Do you find yourself just getting sad for some

[leftyladyfrommo]

inexplicable reason?

I am not a depressed kind of person. But I see all the Trump pictures hour after hour, day after day. All along with the violence. And the death of planet earth.

It is difficult to keep myself from really sinking into despair.

[tulipsandroses]

1. Turn it off. Go outside. Go to the park, beach. Call friends, family,

If you are not close to family or friends. If you are able to, Do some volunteer work.
Being of service to others can make you feel incredibly good.

Find your local children's hospital. They always need volunteers. Parents can't always be there 24/7 with kids when they are in the hospital. It helps a lot to calm down a lonely nervous kid when someone is there reading a story, helping them with a coloring book, taking them for a wagon ride around the hospital floor. Some have no parents, loved ones at all. Kids in foster care.

Or elderly patients.

My mom suffers from Depression. She volunteers every summer for kids out of school that need meals. We don't think about this but for some kids, school is where they get their meals. When school is out, they go hungry.

Go to Volunteermatch.org -plenty of volunteer opportunities

If you have Netflix or some other streaming service - watch some comedy. This is what I do when I need a break from the political drama.

Feel better!

[onlyadream]

2. Disconnect.

Give yourself a break from the madness.

[marybourg]

3. Are you being held prisoner

in front of a tv set? Tied to a chair, perhaps? No? Well then do what the previous two posters suggest. Tv watching is not compulsory in this country. Or even advised. Mine is on a cart in the next room, covered with a dust cloth and rolled out a couple of times a year when there’s something compelling to watch, like the debates the other night.

[KPN]

4. Anyone who doesn't is either brain-dead or is not watching. You are not alone by any stretch.

I went there (despair) first thing this morning when I read about tRump working on other G20 leaders to pull out of Climate Change pact, the Paris Accord. Frankly, I find myself wishing something terrible would happen to the *@&%#$* right now ... almost every day.

Then I get off the computer, go out and turn the compost pile, weed whack or do some other physical labor around the yard or the house, or walk the dog. That's what keeps me in check. Tuning out and dealing with life outside of politics. .... But I keep getting sucked back in time to time throughout the day -- lunch, evening news, etc. So I go out and do some more physical stuff all over again. It works for me.

Take care of yourself. Do what you like doing other than being a political junkie. It's important. We need you. We need all of us.

[Corgigal]

5. Sure, we all have triggers.

I can't read anything about khashoggi. It just physically hurts me.

So I turn to music. Going to see that Yesterday film today. Something light, with good music to light up my brain.

[cilla4progress]

6. I've been learning about wilderness therapy.

My daughter volunteers with at risk youth in a program that takes them skiing, hiking, etc.

There's a podcast about wilderness therapy, Sky lights.

I'm lucky I get to get out there..

These suggestions show how much humans need nature for well-being!

[Cracklin Charlie]

7. Remember to take care of yourself.

Watch a movie, pet a dog, practice tai chi, cook a pizza, watch funny videos...

It’s important. We’ll be here when ya get back.

[DinahMoeHum]

8. First off, our planet is NOT dying. . .

Earth can damn well take care of itself - it's gone through many iterations in its millions of years of existence. Earth will be OK no matter what.

OTOH, it's we homo sapiens, as a species, who are in peril, owing to climate change combined with overdevelopment/inappropriate development among other things. For that, we must adapt and find productive solutions.

Second, here are some "rules for resistance" as an antidote to despair (from DailyKos)
The last 2 are the most important:

• Resist: Protest on the streets, call senators and representatives, etc.
• Rebel: Run for office, GOTV (Get Out The Vote), support a progressive.
• Revolt: Change the laws, change the culture, build your communities.
• Rely: Trust that millions of others are also fighting the good fight.
• Rest: Take care of yourself, we are all in this for the long term.

Hope this helps.

[leftyladyfrommo]

9. Or I can just get stoned.