Time is running out. Please don’t ignore this. This is it. We are falling apart.

That’s not just my internal stream of consciousness at the moment. It’s also a smattering of the email subject lines that have appeared overnight in my inbox. With Election Day looming on Nov. 5 (please vote!), those lines are a direct reflection of the anxiety I’m feeling.

So, I do what I always do when I’m freaked out. I call my brother Mike for some free therapy. Mike is a family counselor in Maine and, in my family, he’s always been the voice of reason.

Mike says this is not just about Trump vs. Harris. With anxiety, the battle is you vs. you.

“Stop waiting for the world to change so you can feel better,” he says. “Instead, work on yourself. Start by being in the present moment.”

We’re inches away from disaster, my inbox replies.  

“Pain comes from dwelling on the past or fantasizing about the future,” Mike says. “Those are just a bunch of thoughts. Focus on the here and now. That’s where life is happening,” he tells me.

I glance back at my email. Right now is the most crucial moment, it says.

To focus on the here and now, I step away from the inbox and decided to check in with friends IRL. I reach out to a diverse group of people I know. They range in age from 16 to 80; blue, red and purple; male and female; straight and gay; single and married; parents and childless fur parents. Regardless of their political affiliation, I consider all to be intelligent and well-intentioned.

My question to each of them: Are you anxious about the election? And if so, how are you coping with it? Replies are edited for length and clarity. I color-coded political affiliation for context and changed their names to protect their privacy.

KAT, BLUE

I’m very anxious. Staying away from the news and concentrating on the Buffalo Bills. I’ve also dusted off my Irish passport. Gloria Gaynor said it best: I will survive as long as I know how to love, I know I’ll stay alive.

MIA, RED

I’m managing it by voting early. I only view news outlets I agree with. Also this quote from Soren Kierkegaard: “Either do it or don’t do it.” In other words, if you make a decision, fully commit to it and be comfortable with the outcome.

MAX, BLUE

Not so much anxiety as confusion. Like wondering how people can separate their vote from the man himself. I saw this quote the other day that said something like, “Not all Trump supporters are racist, but all Trump supporters have decided that racism isn’t a deal breaker,” And I’m like, How does that even work?!

MADELINE, PURPLE

I’m not old enough to vote yet, but I’m part of my school’s diversity, equity and inclusion team. To ease tension, we set aside time for people to ask questions and share experiences without judgement. Stepping back from online chaos helps me make peace with my own opinions.

SAM, RED

Trump supporters say, “Who the heck is voting for Kamala; I know barely a handful of people who support her,” and Kamala supporters I know say the same thing about Trump. How is the country so blinded on either side? Does CNN lie? Yes! Does Fox lie? Yes! It feels like we’re in a simulation of sorts. I’m focusing on what I can control and turning off the TV and phone.

SARA, BLUE

My election anxiety is intense. I want to believe that the majority of voters will do the right thing: reject hate, misogyny, racism and every other anti-otherism. I feel like we’re in a film about some dystopian society where everything looks normal, but we’re barely holding it together because we don’t know what’s real.

DAN, RED

I am experiencing some anxiety. This is such a long, contentious, sometimes ugly process. At the end of the day, there’s not much my one vote is going to do about it. I take it with a grain of salt, to be honest.

JOE, BLUE

Total anxiety. I am 24/7 with CNN and MSNBC. Listening to Kamala makes me feel better until I hear her opponents literally talk trash. That’s when I turn it all off and watch “Sex and the City” and “Schitt’s Creek.” Avoidance distraction? Yes, please!

JAMES, RED

The only way to cope with it is kick back and get a buzz on.

EMMA, BLUE

Like a true millennial, I’m coping by doom scrolling TikTok. There’s nothing like a little hike to shut my brain off. No matter what, I’ll still show up for those who need it most.

ALEX, BLUE

I’m anxious avoidant! No news! No news feeds! No trying to get people to come to their senses. It’s far too late for that. Vote by ballot. Pray for a Hail Mary!

ROBERT, RED

I’m not anxious but I know a lot of people are. Both sides think the world will end if their candidate doesn’t get elected. Maybe I’m overly optimistic: I tell myself that changes will be made either way. I would rather focus on how I can best navigate around those changes.

MARY, BLUE

I’m not listening, watching or reading any election coverage until it’s over. I’ve done what I’m in control of: I voted! Gotta let the rest go. Me worrying isn’t going to change the results. If Trump doesn’t win by a landslide, there will be chaos.

DANNY, PURPLE

I don’t necessarily have anxiety. All we can do is vote. I dropped my ballot in the box this morning hoping that our country realizes what’s at stake. If I did have anxiety, I’d bury my head in the sand and wait for Tuesday to be over.

LAURIE, BLUE

My anxiety is almost crippling. Having nightmares and a sense of impending doom. If he wins, we lose democracy and years of hard-fought women’s rights.

MARISSA, PURPLE

I wouldn’t say I suffer from election anxiety. My anxiety shows up at the supermarket and everyday life. But as a Puerto Rican, it’s hard supporting someone who made fun of us and our “floating pile of garbage.” I’m left to choose between the possibility of decency or a better economy.

After listening to my friends, I feel a little more hopeful. We may be divided. But we seem to be unified in our collective anxiety. Maybe that will be the glue that holds us together. No matter what the future brings, at least it’s a start. For now, I’ll take my brother’s advice and focus on the present moment. The one where life is really happening.