How to deal with stress over election
This is not a political post. I'm just having stress over the election and I'm wondering if anyone else is having a hard time and how you're dealing with it. I try not listening to the radio or watching the news or becoming involved in political conversations, but the election is everywhere. And even when I do avoid those things, then I feel guilty for not being a more involved citizen. My negative to positive exercise isn't really working with this one. It all ties in to my stress about the environment and the economy, and all those other big topics. I'm only on session 4, about to begin 5. Is there a session coming that will help me deal with this? Is anyone else having problems?
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Guest
hey krae,
i am now past that point (thank God), but there was a period of time not too long ago where i too was scared of the world, global warming, the end of the world, war...i basically could not read or watch the news or TV for that matter for a long period of time.
gas prices, you name it...it seemed like the whole world was falling apart.
now, i watched the debate last night, and once again read the sunday paper with mostly joy to keep on and involved in current events.
though i believe it is extremely important for every citizen of this great nation to be involved (and we need to be more invovled now more than ever- we are the verge of sinking into a socialist state), do so when you are good and ready.
i do firmly believe that God was active in assuaging these fears of mine, as well.
another way to look at it is that media and advertising have to get our attention. the most modern used way to do that is through fear.
i read a decent book recently called "The Nanny State", and the author touched on how fear is used extensively (in spite of science) to sell an idea, product, show, pass a law, etc.
i don't think that anyone would blame you if you needed to take a "time-out" from all of this nonsense to gather your senses. you will get back into the game again. right now, you may be more sensitive to scare tactics, but shortly you will regain your stride.
i am now past that point (thank God), but there was a period of time not too long ago where i too was scared of the world, global warming, the end of the world, war...i basically could not read or watch the news or TV for that matter for a long period of time.
gas prices, you name it...it seemed like the whole world was falling apart.
now, i watched the debate last night, and once again read the sunday paper with mostly joy to keep on and involved in current events.
though i believe it is extremely important for every citizen of this great nation to be involved (and we need to be more invovled now more than ever- we are the verge of sinking into a socialist state), do so when you are good and ready.
i do firmly believe that God was active in assuaging these fears of mine, as well.
another way to look at it is that media and advertising have to get our attention. the most modern used way to do that is through fear.
i read a decent book recently called "The Nanny State", and the author touched on how fear is used extensively (in spite of science) to sell an idea, product, show, pass a law, etc.
i don't think that anyone would blame you if you needed to take a "time-out" from all of this nonsense to gather your senses. you will get back into the game again. right now, you may be more sensitive to scare tactics, but shortly you will regain your stride.
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Guest
also,
is it the election itself that is scaring you, or all of the hype?
if it is the hype, then you could still vote. go online, spend some really brief, quality time reviewing the issues of the candidates, and then make a selection.
turn it all off.
go about your life.
then, when it comes time to vote, do so with confidence.
is it the election itself that is scaring you, or all of the hype?
if it is the hype, then you could still vote. go online, spend some really brief, quality time reviewing the issues of the candidates, and then make a selection.
turn it all off.
go about your life.
then, when it comes time to vote, do so with confidence.
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Guest
I guess it is partly the hype. Part of it is that I don't trust anyone in politics and I'm afraid that politicians are ruining the world for their gain. I don't trust anyone with the smell of politics on them. And I don't know who to trust as far as news sources. And I feel overwhelmed and helpless. People keep saying the economy's going to crash and it certainly looks and feels that way. And I'm barely hanging on with money as it is. So this is all really tied to my fear that we're headed into a dark age.
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rose_thorn98
- Posts: 173
- Joined: Thu Nov 09, 2006 6:26 pm
krae.
well, i do not think that anyone would call you crazy for not trusting politicians.
little history for you, the Romans did not trust their senators, either. it has always been thus, and will be thus always.
there are times when i do believe that the political machine wishes to numb us to the point of surrendering all good sense to it. but, if the founding fathers felt that way, and just let the King have his taxes, then we may still be a colonial outpost.
no, you have a voice and should vote...if that is what you want to do.
as far as the economy, one thing that helped me is realizing what is and what is NOT in my control. what can YOU do? can you solve it? can you bring political parties together, to unify toward and draft a resolution? most likely not.
since the answer is most likely no, then why worry about something that you can't control? focus on you and what is within your power. and don't feed into the talking head mentality of TV "news". i mean, if they are not scaring us with hyped up sensationalistic tabloid garbage then we are bombarded with commercial after commercial of pharmaceuticals!!
I mean good grief, why are drugs the only thing advertised on the news?
do yourself some good, get away from all of the garbage until you are ready to return. pray. exercise.
"...and this too shall pass."
well, i do not think that anyone would call you crazy for not trusting politicians.
little history for you, the Romans did not trust their senators, either. it has always been thus, and will be thus always.
there are times when i do believe that the political machine wishes to numb us to the point of surrendering all good sense to it. but, if the founding fathers felt that way, and just let the King have his taxes, then we may still be a colonial outpost.
no, you have a voice and should vote...if that is what you want to do.
as far as the economy, one thing that helped me is realizing what is and what is NOT in my control. what can YOU do? can you solve it? can you bring political parties together, to unify toward and draft a resolution? most likely not.
since the answer is most likely no, then why worry about something that you can't control? focus on you and what is within your power. and don't feed into the talking head mentality of TV "news". i mean, if they are not scaring us with hyped up sensationalistic tabloid garbage then we are bombarded with commercial after commercial of pharmaceuticals!!
I mean good grief, why are drugs the only thing advertised on the news?
do yourself some good, get away from all of the garbage until you are ready to return. pray. exercise.
"...and this too shall pass."
~The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.
Martin Luther King, Jr~
Martin Luther King, Jr~