Posted on 11/16/2004 3:38:10 AM PST by johnny7
Post Election Selection Trauma is a real problem, Florida clinicians say
Mental health officials in South Florida blasted Rush Limbaugh on Monday, saying the conservative talk show hosts offer of free therapy for traumatized John Kerry voters has made a mockery of a valid psychological problem.
Rush Limbaugh has a way of back-handedly slamming people, said Sheila Cooperman, a licensed clinician with the American Health Association (AHA) who listened Friday as Limbaugh offered to personally treat her patients. Hes trying to ridicule the emotional state this presidential election produced in many of us here in Palm Beach County. Who is he to offer therapy?
The Boca Raton News reported last week that more than 30 distraught Kerry supporters in South Florida contacted the non-profit AHA following their candidates Nov. 3 concession to President Bush. AHA officials have diagnosed the disorder as Post Election Selection Trauma (PEST) and have scheduled the first of several free group therapy sessions for just after Thanksgiving. Cooperman, whose professional practice is based in Delray Beach, said the election-related symptoms she sees in the Kerry supporters more than quality PEST as a legitimate syndrome or disorder within the trauma spectrum, according to the American Psychiatric Associations Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Rush Limbaugh has no clinical qualifications to counsel anyone, Cooperman said. Hes not only minimizing PEST, but hes bastardizing the entire psychological field and our clinical expertise.
Rob Gordon, AHA executive director, said Limbaughs radio musings caused the charity to receive hundreds of calls and letters from gloating Republicans. But he said he also received a small batch of letters and e-mails from people who said they understood why some Kerry voters would need therapy. A man named Paul wrote to AHA, I too was very depressed, and I knew a lot people who felt the same way. You have to understand that to many of us, this was the key election about the future of our country, and with a Bush win that future is pretty much destroyed. Naturally, theres going to be some significant grief. The people here in Palm Beach County now in therapy or support groups are the canaries in the mine shaft, Gordon said. There could be thousands of others, even Republicans, who need to be in therapy over this election. Gordon said the AHA on Monday also received its first out-of-state call from a fixed-income woman in Texas who is absolutely terrified of what Bush will do and scheduled a free telephone therapy session with her for today.
Douglas Schooler, the Boca Raton trauma specialist who treated 20 people with hypnotherapy following Kerrys loss, said he believes many people suffering from election-related symptoms are still afraid to step forward.The Republicans want Kerry voters to shut up and pretend theyre not feeling anything, Schooler said. But many people have serious emotional pain over this election and its unhealthy to stuff it down inside of you. Therapy is the best way. Although Schooler said he never listens to Limbaugh, he said he has been deluged by similar phone calls and attacked on South Floridas radio talk shows. Most of the calls Im getting are from Republicans making fun of the whole thing, Schooler said. One guy wrote me a letter saying I should tell people to vote Republican and save themselves the stress. Republicans want to minimize the whole story of election fraud and voter anger. Schooler said he did not expect the Republican gloating to stop anytime soon. Limbaugh, a Palm Beach County resident who owns $26 million worth of property in the area, read the two Boca News exclusives on his nationally syndicated radio program last week.
So if anybody on the left wants some serious therapy here and counseling, Im more than willing to offer my assistance as well, Limbaugh said on Nov. 9. On Nov. 12, accused by Gordon of picking up the story to rub it in the faces of Democrats, Limbaugh said, Now, my friends, I didnt do that. I reached out. I offered a hand of friendship. I offered my own counseling services. AHA officials, listening to the taped broadcasts, described Limbaughs tone of voice as sarcastic.
Sounds like Ms. Cooperman needs a shrink of her own.
If it upsets them so, WHY are liberals listening to Rush Limbaugh??? Bizarre phenomenon.
I am trying to imagine how we would be acting if Kerry had been elected and somehow I cannot imagine any of us repairing for hydrotherapy with some ultra-sensitive therapist charging us thru the nose.
I have wondered what we would have done. I have to confess on the day of the election, I had a horrid sinking feeling and had made contingency plans to keep a stiff upper lip, to pretend inattention at work and to carry one all whilst planning vengence here on FR.
What plans had you all made short of hydrotherapy?
"Hes not only minimizing PEST, but hes bastardizing the entire psychological field and our clinical expertise"
Much of the psychological field has already been bastardized.
oh my, hypnotherapy not hydrotherapy. So many therapies, so little time!
I didn't get my way! WAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!
Psychos helping psychos....Its all too funny.
Looks like the therapists are more in need of therapy than their patients...
My children did not need therapy when they kicked and screamed due to not getting everything their own way. They needed their mother to look right into their eyes and say those time honored words, "If you don't stop that this instant, I will give you something to cry about."
Or, in the words of my sainted Southern granny, "DON'T YOU MAKE ME COME DOWN THERE!"
Egads, lady. Don't take yourself so seriesly.
No. I'd like you to shut up, become disillusioned, and quit voting.
There are only two effective ways of dealing with human PESTs: ignore them or mock them mercilessly. They fancy themselves as being highly significant. I presume it is the result of taking all that high self-esteem mush much more seriously than anything substantive in their school experience. They can never heal until they find humility. We are simply helping them to recognize how truly insignificant they really are so they can begin to heal. Isn't that compassionate?
Whiny Democrats: "Boo hooo... boo hoooo.. woe is us... we are lost... we are LOST!!! it's all their fault.... boo hoo...."
Rush Limbaugh: "There there... if you need some help, talk to me, I am here to help you!!"
Whiny Democrats: "GET LOST and stop patronizing us... we don't need you to wallow endlessly in our grief..."
Rush Limbaugh: "Yes, by all means, keep this up. No reason for you to start changing behavior now... we LIKE it when you lose"
That is the funniest reply ever!
I want them to wet their pants in public.
I like this variation of your grannie's time honored quote:
IF I HAVE TO COME DOWN THERE AGAIN, YOU WILL BE VERY SORRY
Yeah, now that he can't use the campaign as an excuse not to show up to work.
I dunno, hydrotherapy sounds like more fun.. a nice heated pool at this time of year works for me..
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