How are you dealing with election depression? Seriously.

[grasswire]

Did I miss a discussion of this earlier? A pal who is too new here to start a thread asked me if any DU-ers were talking about post-election depression.

Is the lost election kicking up other unresolved issues? Are meds in order?

This pal would appreciate your experiences, or appreciate a link to any earlier thread.

Thanks.

[Abelman]

1. You're looking at it.

I wonder how everyone deals with constantly being looked at like you're crazy.

I've already had one very good friend tell me I'm dead to him. I'd feel worse if his grasp of the situation was better, but in the same paragraph he compared Iraq to WW2. How...?

[murielm99]

4. Just tell him ditto.

I will have nothing to do with religious zealots. I try to avoid pukes as much as humanly possible.

Don't be depressed. Be angry.

[Old and In the Way]

5. Maybe Germany's trumped up lie to invade Poland?

I see a parallel there.

[otohara]

7. Better Dead

than in DENIAL - Glad I don't have any GOP friends, only acquaintances

[kokomo]

10. Jerry Falwell told Paula Zahn that Iraq War was just as justified as WWII

The unthinking right get their talking points from Jerry, Sean, and Rush. If they weren't human they would make good parrots.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

46. When is he signing up, for this oh-so important war? Surely it's worth

his life? :shrug:

[Old and In the Way]

2. I try to live on with a simple philosophy.

He who laughs last, laughs best. I plan on having the bestest laugh of all.

[saracat]

3. There was a "help" thread initially.

I am staying away from all news and reading junk novels. I am addicted to DU as these are the only people I talk to. I occasionally talk to Campaign people. But mostly I hide. I did have a cheering experience at the grocery store. I couple I didn't know gave me the thumbs up( noticed my bumper stickers!) and pulled over to talk about how they felt the election was stolen! That made my evening. And I have used some meds. Xanex to sleep once or twice!

[BelleCarolinaPeridot]

13. I am staying away from the news too ...

I am watching a lot of cartoons . How cool is " Fairly OddParents " on Nickelodeon ;)

[Miss Authoritiva]

23. Pretty cool.

I've gotten hooked on this incredibly cheesy kids show. I think it's called "Hammy the Hamster" and it features a live hamster floating around in a toy sailboat having all sorts of adventures. Absolutely no political content and no moral values messenges.

[BelleCarolinaPeridot]

25. LOL oh my goodness !

What channel is this on ?

[EnfantTerrible]

6. Drugs

:smoke:

[American Tragedy]

8. It has definitely kicked up my depression

It already existed, of course. I was already declining fairly rapidly, but it hasn't helped that my pride in my country and hope for our future was almost totally obliterated last week. I've been clinging to DU since this is virtually the only human interaction that I've been able to bear.

So far I've been doing the usual daily regimin: Lexapro, Wellbutrin, Adderall. The dosages have elevated, but my mood has not. As the fact that I am awake at this hour should reveal, I'm back in hell.

[NurseLefty]

30. I'm with you on this - thank you, DU!

If you need an ear to bend, let me know OK?

[Magic_Cookie]

9. Still Touting my Anti-W button

I always said that I would support a president no matter what...but that changed, thanks to GW
I did try in 2000,I really really did. But that was short lived. This time I REFUSE to acknowledge him. Yes I'm upset about Kerry not winning but I think by diverting that into proving what I believe about * has taken over. In other words - I'm re-directing my anger/depression/frustration :) Hopefully others are doing the same!

edit for typo in subject (anit instead of anti)

[tomreedtoon]

11. Not only just for this...

...but for several layoffs at my workplace just after the election results. Big surprise. They claim...CLAIM...that the rest of us are safe for the next year. Right. That plus Bush really depressed me.

I picked up a golden oldie. Dale Carnegie's book "How to Stop Worrying and Start Living." The first few pages helped immediately.

Those pages said we should live our lives in "day-tight compartments." Forget about yesterday. Don't worry about the future. The only time we have, and the only time we can do anything about, is now. "Every day is a new day for a wise man."

So do what you can in this day to save your life, those of your family, and your country. But don't worry about the future that you can't affect yet.

Next section, go through these three mental exercises:

1) Think about what is the worst that can happen, to you, personally, about this problem.

2) Mentally prepare yourself to acccept the worst, should it happen.

3) Then, do what you can, right here, right now, to improve that worst possible outcome, which you have already accepted in your mind.


One more, and then you have to buy the book for the others. Eight words can help: "Our life is what our thoughts make it." If you force yourself to think positive, stop the self-destructive negative thinking, and even go so far as to force yourself to smile, the darkness will lift. And you'll be able to think again, which means you'll be able to affect the bad situation.

These helped me a lot. Maybe some of the more bitter and cynical folk here should try them.

[grasswire]

19. thanks for that book referral

I used to have two ways of getting through things. First, visualize the worst that could happen and how I would deal with it. Second, I held the philosophy that there were no bad experiences, only useful ones. And so I would go through bad experiences as if I were an observer to them, planning to use the lesson in positive ways.

Most of the time it worked, but not always.

[grasswire]

22. but.....this is no time to be judgmental...

...about the experiences of others. What works for you may not help someone else. Bitterness and cynicism are often warranted when facing seemingly overwhelming situations. Positive thinking isn't a welcome suggestion at times, and isn't the solution at times.

[BelleCarolinaPeridot]

12. I only get depressed when I watch the news ...

But I am on an anti-News alert for the next 4 years . I was seriously depressed last Wednesday , depressed , distraught and shocked - I felt it physically as well . I did not know that I was not the only one feeling this way . I even cried when I heard Kerry was conceding -I just stayed in bed on Wednesday . Too damn depressing that day was . I did not smile again until last Friday when I got back on the DU and found out that I was not alone in my thoughts . Plus I have been doing a lot of baking and playing MahJong . Tomorrow ( ok later today ) I am going to make a Yellow Butter Cake from scratch . Baking and taking care of everything around me . I felt a bit better knowing that my county is actually a " blue " county but it's not the same . I won't deal with Republicans at all without anger .

[saracat]

14. MMMM Buttercake sounds good. I wish I had some now!

[BelleCarolinaPeridot]

16. Come on over and eat some lol

We can talk BS about the republicans LOL :)

[saracat]

18. Would I love to do that!

But the Bush economy has me too broke for plane fare!

[BelleCarolinaPeridot]

21. I will save you some anyway :)

I will bake another one for when the Bush BS finally hits and the fan and we can all celebrate . Oh let that day come soon ...

[John Q. Citizen]

17. Uhhhmm, Yellow Butter Cake

[Goathead]

15. Waiting for the other shoe to drop

If this is Armageddon like the fundies believe then I wish it would hurry up and come so that we can get it over with. I fear that it is worst then Armageddon though, I fear that everyone in this country will bear witness to the atrocities perpetrated by this administration and do nothing about it, and some will actually cheer.

[Miss Authoritiva]

20. I don't know if there any other threads, either.

I hope "depression" is too strong a term for what people may actually be feeling. I prefer "really, really, really bummed out," myself. I'm probably 2 to 3 times (make that 2 1/2 times) older than most DUers, so take it from somebody who has suffered through a lot of incredibly disappointing elections.

Stay away from those political talk shows that you know are going to make you nuts, at least for a little while and especially until they're done with all the Kerry should have done this yada yada and wasn't Rove brilliant yada yada.

Stay away from edgy, political comics for awhile. Also, skip the Leno and Letterman monologues at least for another week (sorry Jay, sorry Dave). Depending upon how you feel, watch The Daily Show.

Go out with your friends and do something physical but not competitive. If you have friends who are always competitive, then skip this or go out with other friends.

Watch the silliest, most stupid movies you can find. I prefer the Three Stooges myself. Really, how bad can the human species be if it produced the Three Stooges?

Now, this one's embarrassing to admit but one time I actually bought a kid's coloring book and a box of crayons. Hey -- video games hadn't been invented yet. What can I say.

[BelleCarolinaPeridot]

24. Cartoons my friend , cartoons .

I have watched nothing but Cartoons for the past week . The coloring book idea is very therapeutic . I have been playing computer games and that is helping too . I will puke if I watch Jay Leno , not that I watched him before anyway .

[Gore1FL]

26. I bougth Grandf theft auto 2 form the $9 rack

I named my character GW Bush.

I go on killing sprees, just like my character's namesake.

If I had cheats, it would really be realistic.

[GingerSnaps]

27. I have an appointment on Thursday

I missed my classes last week and we had mid terms. I had to go to the crisis center today because they have been overbooked at my College.

I feel like something is missing in my life and I felt like I wanted to die. I'm not sure if if feel like living anymore but I am not suicidal.

I am hurting so bad that I don't know what to do or how to get past all of this.

Our democracy was taken away from us and we are no longer in a free country.

I am on Ativans for a few more days.

On election night I didn't know what to do after my class let out at 10pm. I heard the bad news from a couple of girls on my way out of school. I started crying and I couldn't stop and I walked around the block at least 4 times. I had to cross a bridge on my way home and I stopped in the middle of it and for a split second I thought about jumping off and ending it all.

You should have seen the somber faces of the people that I passed. I couldn't stop crying I hurt so bad that I couldn't bring myself together to enter my apt. and after I went through the door my father was so upset that he was going to break the TV. He started crying and he said that he served in the war and he felt like he served his country for nothing. :cry:

:hug:

[saracat]

31. Dear GingerSnaps

I can really relate. The horror of this is almost more than I can imagine. And your poor father. I am so sorry. This is why I have been venting my rage on DU and hiding. I don't know what else to do. But I do know that I think we should fight these monsters. I just don't know how. But we will figure it out. I hope that Kerry is going to lead us. I don't want to give up hoping that he will fight. I am glad you have an appointment on Thursday. Take care of yourself. It is going to take all of us to make it through!

[GingerSnaps]

32. Thank you

I can't take seeing the arrogant jerk on TV so I turned the TV off and I haven't turned it back on since last Tuesday.

I keep seeing * face on the front pages of newspapers and his smile makes me want to :puke:.

:hug: :grouphug:

Take care of yourself.

[NurseLefty]

33. I am choking up reading your post

All of this is so hard, I know. Please, just keep sharing how you feel, let it out, share what you're comfortable with here - I am devastated myself. Are there friends/family you can talk to? What about lefty groups in your area?
I am so so grateful to be able to vent here... I hope this is helping.

[GingerSnaps]

36. Sorry

It's a good thing that DU is here right now or I don't know what I would do.

I have classes but most of the people are not into politics.

:hug:

[mahina]

28. Music, literature and art.

"Post me to the Prime Minister" by Romaine Morton
Goenpul Nation, Minjerbak (Australia)

I will make oppression work for me
with a turn and a twist
be camouflaged with stated ignorance

I will surprise you by my will

I will make oppression work for me
with a turn and a twist
I shall sit cross-legged like a trapdoor
then rise

I will surprise you by my will

I will let you pass me over

I shall spring upon you words familiar
Then watch you regather as they drop about
like precious tears thick with fear
hear you scream and shout

then I shall watch convictions break away
and crimple like paper bags
and then as beauty I shall rise

and surprise you by my will
it is only when you believe me gone
that I shall rise
from this place where I wait
cross legged
wait
to surprise you by my will

in the alleys, in the parliaments, in courts of law, parking cars, driving buses,
and generally watching you watching me

as you pass me by

I shall wait cross-legged
wait
to surprise yo uby my will

for I shall stumble from houses of educatoin,
and I shall stunble from institutions of reform,
I shall stumble over rocks, over men. over women,
over children,
and surprise you by my will

I shall stumble over poverty, over policies, and over predjudice,
weary and torn
I stumble
then bleary and worn I shall rise
from this place where I sit cross-legged
wait
to surprise you by my will

for the mountains we crossed
they were easy
and the rivers we swam
they were easier still
and even then
as I attempted to outrun inhumanity
I surprised you by my will

I have witnessed the falling of many
heard them cry and hear them still
even with grief inside me growing
I command my spirit to rise
and surprise you by my will

and for all people
we are here and we are many
and she shall surprise you by our will

we will rise from this place where you expect
to keep us down

and we shall surprise you by our will

for the bullets we dodged
they were difficult
and this ideological warfare
more difficult still

but even now
as we challenge inhumanity

we shall rise
and surprise you by our will

published by jukurrpa books
alice prings NT 0871






I

[NurseLefty]

29. Trying to get through each day, though more depressed

Today is the first day since Kerry's concession speech when I haven't cried at some point in the day. I try to get through each day, but the election issue looms over everything. My classmates in nursing school are angry and distraught, and my friends and coworkers are, too.
I am grateful that I have the excitement of nursing school - it keeps me well occupied.
But, I have a sense of hopelessness. I do not see things getting better here in America. Before the election I was thinking that Kerry would at least have a chance at fixing health care in this country. But Bush is FUCKING CLUELESS. Tort reform is such a goddamned red herring. Even if it happens, the savings would barely register. Guess who benefits? The fucking insurance companies! Look at California with this, for an example. Bottom line - health care in the US will implode. Pharmeceuticals will continue to be the drug lords they are and chronic diseases and an aging population will overwhelm the system. The are so few contingincies in place to address this! We have a nursing shortage NOW, but we'll need a huge surge just to keep up. There is a nursing instructor shortage, too - and many are nearing retirement.
Just healthcare alone makes me hopeless. The war, the environment, women's rights, abortion, energy, education, good jobs and standard of living - these are others that if I think about take me deeper into a hole.
At least we had a chance with Kerry, but no more. It's time to go backwards at a time we can least afford it.
I am also disillusioned with the Dems, sorry. There are bright minds in the leadership, yet why did they miss the mark with this??
If you have seen my previous posts, you know I am planning to move to Canada. I've been torn and choked up when friends have pleaded with me, "Please don't go, we need you." I just do not know how I can stay.

[grasswire]

35. I always consider the example...

...of the Civil Rights Movement in our history when looking at the obstacles we face in America today. The thousands of people who fought for equality for decades were daily humiliated, beaten, set upon with dogs, fire hoses, spit upon, demonized, attacked in every possible way.

And yet they pressed on, every day, every day. For generations!

And a great deal of progress was finally made. But oh my, think of the daily internal battle and the ups and downs and the tears and pain.

One thing that helped them carry on was shared experience with others. We're going to have to be better about coming together and protecting each other and strengthening each other.

[BelleCarolinaPeridot]

37. Friday was the first day that I smiled ...

But on Wednesday when my mom came home from work and I looked at her and said " Kerry conceded " , my heart just broke and I just cried . I spent the entire day in shock . I was reading the newspaper at my grandmother's house while CNN Headline News was on in the background - and when the Breaking News : Kerry Concedes , I just wanted to curl up and really die - yeah I did . I had so much hope that Kerry / Edwards would come out on top . I could no longer read the newspaper ( no news , no newspaper ) - I just walked back home feeling helpless . I did not want to do anything but lay in the bed and cry , my body in physical pain , holding in all the tears - I did not realize how much this election affected me . I am currently in college studying Political Science but this election disaster has really inspired me to continue with my studies . I came back home from Germany to the United States to vote in person - thats how excited I was about this election . I can not believe that we may have to go through another long 4 years of this .

[izzie]

34. Oh I have been around so long I see it as just another thing.

We see-saw up and down. Each time we go to low one way we see-saw back.Yes people get hurt and it seems a lot of voters do not care. When I grew up and lived in a very GOP house hold my father paid tax up over 60% and he sure was not happy. When he in died in the 70's my mother only got (I think) 70,ooo) un-taxed before she had to pay a large tax on all the rest. That type stuff is all gone now. Was it right? I do not think so.Some tax would be good but now their is none. So up and down it goes.In the 70's we came home from Vietnam a war we were in because we were lied to and here we are once more. Another war and more lies. So it will be pre-civil war with Bush. Lets hope not but it almost feels that bad. I think it will only go so far down and back up it will come.

[NurseLefty]

38. I can understand that things go in cycles,

but what you are describing was during a time when this country was still floating on post WWII prosperity. Our country's situation now is so precarious - if we make a few more mistakes, the US will lose its place in the world. For good.
We are already trending downward in terms of standard of living - which has been sliding for several years now.
Empires have risen and fell. Where are we going?

[2008]

39. listening to a lot of classical music I hadn't heard before

sculpting complicated new grooves into my consciousness

helps reprogram the thought process

that, and the weed

[RevCheesehead]

40. Clinical depression is a very serious matter - and very real

I suffer from chronic depression, and have been on Zoloft for many years. I have learned that sometimes even chronic sufferers can be even more deeply affected by circumstances around them.

With all due respect, comments such as "just do this.." simply do not work. I recently spoke with someone who was suicidal - and I could connect with her because I didn't spit platitudes at her. I simply said, "I know that black place, because I have been there." She later told me that I was the only one who really understood her, because I've been through it.

Depression is not the same thing as feeling really down. It is a spiral that zaps you of energy, sleep (or insomnia - I'm doing both right now!), and a willingness to interact with other people.

And golly, I'm a person of faith - a CHRISTIAN - with depression! Go figure! If it only were simply "mind-over-matter," don't ya think I would have prayed it away by now?

[grasswire]

41. kick

kick

[vajraroshana]

42. Watching stupid sitcom reruns

And it ain't working very well, let me tell you.

I don't love Raymond, and I don't see why his horrible mother should either.

Ross isn't adorable, he's horrible.

Andy is so authoritarian; Barney is only trying to better himself, why the continuous crapping on him.

why do they call it "Three's Company" when they all accept him staying with those two girls -- however bogus his reason.

[Forkboy]

43. I'm always depressed so I haven't noticed any difference

Add to that my severe pessimism and the election results weren't even suprising.

But,the one bright side is that music will keep getting better :)

[Lydia Leftcoast]

44. Avoiding TV and radio news (I can barely tolerate newspapers)

surfing the Internet, singing in choir, watching non-political TV, praying and meditating, attending arts events (opera on Sunday and the Kings' Singers this evening) and best of all, construction therapy! Yes, I spent Saturday with a team from my church working on a Habitat for Humanity house. After a day of sanding and finishing door frames and laying sod, anything that wasn't manual labor felt great.

[nickgutierrez]

45. No time for depression.

Actually, I jumped straight to anger after the election. Everything that could have gone wrong did, right up to the fact that it was rigged the whole time, as I had feared.

[Bleacher Creature]

47. A lot better than I would have predicted.

Look, this really will pass. If you look throughout American history you have example after example of really good periods after conservatives go too far. I'd be more worried if these people weren't such caricatures, but there WILL BE A BACKLASH. And it will make the 1960s look tame.

[leftofthedial]

48. I'm too pissed to be depressed.

maybe thqat's the key. just get stuck at the anger stage.