Up and down, up and down

joy jenkins · Post by **joy jenkins** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 3:00 pm

Hi everyone, For a week or so I really did think things were starting to work for me, better attitude, etc.etc. But this past week has been hell and I still feel definitely not well. Is this normal? Also, I am retired so have too much time to watch T.V., think etc.I am so anxious over the economy and the state of the world. The American (imagine I can't think of the word) election, that's it!. It is totally stressing me out. I know who I would like to win and I get so frustrated because it seems so obvious to me but I am afraid the American people wont see it. I am from England, I know the mind-set of Europe to a degree and I am very afraid that America will go way down in the eyes of the world is they are not very careful over this election. I personally like the American people very much, some of the most generous and friendly people in the world, but please be very careful who you vote for in this election. I may not be allowed to post this but I am only doing this because I care so much. I wonder what your thoughts are? I hope they let me post this because it is so important and quite honestly it is affecting my health.
I find I can only take VERY LITTLE stress these days.
Joy

jaimek · Post by **jaimek** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 4:52 pm

Joy, it seems that perhaps you should watch other programs besides the news. Try comedy....but then again that would remind you of the election. The way I see it, I will do my part....vote and see what happens. We can't really control the minds of others, right? So let it go....and pray that the American people will be sensible. It will take a while for us to recover from the mess created by the current administration.....but Americans are survivors....what doesn't kill you will make you stronger!

Barb G. · Post by **Barb G.** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 8:59 pm

Hi Joy,

I hear you it's very scary, I'm still in college, and I have no idea what's going on.

I did read something that said until you over come the sensitive part of anxiety you shouldn't watch things like the news, sad movies that kind of thing, try to make everything you hear and see something positive for your recovery.

Just a few tips. =)

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 2:14 am

Hi Joy,

I too felt pretty good the first two weeks of the course, but when I hit session 3, I started getting more anxious/obsessive/depressed. I've talked to others, and I believe this is normal. We've had anxiety and depression for so long, and now we're looking it square in the face with a determination to change things. That can be pretty scary! So give yourself permission to feel this way and continue practicing your skills. I really hope you feel better soon

. Take care,

Scott

Debbie Gal · Post by **Debbie Gal** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 2:55 am

Hi Joy:

I too am very concerned about the state of our economy, how we are preceived throughout the world, the wars, the presidential election and the future of my children. I'm glued to CNN every day and seem to can't get enough of the news...I remember in July when I was still very anxious, I was so upset with the choices of V.P's...but since that time, more healing has occured and I find myself thinking calmer and more logical re: politics and other issues. Allow time and more time and realize that everything upsetting is magnified. We are all going to be OK...Americans, Europeans and everyone else in this world. The world events are out of our control...we can only control how we react to events. Take heart Joy....you won't feel this anxious for much longer. Keep up with the positive talk and find something that gives you pleasure, maybe reading or a hobby and have some fun with that.

I wish you peace....
Lynn

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 3:43 am

yes Joy I was getting very worked up over all this also. I was glued to the news beginning with the nominations, and then the financial crises (which I lost a great deal of money over). I finally had to just limit any time I spent watching all this, call a friend, and rent some stupid funny movies. I too have a lot of free time, so it was hard not to just tune in for a while, but then it would turn into hours. I had to limit my exposure, read books and go out for more walks.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 10:32 am

I think this years election is very heated. Election coverage is so geared toward an "us versus them" mentality...that I think is really anxiety producing. The truth is, no matter who gets in, there will be good and bad about the next four years.

I was logging on here to vent (sorry but I need to!) that my mother is driving me crazy about the election. I have 2 kids and rarely watch TV. I am mostly recovered, and I am very careful as to what I put in my brain. Everyone is concerned about the economy, but making yourself sick about it will not help. My mom is home with my 95-year-old grandmother, and I think all they do is watch TV which leads her to believe if her candidate doesn't win that it will be the end of the world as we know it. Even though she knows I ALREADY VOTED for the other candidate, she keeps emailing me all these facts, supposedly, about my candidate versus hers. She says she lies awake at night worrying about what will happen if the other guy takes office. I finally asked her what she wanted me to do exactly? But I am avoiding reading her email response. Since I already voted, it seems like she is just trying to make me feel bad, or guilty, or wrong.

Lets remember to not over-react about the whole thing. Keep the TV off, unsubscribe to the news wires. It won't be the first time that a polarized election took place, and life will go on.

Any suggestions as to how to handle my mom would be appreciated. For better or worse, it will all be over soon!