‘A train wreck… I can’t stop watching’: Canadians are fighting with anxiety around Trump’s Customskaos

Do you feel frustrated and helpless in light of the chaos around customs and politics in general these days? There is a valid reason for that and you are not alone.

Between Canada’s current political situation and US President Donald Trump boast About his “quick and tireless act” since he took office, his on-the-off-an-year-old customs war, which targeted Canada and his threats to turn this country into “51st state”, it is enough to make someone feel that they have age a decade in the last few months.

CBC News has heard from lots of people sharing the anxiety, fear and fear of feeling the customs war, Trump’s policy and what looks like an endless attack on bad news.

“I get completely obsessed with the news and my anxiety goes through the roof,” said Saskatoon -resident Tracey Collins, 58.

Collins says she wants to stay informed, but finds the news so disturbing that she has to be careful not to be consumed by it. Lately, given the amount of change and uncertainty, Collins says she needs extra medicine for anxiety.

“My biggest fear is that we are heading for a dictatorship if Trump remains in power,” she said.

See | Why this double citizen feels torn between two countries:

‘I’m torn,’ Double Citizen says over trading with canada-us

In Fort Erie, ont., Said directly across the border from Buffalo, new, double citizen Maria Lirio, that she feels torn ‘between the two countries I love,’ like Canada and the United States are involved in a trade war.

In Fort Erie, ont., Direne said across the border from Buffalo, new, double citizen Maria Lirio, that she feels torn. For example, when she acts in New York, she says that Americans who notice her Canadian license plates apologize on the country’s behalf. And in Canada, she says, everyone is just angry.

“I’m torn between the two countries that I love,” Lirio told CBC News Network.

“I belong here and I belong there. Please, Mr. Prime Minister and Mr. President, prepare it. We are neighbors. We love each other.”

Politics and chronic stress

Recent studies have found that exposure to political stress is associated with Bad physical and emotional healthand that most therapists report that their Patients discuss politics In their sessions. Other studies have found that people after the presidential election after 2020 reported that people reported Election -related post -traumatic stress.

Just last fall, American Psychology Association (APA) warned that electoral stress can harm your health. In the US, 77 percent of adults in the APAs Stress in America Report quoted the future of their nation as a significant source of stress.

“In general, we know that chronic stress harms psychological well -being and physical well -being. It takes a toll on our bodies,” said Brett Ford, associate professor of psychology at the University of Toronto, who studies the connection between emotions and political commitment, in APAS news message.

“There is a strong case that needs to be made that politics for many people is a form of chronic stress.”

Another Survey of US Psychotherapists Made under Trump’s first presidency, they found that they reported that their patients who were not Trump supporters experienced falls in positive feelings after the 2016 election. The opposite phenomenon was found for patients supporting Trump.

‘Constant threat’ can cause people to set

So while political anxiety is not new, it has undoubtedly been more intense recently considering Trump’s “shock and awe” Strategy since accession. As analysts have noticed, Trump hit Earth in January to impose his disputed agenda. A recent story from the US news company Axios notes That this strategy of “drama and unpredictability” tests people’s reaction to chaos.

“Our cognitive and emotional systems are not prepared for the constant influx of information, which means at any given time we can know that every terrible and complex thing is happening in the world,” explained Amanda Friesen, associate professor of political science at Western University, in a recent Questions and answers to the university’s site.

“We are not prepared to encounter constant threat. The more people are taking on these possible threats, the more their mental and emotional health can be aggravated.”

Annette Buchholz, who lives in Vulcan, Alta.

His treatment of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and freezing support for Ukraine, for example, was “an embarrassment and regrettable,” said Buchholz, 76.

“My parents underwent the same with a tyrann named Hitler. I see the past repeating themselves and feeling helpless to stop it,” she said. “In addition, as Canadians, we have not only these tariffs for worrying about, but also the opportunity to become part of the United States, a nightmare in itself.”

Jan Miles, 61, from Stratford, ont., Has suffered from treatment -resistant anxiety and depression for decades and says that watching the daily customs fight has made things worse, but she has a hard time turning away.

“Unfortunately, it’s as if a train wreck is happening right in front of my eyes,” she said. “As much as I’m horrified, I can’t stop looking in spite of Gore.”

See | How to control the stress by overloading news:

Handling the overload of news in a time of political turmoil and global conflict

The news is coming hard and fast these days. But does all this information help us stay informed – or is it just overwhelming? Amanda Friesen, Canada Research President of Political Psychology and Associate Professor at Western University joined London Morning -host Andrew Brown to discuss how to manage our information consumption.

Balancing remains informed and overload of information

Western University’s Friesen, who is also Canada research chairman in political psychology, recently told CBC’s London Morning that it is understandable that people would feel so much anxiety these days. She admits that she is also “rather stressed”, although she is a political scientist who studies political psychology and tools and strategies to control political stress.

People who feel overwhelmed can try to limit their exposure to the 24/7 news cycle, Friesen said. For example, she suggests subscribing to a few once -daily newsletters from trusted news sources as opposed to constantly consuming news.

She knows that it can be difficult to balance to be informed to avoid overloading information – and as a political scientist, she wants people to pay attention – but she says it doesn’t mean we have to monitor the news constantly.

“Maybe it’s interesting to you, but then you have to separate it.” Am I interested in this, or will this just stress me out further? ” “

Janet James, 67, from Elie, Man., Says that she is nervous and messy, and often feels like she is experiencing the end of the world. And to limit her exposure to the news has not exactly helped.

“With a word my mental health is crushed. I’m worried all the time. I’m afraid and depressed,” James said.

“I have limited myself to looking at the news to twice a day. Once in the morning – to pamper my day – and once a night so I can’t sleep.”