‘We’re very vulnerable’: How Canadians can deal with anxiety in the face of existential threats from the US

U.S. President Donald Trump’s second term threatens annexation and economic ruin for Canada and destabilizes much of the international order that has governed the world since the Second World War. many Canadians are feeling anxious and worried.

Barrage includes comments about becoming Canada 51st stateWarns not to challenge Trump, job insecurity and dangers have increased due to current trade war Tariff.

“This thing of attacking my country in any way, whether it’s economic or territorial … I mean, I could cry right now,” said Lily Vexu, a French Canadian originally from Montreal who is living and working as a bilingual voice actress in Los Angeles.

“My Canadian heart broke. I mean it was like someone was attacking me personally.”

Weixu is not the only one struggling. 1 January 28 angus reid pole found that four out of five Canadians are feeling more fear than hope about Canada-U.S. relations in the coming year.

Canadians were asked whether they thought Trump would launch more “regime change” campaigns like the one in Venezuela or whether they thought this was an isolated incident. Three-quarters of people say they expect the Trump administration to pursue more deregulation.

“We are now in a world where the superpowers are trying to get more,” Weixu said.

“Russia is attacking Ukraine. The US has its sights set on Canada and Greenland… China is going for Taiwan. We just live in a world where I think none of us will be safe from it.”

‘It feels really unsafe’

Feelings of fear and anxiety are legitimate and normal reactions that can be heightened when someone has already experienced violation, disrespect, and lack of consent, said Carolyn Klassen, a therapist. Wired for connection in Winnipeg.

Instead of ignoring those feelings, Klassen suggests we honor them, take control of them, and figure out how to manage them.

“We feel like we’re in a new area and it’s anxiety-inducing because it’s unfamiliar and we don’t know what to do in this area.”

Klassen also said that our border is with the United States.

“They’re really way down the road … and now it feels like the rules are changing and it’s uncertain,” he said.

“It feels really unsafe.”

Retired environmental consultant Barry Lunseth agrees, pointing to the US interventions that overthrew governments in Chile in 1973 and Iran in 1953.

“If you look at the history … the United States has been involved with other countries over the last 70 years. They’ve been involved in Chile, they’ve overthrown the government there, they’ve been involved in Iran and they’ve overthrown that democratic collective government there. So this is not the first time,” the Calgary man said.

“So we have to be very careful, remain vigilant and not overreact, but at the same time, you know, we have to be quick on our feet.”

For many Inuit, Trump’s obsession with Greenland has also been an ongoing concern.

“Inuit culture will be in danger,” Kaujja Kumangapik said in Inuktitut at the Iqaluit airport.

“Inuit in Canada will be affected,” said Titus Alolu.

“If you look at Alaska, it’s a U.S. state and if Greenland becomes a U.S. state, Canada is right in the middle and will be stuck in the middle, and it’s a very uncertain time right now.”

Klassen says it’s important to stay informed and understand how the threat and actual effects of job loss are affecting people, but she recommends managing news and social media consumption because “being informed is different from being flooded.”

And instead of hiding fear and anxiety, she also suggests finding people or a community who can support you.

“We are interconnected and we need each other like we need food, water and oxygen,” Klassen said. “When we share our crisis, we are better able to manage it. It is important that we do not do this alone.”

For potatoes, this is a natural approach.

“Inuit have to stand together and support each other,” he said.

‘that’s very close’

Finding Support CThis is especially important if one is from a country where one has already experienced what happens When sovereignty is threatened become realityClasen said.

Yaroslav Zhovner, a Ukrainian, moved to Winnipeg from Poland in July 2022. His wife and three children joined him from Lviv three months later.

“I was working in Poland when the war started, but it’s still very close to Ukraine,” he said. “We have to go somewhere else to be safe and keep the kids in a safe area.”

They chose Canada because it was safeHe said.

But now, he said he is We’re hearing parallels between the Trump administration’s threats and what Russian President Vladimir Putin was saying before the invasion and annexation of the Crimea peninsula in 2014, and again in the weeks and months before the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

“We had the same situation in 2014 and 2022… Now we can see what has happened,” Zovner said.

“It’s very close…the leader’s words, but what everyone else is talking about is very close and exactly the same.”

Zovner and his wife have family members and friends still in Ukraine, so “when bombs drop in the city, it’s terrible,” he said.

“We call our parents every day, checking how they are.”

His wife feels a lot of worry and their children, aged five, nine and 13, often have questions.

He can do everything, He said, ILet them know they are safe. “Just keep working, keep living and try to make your life easier and better.”

It’s time for unity, not separation

Lily Vexu says she’s been practicing self-care — eating well, doing yoga and limiting her screen time.

Still, he he said fThe Eels are helpless and worried for their loved ones in Canada, especially as Quebec and Alberta potentially face referendums on sovereignty.

“I’m certainly concerned about people who want to break away from this right now because we need to come together as Canadians,” he said.

“A lot of bad things can happen when a population is divided. So this is not the time to be divided… We are too weak as a soft power.”