Christina Applegate's fiery response to Trump supporters and where we go from here
Christina Applegate is mad about the results of the presidential election declaring Donald Trump will once again sit in the Oval Office. Mad with a capital "M."
"Please unfollow me if you voted against female rights. Against disability rights. Yeah that. Unfollow me because what you did is unreal," the actress wrote on X.
Applegate isn't alone. She tussled with Trump supporters in the comments, as did Cardi B, who expressed her dissatisfaction with the presidential race in a since-deleted Instagram video. Across social media sites, many people mirrored similar sentiments with "unfriend me" or "unfollow if you voted for…" posts flooding Facebook and X. Other trending tweets chided celebrities who supported Vice President Kamala Harris' bid for the White House, goading them to leave the country.
But is more derision and division the answer?
If you're looking for ways to cope – or not gloat too hard – here's where you should direct your energy.
Understand what a 'normal' response to the election looks like
First, remember to give yourself a break. It's OK to feel anxious, says Dr. Shairi Turner, the chief health officer of Crisis Text Line.
"Anxiety and stress can manifest in different ways amongst different people, but I think the key here is for folks to know that if they're feeling anxious, it's actually a normal response to what we know are potentially going to be some polarizing times," Turner says. "And the key to anxiety is really knowing yourself and knowing how to manage and cope with it."
Take a social media break
The quickest thing way to calm down? Try a news and social media detox. "People get into a doomscrolling pattern where they're consistently reading the negative news cycles," Turner explains.
While social media has its benefits – such as building networks and maintaining contact with others – too much time on these platforms is linked to depression, anxiety and stress, addiction specialist Dr. Shahla Modir previously told USA TODAY.
Modir says you know you're on social media too much when you're checking your "notifications and messages every hour in a way that affects your engagements, occupation or social relationships." The day after an election, this might include checking every minute.
For more tips: 6 signs you need to unplug
Be sensitive if you are happy with the results
Everyone is thrilled when their candidate wins. But in a highly polarized election, it's likely you'll have people in your orbit you don't agree with. Maybe even your spouse.
"Expect to have those difficult conversations," Turner says. "If you don't want to, really be boundaried about when and where you're going to talk about politics."
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Lean into some healthy distractions
Find time to unwind with your favorite show or music playlist, whether you're rocking out or moping in melancholy. But pay attention to warning signs you might need more help than distractions.
"When people feel like they're not able to carry out their daily activities, they're not functioning, they're not sleeping, that's really when support is needed," Turner says. "When changes in appetite, relationship, work, function and productivity, each of those changes can warrant the need for reaching out for support, either from Crisis Text Line or from friends or family members. Even for those who feel like they've got it under control, it's never too early to reach out for support."
Remember: You will never be able to truly cancel out your fear. But the absence of fear doesn't equal enlightenment. "There will always be fear, but it's important to remember that fear doesn't need to halt you," Raquel Martin, licensed clinical psychologist, previously told USA TODAY. "You can operate with a healthy level of fear."
Contributing: Alyssa Goldberg, Sara Moniuszko
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump won, Kamala Harris lost: How to cope with the election