My life has been turned upside down since January.   I know many of you feel the same way.    Living in Trump’s America leaves me feeling like I’m back with my abusive narcissist ex — always waiting for the other shoe to drop, always feeling hypervigilant and insecure and uncertain about the future, and something even he didn’t have the power to ruin for me: wondering if there is any future at all.  It’s hard to escape from it.

This week I’m off from work, but that just gives me more time to read the news and obsess and worry.   So tomorrow, I’m getting up before dawn and driving to Myrtle Beach.  I’ll have two days to spend there, relaxing and enjoying the sand and surf.   I haven’t decided if I’m going to bring my laptop, but even if I do, I won’t have much time to spend on it.

Spending time on the beach will be good for my soul, and when I return home on Friday, I’ll be relaxed and ready to tackle another trying week.

If you, like me, are suffering from TTSD (Trump Traumatic Stress Disorder), make sure to give yourself breaks from it all.   Even if you can’t make a short trip somewhere, tear yourself away from the constant stream of disturbing news and do something fun or nice for yourself.    Read a novel, watch a funny movie, take walks, cook an amazing meal, do yoga, pray, work out, go to the zoo, or anything else that relaxes you and takes your mind off hard cold reality for awhile.

For me, spending time in nature is the greatest therapy ever.