Anxiety and political trauma

Trump F-34 Is a Health Hazard—And I Have the Anxiety Attack to Prove It.  Last night I fell asleep with the TV on. At some point, the news crept into my subconscious, looping stories about Trump’s tariffs against our (former?) allies in the EU, his escalating war against Harvard, and Putin’s bombs raining down on Ukrainian cities.

The remote control was downstairs—too far, too late (who gets up and turns off the TV without the remote?).  So there I was, trapped in bed, listening. As my internal alarm urged me to wake up, the physical symptoms hit. Racing heart. Shallow breath. Splitting headache. A full-blown anxiety attack.

Trump F-34 is bad for my health. Actually, he is a public health crisis.

This morning I couldn’t stop thinking about the 7,000 international students at Harvard—some of the brightest young minds on the planet—suspended in limbo. What message are we sending to these future world leaders about who we are? About what kind of nation we want to be?

And then there’s the billions in halted federal research grants. What happens to innovation? To the discoveries and breakthroughs that could cure diseases, tackle climate change, and keep us globally competitive?

And don’t get me started on Ukraine. The same man who gave Putin a wink and a nod now wants us to believe he’s shocked by war crimes? Civilians are dying. This isn’t a movie. It’s not a drill. And the drumbeat of WWIII sounds louder every day.

So here I am—wondering how many of us are silently suffering.
How many of us are losing sleep, peace of mind, and physical well-being because of Trump F-34? Because of the chaos? The cruelty? The constant crisis?

We need to name this: political trauma is real.
He may have only been in office three months, but our bodies already know it’s too much.

So what do we do? How do we protect our mental and physical health? Here are a few things that helped me this morning:

1. TURN OFF THE NOISE.
Literally. Unplug. Mute the chaos. Choose when and how you engage with news—not when it hijacks your subconscious at 3 AM.

2. BREATHE. MOVE. STRETCH.
Your body remembers peace, even when your mind forgets. Gentle movement and deep breathing are first-line defenses against panic and anxiety. I focused on breathing and did some stretching exercises.

3. SIP SOMETHING SOOTHING.
Warm, non-caffeinated tea with honey and milk is my “go to”. It’s simple, grounding, and nurturing. A soft moment in a hard world.

4. ENGAGE YOUR SENSES.
Aromatherapy, candlelight, or a soft playlist—whatever brings you back to your center. Use your senses to reset. I turned on my candle warmer my friend Janet gave me for Christmas.

5. CHOOSE PEACE.
Even if the world is on fire, you can carve out peace. Sit. Be still. Listen inward. Let that be your foundation.

But let’s be real: self-care is not a substitute for civic action.
I’m still angry. And the only way to truly heal is to fight complacency. I refuse to sit on my tail for four years. If we want peace, justice, and sanity, we’ve got to show up and demand it.

So here’s my final question: Am I alone? Or are you feeling it too?
Let’s talk about the Trump Impact. Not in abstract terms, but in lived experiences—in the toll it’s taking on our health, minds, and communities.  May is Mental Health Month and this man is causing a mental health pandemic.

Because he may not believe in science, but I guarantee science will one day study the trauma his leadership inflicted on a nation. 

Until then, protect your peace and raise your voice. 

Permission to share but not cut and paste.

Coming soon are my two books: Co-authored with Ditu Kasuyi is The Excellence Blueprint: A Strategic Guide for Afrian American Leaders to Rise, Thrive and Lead with Legacy. It drops this summer.

And, later this year, my book inspired by my family drops, Under the Banyan Tree: A Family’s Legacy of Resistance, Freedom, and Perseverance.