8 Election Day Concerns and Ideas to Calm Anxieties

I am in disbelief that it's finally here--Election Day. For me, it's come during what feels like the busiest time of my life as I near the end of a graduate school program while balancing a job, volunteering for a nonprofit, and a new title: Mom.

Based on the many strong moms (and mom figures) I am fortunate to know, this is a title I feel like I still haven’t earned. However, when my sweet baby wraps her arms around my neck, plants a wet and sloppy kiss on my cheek, or just stares up at me with her big, innocent eyes, I feel like perhaps I’m coming close.

In addition to taking care of my child’s physical and emotional needs, I’ve also felt lately that I need to work to defend the rights, democracy, and safety that I grew up with and that are at stake in this election. 

I will say I agree with many Republicans in that Trump would be a departure from the Biden administration. Also, I'd like to just say I respect my Republican friends and know that I don't know everything. However, before all of the votes are cast and counted, I feel I must express my fear as a mom and a citizen that our economy, democracy, and our safety will change for the worse under another Trump presidency. Here’s why, based on my research, and why Kamala Harris would be a much better president for all Americans, even regardless of political party (if you've already voted and you are looking for some anxiety relief, please skip to the end of this post for stress relief ideas):

1. Trump would use his executive authority to undermine our First Amendment Freedoms, according to the American Civil Liberties Union—he’s threatened to use his executive power to go after his enemies and attack journalists who criticize him. Maybe you don’t think this would actually happen. However, I studied abroad in Santiago, Chile. Between 1973 and 1990, more than 1,000 people disappeared during the reign of dictator Augusto Pinochet in Chile, and many who disagreed with him were tortured. One of my program supervisors was one of the tortured, so I view this as a very real possibility, having been in a place where it actually happened that didn’t seem that different from the United States. 

2. One of my greatest concerns is Trump weakening gun control safety measures at a time when school shootings are sharply rising in frequency, according to the BBC. His running mate J.D. Vance has even said they are simply “a fact of life." Trump and Vance also seem to agree with the Republican platform of arming schools against gun violence, although research shows this is ineffective. I am incredibly worried about when my daughter goes to school given the rise in school shootings, and how they could become even more prevalent with weaker gun control measures. 

3.  Americans would probably have to pay more in taxes due to Trump’s tariff plan—specifically, over $2,600 a year according to the Peterson Institute for International Economics. Trump’s tariffs could also increase costs for consumers by as much as 6 to 9.3 percent, especially for imported items such as avocados and coffee, according to emarketer. In fact, although Trump has promised his tariffs would lower grocery store prices, many economists say they would do the opposite since the tariffs would increase companies’ costs to important goods, meaning they would have to then pass these costs onto consumers, according to The Pennsylvania Independent. 

4. At least two Texas women have died after doctors delayed their care because they feared it would be considered a crime to intervene in their miscarriages after the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Please let that sink in. And please consider the heartbreak of these women’s families. The most recent woman was 17 weeks pregnant and already had a daughter who is now motherless, according to The Texas Tribune. She died on Oct. 30 after being in anguish for 40 hours because doctors refused to treat her miscarriage while the fetus still had a heartbeat for fear it would be illegal under Texas’s strict abortion laws. Trump has proudly taken credit for overturning Roe v. Wade. And while he has said he would veto a national abortion ban (which honestly I do find slightly reassuring), I am fearful that many more women will die due to delayed care associated with state anti-abortion laws.

5. As Trump demonstrated on January 6, 2021, he will not easily accept losing. Although Trump called this a “Day of Love” it injured about 140 police officers. It also interfered with a hallmark of our nation’s democracy–the peaceful transfer of power. The most detailed criminal case and evidence showing Trump tried to overturn the 2020 election was released in October. What frightens me is that Trump hasn’t said he would unconditionally accept the results of this election, so we might be stuck with Trump much longer than four or even eight years if we elect him 

6. During his administration, Trump rolled back more than 100 environmental rules, including 16 to protect animals, nine to protect water quality, and 30 to protect air quality and curb fossil fuel emissions, according to the New York Times. While some may argue there are too many environmental rules, considering we are literally in the midst of the sixth mass extinction of plants and animals on the planet due to human actions, according to multiple sources, including the Stanford Report, I believe we should be doing everything we can to protect the environment right now. That inflation everyone is concerned about—climate change is a major cause of it since the crops we eat and feed to animals are put at risk, according to Nature. 

7. Another way Trump could make costs at the grocery store increase significantly: He has said he plans to deport 1.7 million undocumented workers, according to Bloomberg. Not only do I believe this is incredibly inhumane, but these workers play a huge role in our current food supply chain doing incredibly important and thankless work Americans simply won’t sign up for such as harvesting crops during heat waves while being exposed to pesticides and catching and hanging live chickens (often getting injured in the process).

8. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, I do not want a leader of this country who has rallies in which an entire United States territory is called an “Island of garbage” and who scapegoats immigrants in a country made up of descendants of immigrants. Additionally, this scapegoating is a well-documented tactic that governments who abuse citizens have used from Pakistan to Venezuela, according to Human Rights Watch. To me, it seems Trump is constantly trying to divide us as Americans instead of seeing our diversity as part of our strength—and a survey in 2019 seems to back up this perception. That survey found that 56 percent of adults believed that Trump had made race relations worse, according to Pew Research. 

While in my research I did find that some of Kamala’s policies could have some potential flaws such as not being the most effective outside of emergencies, it seems none could be as disastrous—particularly for the economy—as some of Trump’s policies. Regarding food prices, Kamala has other plans that would bring down prices, such as going after food company mergers and acquisitions and diversifying food chains and food production. Kamala's policies to lower food costs would help those from marginalized communities, as would her environmental agenda, according to Politico.

Most of all, I truly believe in my heart that Kamala would bring this nation together. In the last major speech of her campaign, she didn’t villainize Trump supporters—she said she would give those who disagree with her “a seat" at her table. It’s often been said that the best leaders surround themselves with diverse views (and Forbes backs this up). To me, this statement from Kamala’s last speech solidifies her ability to be a strong leader. Additionally, these lines from Kamala's speech accepting the Democratic Party's nomination still give me chills and make me believe without a doubt that she'd be a beneficial president for the widest range of Americans: "And I want you to know: I promise to be a President for all Americans. You can always trust me to put country above party and self."

However, of course I understand that not everyone will agree with me—and Trump has a very strong chance of winning this election again. I’m going to close this blog with some tips that I think will help me get through the end of this drawn-out election season and what might be to come, and I hope they can help you too: 

1. Cultivate or turn to your cultivated support system—family, friends, pets, whatever and whoever brings you comfort and support 

2. Consider Get Out the Vote phone banking as a simple way to take action from the comfort of your home, in this last day of the election and for future elections. I have done multiple at this point—you don’t use your actual number, and I’ve been surprised by how many people have said they are grateful for the call. I like the Environmental Voter Project phone banks because they are nonpartisan and just focused on getting people to vote (https://www.environmentalvoter.org/get-involved). 

3. When anxiety flares, consider a “safe word” to help you focus on something more pleasant and not spiral into the worse case scenarios (my partner and I’s safe word is “puppy”)

4. Find something or a part of your house to clean—cleaning can calm anxiety because it can restore a sense of control when faced with unpredictable situations, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

5. Give yoga a shot: You don't have to be a pretzel or carve out a lot of time. There are also a lot of free online classes—Sarah Beth is my favorite free online instructor: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-0CzRZeML8zw4pFTVDq65Q

6. Remember that if Kamala doesn’t win, she has still garnered a huge web of supporters. These people can be allies in continuing to further her policies, and in electing those who believe in our democracy and taking care of all its citizens to the Senate and House 

7. No matter what, Joe Biden should be president until January, and hopefully during that time he will pass policies that will outlive his term in helping protect our environment and democracy—and we can push him to do so. 

8. Write out your feelings--Honestly writing this blog has helped dispel some of my anxiety and made me feel more prepared to take on what's to come.

Please, vote in this election, first and foremost. When I voted, although I still felt anxious, I also felt proud that I’d taken a step to help shape this country into the one I think my daughter and all U.S. children deserve.