USA Weekend mag has tips for those depressed post-election!! (Get this...)

[Gloria]

It's in the "RelationTips" column with the question: Is it normal to still be depressed about the way the presidential election turned out?--J.L., New York....


Well, perky little Dennie Hughes opines:

Don't worry. Many psychologists I've spoke to about post-election depression say those feelings are normal, especially now, with inauguration festivities underway.

(Quotes some experts on what was abnormal about the election is the number of people who were upset and the intensity of the reaction...then quotes an Oklahoma psychologist named Paul Heath who has treated post-traumatic stress disorders in veterans as well as OK City bombing survivors, who isn't surprised, given the "relentless news coverage; ad campaigns on both TV and in the mail; and the use of painful images of the war and the 911 disaster; and you can almost guarantee that people are going to be extremely, passionately invested..."

Article continues: (If the outcome had gone the other way, those on the other side of the political aisle probably would be coping with similar post-election blues.) Adding fuel to this fire was anger carried over from the bitter election four years before.

Tip: Open up--write in a journal, talk with friends...let the emotions out.

Tune out--Once you have expressed your discontent, move on. Make a clean break from the event. Disengage for at least 3 months.

Get involved--After the 3 month break, find positive ways to channel your dissatisfaction. Write letters, work with grassroots political groups in sync with your beliefs or support a charity you think especially needs it.

My advice?? Vote not to let partisan politics get you down. Choose instead to exercise the right to pursue personal happiness. The fuller your life is the easier it is to appreciate it.


***************************

My comments: First, I don't think the other side would have been "depressed." With control of the media and talk radio, they would have plenty of "moral support" and would just keep bashing away, esp. since they probably would still control Congress. We're in a totally different situation.

As for those 911 images, etc.---what do psychologists think about mass manipulation of the public psyche??


Tune out? Make a clean break? How can you when the media is constantly propping up Chimpy, all the time, everywhere. What, are we supposed to be so uninformed that Bushco can do what it wants without "accountability"?? (Ha ha, what's that?) Isn't that sort of what Bushco thrives on---people "tuning out" and being uninformed and easy pickings for Bushco/media propaganda??????

[GetTheRightVote]

1. I am not getting over it or moving on until justice is served & vote count

:kick:

But atleast I have so many to share it with here on DU.

[Eric J in MN]

2. The columnist says someone depressed over the election

should disengage for 3 months, not forever.

The column seems reasonable.

[Gloria]

4. Yes, disengagement is good advice and I've been trying...HOWEVER,

given the circumstances around us, it's damned hard to do so. That's what I'm saying.

In the long run, if you are afraid to disengage because you're afraid what longterm DAMAGE Bushco might do to you when you're not looking.....then what??

No easy way to serenely disengage, I'm afraid.

[Carni]

16. I guess the Boston Tea Party crowd didn't follow this type of advice

Although in light of the events of the last five years and herr bush co. -- I am thinking they may as well have not bothered!

[savistocate]

7. "pursue personal happiness --fuller life" is what election

from Democrats view was/IS all about. As if there is this
distinct separation. Idiotic.

Those millions without jobs--no new jobs, but more lay-offs,
losing health care, rising costs of (& all). The families suffering loss in war-loving RW/U.S...and more on the horizon.
All of it linked to pursuit of happiness..fuller life. Not at all reasonable.

Instead of journal indulgent writing would be communicating
to Senate & House Democrats --for one, to get ahead of the Rs aggressive curve on THEFT of Social Security --expose the lies of "crisis" --get out their own plans for the nominal adjustments that easily solve minimal threat of insolvency. The Voting-Election Reforms!!

[Clark2008]

22. But three months from Nov. 2 would have been enough time

to allow for the fraud to be inaugurated.

Despite the fact that he will - we still had time to work on it, just in case our efforts would have been rewarded.

No - don't think I'll be taking a break. Don't think I could. Could any of you?

[RUMPLEMINTZ]

3. Holding on

I have been reading democraticunderground for months but have been shy to post anything. I just wanted to let everyone know that you all have been a great help to me! I have been so depressed and angry but all of you have really kept me sane! THANK YOU! :)

[DELUSIONAL]

5. Welcome to DU

[Angry Girl]

6. Hi, RumpleMintz! Welcome aboard!

Vive la resistance!

[seito]

8. Welcome RUMPLEMINTZ

Thank you for your post. I feel the same way :)

The arrogance of this administration will be it's own undoing. I would not miss this show for anything.

I am definitely in for the long haul.

To the patriots :toast:

[RUMPLEMINTZ]

9. Thanks

for the warm welcome. Since I'm new I'm still trying to navigate my way around all the threads so if I go off topic please say so and direct me on how to find the correct thread.

I heard Seymore Hirsch said that this administration is going to attack Iran next. I cant believe it!

:wtf:

[anamandujano]

11. DU is the "let it out" or "start a journal" aspect

I found my way here after going through the post 2000 election alone. Thank heaven I'm not alone for this one.

I also saw a blurb at yahoo on US secret missions inside Iran. It's going to be deja vu all over again.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=615&e=1&u=/nm/20050116/pl_nm/iran_usa_newyorker_dc

Speaking to the original post on retreating for awhile. I've only seen Bush on TV about 10 times in the last 4 years. I hear of his exploits here at DU but there's always a buffer to go along with it (that being the comments from DUers) to lessen the anger a bit.

I won't be watching inauguration festivities. I block out the mainstream media. It does help.

The depression hit me about a week ago as I began accepting that the criminals have gotten away with another one. The thing that really gets me is that we have no real opposition, just a few stragglers speaking up and being attacked for their patriotism.
I guess I'll end this little entry into my therapeutic journal.

Welcome to DU.

[SueZhope]

10. its amazing how out of touch people can be

Its not very easy nor wise to get over a corrupt
government . How can we ignore a media that does not
seek or speak truth and helps keep the power in sick hands.

Sadly the people have TUNED out and are in denial of reality , going back to the dysfunctional home syndrome and the media as the enablers .

So if everyone Moves on , gets over it the alcoholic can just keep drinking just as long as no one watches......:wtf: is wrong with this picture?

[NationalEnquirer]

47. They don't seem to care.

They don't want to be bothered.
They are more concerned with their next paychecks.

Heck, I used to be one of them...

[marions ghost]

12. seems to me it's not simple depression,

but more like post-traumatic stress syndrome on a large scale, as when an inexplicable disaster has happened. So many say "thank God there are others like me, thank God for finding this group, and things like "my life changed on Nov 3." When your whole vision of what's right and good is blown, this is not just the blues --this is PTSS (google it). It's not only for tsunami victims.

Welcome to all here who feel a strong sense of dislocation and can't get over it. We must do everything we can as a group to overcome this abuse of trust at the hands of our leaders. If we have been subject to mass manipulation, the only way out is by validating our rejection of that and acting on it through constructive work.

I ask anyone reading this:

Should we be experiencing this sort of widespread shell shock and depression merely because we have had an election for the President of the United States???

[qwghlmian]

13. Yes, there is your smoking gun!

The fact that so many people are shell shocked and depressed over the election proves that there was fraud!

[hootinholler]

14. Not proof, but a strong indicator. N/T

-Hoot

[marions ghost]

15. Huh?

Please explain. You're saying it's proof of fraud?!? I don't get that.

[qwghlmian]

17. In your post, you asked this:

"Should we be experiencing this sort of widespread shell shock and depression merely because we have had an election for the President of the United States???" - implying that if it was just another election, people would not be shell shocked and depressed. That means that there is more to it than just a loss in an election. So I said that the shell shock and depression must be proof of fraud. Why not? It is as good a piece of circumstantial evidence as others that I have seen presented.

[marions ghost]

19. I'm taking you literally

"circumstantial evidence" is not a "smoking gun."

[qwghlmian]

20. You are right, but you should not

have taken me literally. There were "literally" hundreds of posts on DU claiming that "circumstantial evidence" is an (all caps) SMOKING GUN. Mine is just one more.

[NationalEnquirer]

48. What the heck?

Hey man, screw you!
I am not 100% convinced either, and I probably wouldn't take this case to court on the "evidence" we have.
But c'mon, just look at what we ALREADY know.
THIS THING STINKS!
Something is ROTTEN in America.
It has rotted from the base, and is going UP!
The BASE is our democratic institution of VOTING.
Its screwed up, even without a "smoking gun", it is self evident.

[mahina]

31. No, the fact that exit polls in 1996 and 2000 matched the votes,

but exit polls in 2004 swing 5-15% for Bush ONLY in areas where there was no paper trail, is proof of fraud. Voter suppression by the man whose responsibility it is to run a fair election WHILE being the head of the Bush campaign in Ohio, Ken Blackwell, is proof of fraud. The fact that variance from exit polls invalidates elections around the world and back through history, but here is swept under the rug when Bush's cronies OWN the voting technology and PROMISE HIM THE ELECTION is proof of fraud.
Oh and welcome to DU. Enjoy your stay.

[Eloriel]

18. You've touched on what I was going to say

This isn't just some, "Oh, gee, our side lost. What a shame." This is fundamentally different -- this is the loss of democracy itself, given what most of us believe was a stolen election.

Further, the guy who "won" isn't just some normal political opponent -- he is an extremist who has emulated Hitler on too many occasions and in too many ways.

Is it depression? Or is it PTSD? Or is it something else, or a combination? I dunno.

What I DO know is that I'm not convinced that the "normal" advice for dealing with post-election "depression" misses the mark.

[RUMPLEMINTZ]

21. All I know

is that I've put on 15 pounds, am always tired, and just don't feel like doing a da*m thing!

[femme.democratique]

24. I don't think this is depression at all.

I was clinically depressed in the past, and this ain't like that. This is more like a reaction to being lied to, controlled, abused repeatedly, under the knowledge that you are fighting for the very survival of the integrity of your existance. I don't know that there is a proper term for this, maybe something like "long-term stress disorder". The prevalent characteristic is that of stress induced on a mass scale under conditions where one individual has no control, yet is acutely aware of these implicit abuses, and can do little to control the situation over the course of months, years, or decades.

[marions ghost]

27. when you look it up

"post-election depression" has a lot of entries and apparently Dr. Phil, NPR,and mental health groups have offered advice. It has been observed around the country after Nov 3. Most articles compare this to a mild form of post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSS or PTSD, a disorder). Since people have different stress thresholds, symptoms can manifest after a long buildup, often following a sudden event that is irreconcilable. Right, it's not the same as clinical depression. In addition I would argue that the reaction may be delayed...it's not always immediately following the event.

As you point out, there's an important difference in how a person sees this--if it's "my candidate lost, and terrorism fears and moral values won" that's depressing enough, but if you add the loss of trust in the whole electoral process, then it's compounded. Maybe a psych researcher will do some work on this particular phenomenon. Meanwhile I say, work with others who feel the same. Try to put some positive action out there. Together we CAN change how people think about this. Confidence in elections is not too much to ask in a democracy. That's a mainstream idea, a winning idea. We have good reasons for a lack of confidence.

I say those who question this election are among the most sane.:)

[Democrat Dragon]

23. no matter how much moral support you get...

The Nazis will still kidnap you at 4 a.m and send you to a concentration camp.

[demodonkey]

25. Uh-uh! NO MORE "Get Over It". Ever. NGU.

And no "breaks" unless you REALLY feel one is necessary for your sanity.

This is a long haul fight folks. Rosa Parks got on that bus in 1955. The Voting Rights Act didn't happen until 1965. And it is STILL not being practiced and enforced!

Read Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's "Letter From A Birmingham Jail"

http://abacus.bates.edu/admin/offices/dos/mlk/letter.html

NGU.

[mahina]

32. I will never give up on democracy.

I think a really significant piece is keeping the networks together.
If we consider this a beginning rather than an end, 48% is a damn good start.


Starting with campaign finance reform here in Hawaii, which is so neccessary around the country. When we take the money out of the process - eventually, eventually- we will get our democracy back.
And then (almost impossible before the first step, but working at the same time) work the achieve energy independance.

I am now focusing locally.

[seaclyr]

26. Not completely horrible advice, but

there's a whole other side to this that has not been well addressed and is perhaps more depressing - the fact that this, generally speaking, is nothing new. It may be different in its specifics and sophistication but these kinds of things have been going on for millenia. Unfortunately, with few exceptions, the criminal element tends to rise to the top in politics. Rich countries, despite their assertions that they are rich because of the qualities of their institutions, their hard-working, God-fearing citizens, and so on, achieve wealth primarily through their control of resources, either their own, or more often than not, by robbing and cheating others. (Poorer countries of course have their own criminal politicians, I'm not suggesting this aggression and cheating is unique to wealthier countries, they're just better at it.) So, in my opinion, this is the way things are. Doesn't mean you don't fight to change them in what ways you can, but they are not going to be completely eliminated. So, when you think it through, I believe this is the underlying source of the very real depression that this election has helped stir up. It's always been around, in the same way events such as 911 had always been around, it's just now happening to be staring us in the face. Coming to terms with this I believe is the real way to eventually feel better. But it's not easy.

[Stevepol]

28. No reason to move on but here's a Sufi parable that cd help.

Many have probably already heard this story, but it gives a sense of what it feels like to see what is happening with the electronic voting fraud and the manipulation of the media and to feel helpless and not able to do anything about it. I read it as a Sufi story. Maybe it has other forms.

WHEN THE WATER WAS CHANGED

A man was told by his guru or teacher to store up water because in a couple weeks the water would stop running in the rivers for awhile and then when it started running again, the water would be different and if you drank the water, you'd go insane. So the man stored up as much water as he could and stored it in a cave. And sure enough in a few weeks the water stopped running and then in awhile started running again only now when people drank the water, they began to go insane. The man could see it because he continued to drink his stored water.

The only problem was that after awhile the man began to feel very very lonely and isolated, so he decided to drink the water anyway and join everybody else. So he drank the water after all and became as crazy as everybody else. All the people were happy, believing he was a crazy man who had suddenly become sane again. And even the man forgot about what it felt like to be sane except now and then in quiet moments by himself.

I think that story says a lot about what it feels like to be in our situation. We need to keep up the talk here and try to support each other so we won't be tempted to drink the crazy water. There are other lessons to be derived from the story too probably.

Here's wishing everybody a good recovery but also, and more important, continued sanity.

[marions ghost]

29. to be expected...in these times

some will drink :beer:

some will :kick:

[demodonkey]

39. We have a large supply of clean water here. No need for Kool-Aid.

NGU.

[bush_is_wacko]

30. "\tune out for three months?" How convenient would THAT be for this

administration? Do you think they could pass SS reform in 3 months w/ no opposition voices? Great idea, give the delusional prez. the MANDATE, he THINKS he has! This entire nation is suffering from PTSD, sadly. It suffered the same post Pearl Harbor. It helps to get involved with the world around you. It makes you feel far less, helpless, hopeless, and depressed!

BTW, check out some of our nasty thuglicans PAC contributions. I seem to recall several of them receiving funds from various Doctor associations. I'm sure some of them are psychological ASSociations!

[mahina]

33. exactly!!

[Fiendish Thingy]

34. Even insurgents like us need some "R & R"...

even revolutionaries spend time with their comrades toasting the revolution,
Dissidents still spend time with their families, go to work, pursue happiness despite the oppression...
I've been listening to excerpts of MLK's speeches on Democracy Now, and what comes across is a resolve to work for freedom, yet not become either obsessed or overwhelmed by the current reality of oppression.

It's all about balance, folks...

[fooj]

35. I'm offended! How dare they "classify" my OUTRAGE as depression?

What a bunch of BS!

[marions ghost]

37. don't worry fooj

CBS reported that the industry doesn't recognize it....

"No coverage for election blues"
By Jackie Cohen, CBS MarketWatch.com
Last Update: 1:43 PM ET Nov. 3, 2004
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- "Supporters of Sen. John Kerry suffering from post-election blues will have to grin and bear it. Anyone depressed over the outcome of the emotionally charged election won't get any sympathy - or assistance - from the mental-health industry, experts said. The industry doesn't recognize post-election blues as a legitimate malady - unless it's the latest in a series of bouts of depression."
---------
And of course to the right wing, it's been labelled "liberal lunacy"--as of course Republicans never, ever get post-election depression.
---------------
Your outrage is healthy. Some people go the other way and become paralyzed when they realize the extent of the problem, which can hit like a shock wave. The symptoms can be like ptsd, and ptsd is very real and very physical. Hopefully those affected can get to your level of action, but first they have to scrape themselves up off the floor.

[fooj]

38. Have you got that right!

Now that you mention it, I do know many people who seem to be suffering from ptsd! I think what makes this all too real for me is that I teach NIGHT by Elie Wiesel. If you've never read it...you must! It is as heartbreaking as it is horrific! There are many lessons to learn from his experience...that man is my hero!

[marions ghost]

40. Thank you

I will look it up. I know the story but it would be good to read in full. You picked up on the fact that I'm concerned with the mental state of groups who must accept that they are victims of serious abuses of power. Some will deny and denigrate those who see what's going on, and the truthsayers will not be popular. But I have hope that those who are shocked by recent events are those who want something better.:)

[rumpel]

36. I am glad they are not recommending "Paxil"

[L. Coyote]

41. THE SURE CURE: A 'Screaming Epithets' Party

Throw a "Group Therapy 'Screaming Epithets' at Bush" Party. Check out this story:

http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2004/12/5/113802.shtml

So, throw a great party and give out prizes for the best epithets!! Everyone will feel a lot better, guaranteed.

[Carolab]

42. I'm not depressed.

I'm just thoroughly enraged. Anger = action. Depression = inaction. As long as you are acting on your anger, you are not depressed.

[marions ghost]

43. true, but

I have found that after a shock that causes temporary depression there can be a gradual return to action. (I'm wondering if it's action that is even more focused than before--not sure). Of course it is more efficient to just harness the anger and bypass the depression. But if it's impossible to deny, at least this kind of depression is not denial. Denial is what most often blocks action. If you are depressed, at least you SEE the problem. Once you see it, it's hard not to do anything, if you are action-oriented.

[SmokingJacket]

44. This has been a BAD four years for our country.

The 2000 election was weird and traumatic -- it took a month and had to be decided by the Supreme Court: hardly a good foot to get off on!

Then the economy started plummeting, then 9-11, anthrax!!!, a war in Afghanistan, constant talk about WMD followed by a full-scale all-out unjustified WAR in Iraq, images of killed and maimed soldiers and Iraqi civilians. Then Abu Ghraib! Then a heated primary season, lots of us getting WAY too involved in our primary candidate, then a vicious, vicious campaign against Kerry who by any measure was a good guy, so it hurt.

HOW, HOW, HOW could we have asked for another for years of this???

It kills me!!!!!

If he won legitimately (which I doubt) it's worse!

Anyone with a heart would be traumatized by that election. It sucked.

[genieroze]

45. How about when I hear a freeper praise * saying he's above God

Should I just turn around and knock him in the teeth? I just heard some whack job today in the food store saying what a great leader * is and how he brings us closer to God and his inauguration will usher in the Lord. I'm not kidding, I heard this nut job in his expensive clothes, dripping in gold talking on his cell loudly so all could hear. If looks could kill, that guy would be a goner. I saw red and I clenched my fist and I wanted to punch him in his teeth so bad. These people aren't drinking the Kool-Aid they have it set on intravenous drip. I was going to make a post on this but figured nobody would believe me. Hell, I can't believe me.

[L. Coyote]

46. They're just listening to their preachers.

And it will continue until their paradigm is shattered.

Read Thomas Kuhn's book on scientific revolutions. It has real application for religions too.

We need a recognition of the fact that religious beliefs are delusional thinking.

[jsascj]

49. That is so much

B***S**T!

I did not gain a few pounds, my 'boyfriend didn't dump me, my 'stocks' didn't take a dip, my friends aren't gossiping about me behind my back...

My country...MY COUNTRY...has been hijacked, democracy stolen. This IS still my country and the country of my children and their children (unless they decide to bail). How in the hell am I supposed to make a clean break from the situation, disengage from the situation for "at least three months"? I live here. "This land is your land, this land is my land"...remember? How can I forget about the fact that one man and his minions have very nearly destroyed my wonderful country?

Apparently, Mr. Helper lives in La La Land where one actually CAN simply disengage. I'd like to find out where this imaginary Utopia is because I'd love to be on that train. Where can I get my ticket? Until such a place materializes, we're stuck in reality in the United States of Bush!