“Your body my choice” is already on dating app profiles in my area

I’m a woman in her early 20’s. The election was devastating, and the violent rhetoric and people that were emboldened by it are terrifying.

I tried to explain to my moderate uncle the intense emotion I was feeling, and he is into stoicism so he correctly pointed out that, since I voted and I take part in local initiatives, I’ve done all I can and the rest is out of my hands. Feeling more emotion about it than what is necessary to process will only make my life worse. He’s right, and I am frustrated that he is. Having a panic attack or an episode of fury won’t help the situation, even if it’s a response I’m entitled to.

I saw the profile in passing, and reported it, and tried to move on. It was being written off as a kink, as if it wasn’t a threat of violence the asshole behind the profile was trying to normalize. The coward didn’t even use a single photo of himself or a name, just a stock photo or ai generated looking cartoon “chad” with a red hat.

Whatever. Trying to be stoic, right? Don’t let them get me more down, don’t let them win.

But as my night progressed I started to feel tightness in my chest, a quickening of my breathing, a pressure behind my eyes. How can I not feel unsafe with this shit all around me? How am I supposed to go to sleep and eat breakfast and go to work as if my rights aren’t under attack and as if real people around me don’t want to grind my morale down at best, and assault me at worst?

Why do I have to pretend it’s normal, and why do I have to be the one to control my emotions?

I know the answer of course. To not let them do more damage. To live my life and be as happy as possible given the circumstances, to be able to have the mental and emotional resources to keep caring and taking action where I can. I am successful to some extent. But some nights I want to give in to the despair and rage.

It’s a fucking dumpster fire of a fate to keep calm and carry on like this.

Edit: grammar, spelling