Preparing for the worst
+ some news updates
If you’re still reeling from the election results and not quite sure if you’re living through The Handmaid’s Tale, welcome. These past few weeks have been stressful, at best… and many of us are feeling the weight of what’s to come.
If we’re honest, another Trump presidency is terrifying. And not just because he’s a convicted felon and rapist. Trump will now make decisions that will negatively impact all of us (and no, I’m not getting into the economics of it — though you can definitely expect the prices of eggs to increase).
Already, he’s making questionable decisions (and we shouldn’t be surprised).
Among them: choosing Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (and oversee women’s health!). For some background: this man doesn’t believe child vaccines are safe or effective, wants to prioritize the removal of fluoride from water (because that’s obviously the greatest threat to our health right now), and is a big fan of raw milk. But don’t worry, he’s going to “make America healthy again.” [Sarcasm].
I won’t get into all of his cabinet picks. If you’re on social media or following any news outlet, you should already know about them. If you don’t yet, get yourself some popcorn before diving into that sad reality show.
What I do want to say is this: if you’re feeling overwhelmed, afraid, helpless, angry, you’re not alone.
We know the next four years are going to be painful. Do we not remember the first four? But we can’t exactly stop the freight train from moving… so what are we supposed to do? How do we prepare for the worst?
First, we take care of ourselves. We set boundaries. We take pause when we need to take pause. What does this look like in practice? Maybe for you, it’s skipping the family Thanksgiving or only going for an hour (and refusing to talk politics). Maybe it’s taking time away from social media or saying “no” to friend’s invites. Maybe it’s speaking up when you hear or see, “your body, my choice.”
Next, we get practical. We consider how the next four years might impact us personally and we start making some important decisions.
Maybe it’s cutting back on purchases or subscriptions. Maybe it’s buying big expenses before the year ends. Maybe it’s stocking up on contraceptive devices, Plan B, abortion pills. Maybe it’s scheduling an appointment with a doctor to discuss permanent birth control options like getting your tubes tied or having a hysterectomy.
Do what you have to do to get through this time. It’s not an exaggeration to say, a Trump presidency puts thousands of lives at stake and emboldens far too many questionable people to act on racism, sexism, hatred, and violence. Now is the time for self-protection.
The next four years (and beyond) aren’t going to be easy. But we need to prepare for them. And when we’re ready (maybe tomorrow or next month or six months from now), we need to really dig in if we want to make changes…
We need to donate to the organizations that need us most. We need to lean on facts and information to educate those around us. We need to volunteer our time. We need to become members of organizations that we value. We need to gather with trusted allies and focus on making concrete change. We need to resist. We need to take care. We need to protect those who need protection.
We don’t have to do all of these things, but we need to do something. That something could be raising smart, educated, emotionally intelligent children.
This isn’t the time to point fingers (though I’d love to), not is it time to make amends, either. Maybe of us feel personally attacked and rightfully so. We don’t need to apologize for that, but we do have to find a way to make it through this challenging time and ideally, with a community of people we trust.
So what do you say, are you with me?
Mind
A new report from the Urvashi Vaid National LGBTQ+ Women’s Community Survey reveals that LGBTQ+ women experience higher rates of mental illness than the general population and nearly half of respondents live with anxiety (44%) or depression (51%).
In pregnant woman, a new study found that the oral microbiome is associated with stress and mental health. Maybe this will help us figure out why pregnant and postpartum women suffer with so many oral health issues…
Body
Johns Hopkins and Clue launched a study analyzing data from more than 33,000 menstrual cycles (i.e. individuals) and discovered unique connections between between gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, mood, and the menstrual cycle (though most of us won’t be surprised by this).
Beyond
What will a Trump presidency mean for sexual and reproductive rights? Here are some possibilities.
Another women’s health company has bid adieu. Ruth Health, the maternal health startup founded in 2020, had raised $3.1 million, but the CEO says she recognized “challenges ahead in a fragmented maternity care space.”
Carrot Fertility recently launched the first-ever Faith-Inclusive Fertility Care, which gives people of different faiths greater access to care.
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