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Fear, Anxiety, and Depression in the Age of Trump
Slate ^ | 23 September 2016 | Michelle Goldberg

Posted on 09/23/2016 12:19:54 PM PDT by Lorianne

With the presidential race staggering into its final stretch, the once inconceivable prospect of a Trump victory is becoming, if not likely, then definitely possible. (As of this writing, FiveThirtyEight gives Trump a 42.4 percent chance of prevailing, though that might change by the time you read this.) As that reality sets in, a hallucinatory sense of slow-motion doom is descending on many liberals. (Though not only on liberals.) Victims of Trump-induced anxiety describe nightmares, insomnia, digestive problems, and headaches. Therapists find themselves helping their patients through a process that feels less like an election than a national nervous breakdown.

There is, of course, no way to quantify the scope of mental anguish caused by Trump’s campaign; these stories are entirely anecdotal. There are, however, a lot of anecdotes, as I discovered when I started speaking to both therapists and panicking voters. I’ve covered four elections as a journalist, but this is the first one to regularly poison my dreams; at least once a week I wake up in the middle of the night in clammy, agitated horror. I was curious if other people were suffering in similar ways, so I reached out to a therapist I know. She queried two email lists of mostly New York–based colleagues, asking them to contact me if they’d seen Trump-related distress in their practices. Responses quickly started pouring in; soon I had almost a dozen.

Some of the therapists told me they are talking their patients through their Trump terror while trying not to succumb to it themselves. “The therapists that I know are pretty overwhelmed by managing their personal feelings, which we have to do and we’re doing, but it’s a lot,” says psychologist Heather Silvestri.

(Excerpt) Read more at slate.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: hillary2016; trump2016; worrieddems
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To: Lorianne

If Hunter S Thompson were still alive he would have killed himself over this election.


21 posted on 09/23/2016 12:36:06 PM PDT by AU72
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To: b4me

The sun shines on the just and unjust alike.


22 posted on 09/23/2016 12:38:02 PM PDT by RegulatorCountry
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To: b4me

Glad to hear it! It only makes sense.

Think Hillary! would EVER say something like that if she won? *SNORT*


23 posted on 09/23/2016 12:40:33 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set!)
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To: Louis Foxwell

Amen.


24 posted on 09/23/2016 12:49:53 PM PDT by LaineyDee (Don't mess with Texas wimmen!)
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To: hinckley buzzard
Years ago a psychiatrist I met told me most of his colleagues had gone to college and took courses to find out what was wrong with themselves.

I've met quite a lot of these birds over the years while in college and in business. Never met but a few that didn't have screw loose and make excuses for bad behavior. (especially their own)

25 posted on 09/23/2016 12:59:04 PM PDT by LaineyDee (Don't mess with Texas wimmen!)
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To: Lorianne
"There’s no authority that can protect us from the calamity on the horizon. It’s like a child’s bad dream. It’s also our reality."

These weak and disgusting people need the state to feel safe.

Puke.

26 posted on 09/23/2016 1:27:00 PM PDT by Mariner (War Criminal #18)
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To: Lorianne

If Trump wins, if I were United, American or Delta Airlines, offer discount tickets for any celebrity who wants to leave the USA. :)


27 posted on 09/23/2016 1:32:45 PM PDT by RayChuang88 (FairTax: America's economic cure)
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To: rktman
If you ever thought hildabama was psycho before, just wait until late in the evening of Nov 8. when the msm has no choice but to declare Trump the winner. There won’t be an ashtray or vase safe anywhere within a mile radius.

Well, that's if Hillary is even hale enough to throw anything if she loses given her current health.

28 posted on 09/23/2016 1:35:04 PM PDT by RayChuang88 (FairTax: America's economic cure)
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To: Mr. Mojo
I’m buying stock in companies that manufacture anti-anxiety/depression drugs in anticipation of a Trump victory.

I'm buying coal and will short RGR and SWHC.
29 posted on 09/23/2016 1:41:26 PM PDT by Old Yeller (Auto-correct has become my worst enema.)
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To: RayChuang88

WUT? She’s the picture of health. Just ask her. Google eyes and all. When I saw her rant yesterday about not being 50 points ahead, I thought it was a preview of an SNL skit. She is demented.


30 posted on 09/23/2016 2:03:08 PM PDT by rktman (Enlisted in the Navy in '67 to protect folks rights to strip my rights. WTH?!)
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To: rktman
I know you're being facetious. :-)

But seriously, given her current limited mobility, if she could even throw an ashtray one meter (39 inches) it'll be a minor miracle!

31 posted on 09/23/2016 2:20:57 PM PDT by RayChuang88 (FairTax: America's economic cure)
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To: Lorianne

Victims of Trump-induced anxiety describe nightmares, insomnia, digestive problems, and headaches.””

I wish I could remember which election but I’ve read almost this exact story years ago...


32 posted on 09/23/2016 3:06:19 PM PDT by TalBlack (Evil doesn't have a day job....)
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To: Lorianne
time to buy stock in Pfizer...
33 posted on 09/23/2016 3:39:50 PM PDT by Chode (You Owe Them Nothing - Not Respect, Not Loyalty, Not Obedience, NOTHING! ich bin ein Deplorable...)
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To: Mr. Mojo

Simple yet brilliant!

Kind of how people invest in every thing imaginable for the growing population of seniors.

I like it! Maybe set up a few rubber rooms where they can bounce around and release all their anxiety! How about a studio where they can throw things to relieve their frustrations?!

The possibilities are endless.


34 posted on 09/23/2016 6:23:46 PM PDT by AllAmericanGirl44 (If you ain't the lead dog, the scenery never changes.)
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To: AllAmericanGirl44

When GWB was Prez I remember reading about how there was a huge spike in anti-depressant prescriptions, especially right after his election victories. Now just imagine how much more freaked out progs will be after TRUMP wins. Heh!


35 posted on 09/23/2016 6:40:37 PM PDT by Mr. Mojo ("To educate a man in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society." - Teddy Roosevelt)
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To: Lorianne

Groupthink - The Left’s Eight Commandments

I, II and III explains why the truth hurts their widdle feewings so much.

They run out of rationalization rope...

I Thou shalt create an illusion of invulnerability shared by most members to foster excessive optimism and encourage extreme risks taking

II Thou shall not allow any member to question the group’s inherent morality, instead members shall be encouraged to ignore the ethical or moral consequences of their decisions

III Thou shalt promote collective efforts to rationalize in order to discount warnings, or other information that might lead members to reconsider their assumptions before they recommit themselves to their assumptions

IV Thou shalt reinforce stereotyped views of enemy leaders as too evil to warrant genuine attempts to negotiate, or as too weak and stupid to counter whatever risky attempts are made to defeat their purpose

V Thou shalt self-censor any deviation from the apparent group consensus, inclining each member to minimize the importance of their doubts and counterarguments

VI Thou shalt create and maintain a shared illusion of unanimity concerning judgment conforming to the majority view

VII Thou shalt apply direct pressure on any member who expresses strong arguments against any of the group’s stereotypes, illusions, or commitments, making clear that this type of dissent is contrary to what is expected of all loyal members

VIII Thou shalt appoint mind guards to protect the group from adverse information that might shatter their shared complacency about the effectiveness and morality of their decisions


36 posted on 09/24/2016 5:03:04 AM PDT by Eddie01 (Democrats are the Liquidate America Party)
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