The election season has left many of us ailing, physically and mentally, wrung out from well over a year of the Campaign That Would Not End. While Bill Clinton is hoarse from stumping for our president, many of us are hoarse from screaming at our televisions and car radios. Many of us are suffering repetitive stress injuries from obsessively hitting "refresh" on every blog, poll, Twitter feed and video, searching through the political tea leaves for something other than noise and chaos, something that will reassure us.
We might need to see an orthopedist if we've been kicking ourselves for not doing more to get out the vote. As for the pounding headaches, the ulcers, the grinding teeth and the other countless stress-related maladies brought about by this prolonged political siege, we can turn to our choice of traditional or alternative medicinal options.
What's suffered most is our sanity. Whatever happens tomorrow, we will need to pull ourselves back from the abyss to some sense of "normal", a mode of operation where we can return to whatever we were doing before our 24/7 ride on the political Tilt-a-Whirl.
Fortunately, help is on the way. Today's Houston Chronicle offers some suggestions for coping with "election season stress disorder", courtesy of two of our local mental health professionals.
I've included their suggestions below, annotated with my own observations and thoughts. Please add your own ideas in the comments. We're all in this together, and the next 48 hours will frazzle whatever's left of our central nervous systems.
1. If you're feeling tense, stressed and jumpy from monitoring the campaign every waking hour, back away... Tune out the most polarizing media coverage. Get more sleep. Talk to your children. Help them with their science projects.
Other therapeutic activities include preparing your garden for cold weather, collecting donations for Goodwill and other charities, walking your dog, cleaning out your garage, giving blood, volunteering at a local non-profit, or any activity that puts you in touch with nature and good people and out of touch with TV, radio, and the Internet.
2. Whether President Barack Obama or GOP nominee Mitt Romney wins the election, he is not going to change your day-to-day routine... In fact, his impact on your normal life is going to be minimal.
Yes, I can already hear many of you screaming, 'That's not true! If Obamacare is repealed, my family and I are totally screwed'. Remember though: even if Romney prevails, his "Day One" promises will already have fallen by the wayside. He can't work his evil magic without the help of the House and Senate, and there will be time to influence their decisionmaking. You owe yourself a respite from the grinding stress, particularly if you're also facing non-election-related ailments.
3. If you want to have any friends left, stop talking about politics for a month or three. The subject of religion shouldn't be fodder for casual chit-chat, either...
Chances are, your remaining friends are as sick of wallowing in this political quagmire as you are. If not, be sure to limit your time with anyone who wants to perpetuate your suffering. They're not your friend.
4. If your candidate wins, be, well, politic. Do not say, for example, "Your guy was lousy."...Be happy but not aggressive... If your candidate loses... prepare to take the high road. Call the friends who voted for the winner and say, 'I hoped it would turn out differently, but your guy won fair and square. Congratulations, I know you're happy, and I have high hopes for our country.'
There's plenty of time in the future for schadenfreude, as your friends find out that their candidate is every bit of the fraud you knew they'd be. In the mean time, there's a lot to be said for having high hopes for the country. If you can't muster that, try doing something to help out the storm victims in the Northeast, or better yet, those in need in your own back yard. You'll be doing some real good, and showing what true Progressives do to help others. Someone might notice, but even if they don't you will be making a difference.
5. ...it's important to think ahead of time about the message you want to convey to friends and to be the first to extend the olive branch. If, however, your best peacemaking efforts are rebuffed,... ask yourself, 'Do I really want to be close to this person in the future?' You did the right thing. Now leave with your dignity intact.
Really. If someone rebuffs your peace offering, you can break that olive branch in two and... oh, sorry. Where was I? Oh, right. Ask yourself why you're hanging out with people like that. You shouldn't be letting them live rent-free in your head.
6. ...step back, breathe deeply and remember, "Coming together as a nation is what really matters. We hope the candidate who wins is going to do a fantastic job. Why would we want anything less?"
Coming together as a nation after this divisive campaign season won't be easy. Sadly, for many folks, it takes a calamity like Hurricane Sandy to remind us that we're all in this together. Simple acts of kindness can go a long way towards improving the situation. While you're at it, don't forget some acts of kindness for
yourself. We need you in good shape to face the challenges of tomorrow. Right now, though, you might benefit from a brisk walk on a cool autumn day, or a hot bath and a glass of wine, or a hug from someone who knows what you've been through.
Take care, and add your suggestions for your stressed-out fellow travelers.