a better understanding of what we might be going through, and how to help with some of the difficulties we're facing.
I don't live in the US, but even I am terrified of the results of this election. That awful man just cannot be president again!! 😰
I'm really thinking of all of you in the the US who are struggling with the anxiety this election is causing. 🫂
Take gentle care of yourselves everyone, and thank you Tanmeet for helping us do that on a daily basis.
This is so TRUE! I just wrote about having some guardrails in place to take control of our attention and our focus now. It's so important because the outcome of this election and the media we'll be absorbing over the next four years will have us worry and in constant reaction mode. We need to be in discernment mode to decide when, what kinds and how much information we take in.
I read your post and LOVED it! I agree, guardrails are going to be necessary to guard our systems. Attention is going to be my most important currency!
Excellent advice - thank you
You're so welcome Janet, I am glad it resonated!
Thank you for this.
I hope it helps Diana!
I appreciate this— labeling the fear has helped me in the past to get the rumination loop out of my head. When I was studying for the NC bar exam in 2013 I wrote down my fear that I would fail. And I actually did fail by 1 point, and I had to take it again in February 2014. But now that I’ve been licensed since April 2014, it doesn’t feel like the end of my world like it did at the time.
I’m fucking terrified of this election, I wrote 75 postcards about voting for Josh Stein over Mark Robinson, I canvassed, I did a voter registration drive, I early voted and I’ve posted and texted so many people about how important this election is, worn all my Kamala merch and my friendship bracelets for democracy (favorite is Cat Lady for Kamala) but ultimately me worrying and doom scrolling isn’t accomplishing anything. I slept somewhat better this week, I did put my phone away at 9 pm and last weekend I had low cell service in the mountains and I didn’t miss anything and felt like my nervous system could relax.
My husband doesn’t get caught up in the doom spiral, he is concerned about the election but somehow he has internalized that worrying doesn’t accomplish anything and he keeps suggesting I read more light fiction instead of political articles. I know we have to get through it and the time will pass. I’ve written several comments about my oldest kid, he turns 8 in January and I was 30w pregnant with him when Hillary lost. Since the day Biden dropped out he has kept saying it’s time for a woman to be president and Kamala is the woman for the job— when we left the voting booth last week he said “We have voted for the first woman president!” And I keep trying to channel his optimism but my realist self is worried.
Elizabeth I appreciate ALL of this. I am terrified with you. But you said something so powerful, that you let your "nervous system relax" That's so key. We have to tend to our bodies so that we can move forward no matter what happens. Gratitude for all of your efforts as well. Fingers crossed with you my friend.
The most beneficial 'scrolling' of my week! Thanks for explaining what my brain is trying to do for me. Thank you for using your platform to sow knowledge, health, and self-care. Going out for a walk with my four legged companion! ❤️
Aww thanks my friend. And that walk with your friend is a key part of this nervous system regulation. I literally laid on a bean bag cuddling with my dog for two hours one night this week to soothe myself and also get off the scroll!
I go for a daily walk to mitigate the stress and anxiety. Some days I see the sunrise.
YES, that's a ritual, a beautiful one. A soft and soothing place of certainty. ❤️
So beautifully put...and Iove the distillation of the neuroscience into such accessible terms, and such relatable examples.
Thank you Sue! I am so grateful it resonated.
Thank you 🙏🏽 so much for this Tanmeet I’m currently moving through something I’ve never experienced before I think it’s a depression but it’s manifesting with very acute anxiety, 😥 and I honestly don’t feel like myself…its very frightening actually. I have two young children and know I need to be strong and present for them (which only exacerbates the anxiety more) I feel like my nervous system is highly activated and it’s as if I can get out of this anxiety spiral. It’s helpful to know a bit of how my brain is responding to this state. I will lean hard into my rituals to help get through the day!!!
Let me know if and how it helps Frances. Sending you love, this is hard stuff. Consider as well regulating your nervous system with and for your children. What I mean is that they often get more anxious with the uncertainty of why we are anxious. When we tell them “I’m taking deep breaths to calm my body” etc we get to do this with them and it’s great teaching for them as well. None of it is easy. Sending you solidarity as a parent and human trying to live with ease as well ❤️
Tanmeet, I am so grateful for you and your wisdom. I’ve been struggling with exactly this. Just last week my cancer survivor group - as we were finishing up the session, the NP goes around to check on how we are feeling and a meds check. I told the NP, “I’m good.” And then I paused and said, “actually I’m not good. I’m really really not sleeping because of election anxiety - and ruminating on all the things and the sleep deficit is NOT HELPFUL.” She suggested I just double my dose - as needed - that I currently take for sleep. She didn’t even bat an eye. Everyone in the group even nodded and it was apparently a thing. Most of us are experiencing election anxiety.
I’ve reacquainted myself with the feelings bubbles you talk about in your book and I really think trying to name “worry” or “anxiety” or whatever comes up will also help. And YES. I have really forced a scroll limit on myself and deleted social media apps minus this one.
Thank you thank you ✨✨
Love that you’re using the bubbles exercise (I’m always astonished at how much it helps!) and the limiting of scrolling. I’m working with that one as well. Grateful for you in this community.
You always explain things so well Tanmeet. As others have said, I really appreciate the scientific explanations you provide, so that we have a better understanding of what we might be going through, and how to help with some of the difficulties we're facing.
I don't live in the US, but even I am terrified of the results of this election. That awful man just cannot be president again!! 😰
I'm really thinking of all of you in the the US who are struggling with the anxiety this election is causing. 🫂
Take gentle care of yourselves everyone, and thank you Tanmeet for helping us do that on a daily basis.
💖💖💖
Thank you for your solidarity and well wishes. I’m so glad this explanation resonated and I hope it serves you well because it applies to all stress.
This is so helpful. Thank you! I've never been more grateful and relieved that I'm not on social media than I am now.
I agree Jeannie. You are very fortunate. I’ve had to limit my time there for sure. It’s too much of an onslaught.
Thank you this helps. Did some art and went for a needed walk
Both of these are such perfect ways to “do” something about the stress. One week to go!
This is so TRUE! I just wrote about having some guardrails in place to take control of our attention and our focus now. It's so important because the outcome of this election and the media we'll be absorbing over the next four years will have us worry and in constant reaction mode. We need to be in discernment mode to decide when, what kinds and how much information we take in.
I read your post and LOVED it! I agree, guardrails are going to be necessary to guard our systems. Attention is going to be my most important currency!
Yep, we need to protect our attention and focus from all the chaos that we're headed towards.