We all know the primary signs that you’re under stress: heightened anxiety, depression, sleep problems, irritability, however, all of the following can be signs that you are not coping well with stress:
- Dizziness or a general feeling of "being out of it."
- General aches and pains.
- Fatigue.
- Grinding teeth, clenched jaw.
- Headaches.
- Indigestion or acid reflux symptoms.
- Increase in or loss of appetite.
- Muscle tension in neck, face or shoulders.
- Racing heart.
- Cold and sweaty palms.
- Tiredness, exhaustion.
- Trembling/shaking.
- Weight gain or loss.
- Upset stomach, diarrhea.
- Sexual difficulties.
- Drinking more than usual
- Existing medical problems getting worse
- Last but really the least, you may be worrying about worrying too much. In these times it is a sign of good mental health to be worrying. So as Bob Newhart (aka Dr. Robert Hartley) in a famous line (at least among therapists) a shouted to an obsessive client on a MADtv episode in a 2001 skit "Stop it!"
If you are experiencing any of these problems (except the last) and they are new since the election of Donald Trump I strongly advise you to make an appointment to see your primary care physician. When you call for an appointment tell the referral office that you want to talk about stress. A good medical practice will assure that you have at least a half hour appointment.
While many stress problems can be dealt with by non-medical interventions from yoga to psychotherapy, lots of people also benefit from medications such as anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medications (the later to be used judiciously) and simple advice about changes in lifestyle and, for example, lessons in sleep hygiene.
I am a retired clinical social worker, not a physician, but when I worked closely with doctors at their recommendation I always advised that patients ith insomnia to be very careful about using prescription sleeping medications because they lose their efficacy when used every night.
I am lucky. My own doctor is very liberal and is as anti-Trump as I am. I feel free to talk to him about my own Trump induced stress when I see him for other problems (he recommends social interaction with like-minded people).
If you have a Trump supporting physician and they are responsible they should be non-judgmental if you talk about Trump induced stress. You should be comfortable telling your doctor about how Trump is affecting you. If you do have a doctor who you know is a Trump supporter you may not feel you can talk candidly about how much Trump is affecting you. If your doctor dismisses your concerns and you think it is because of political bias, it may be time to change doctors.
Another reason to see you family doctor if you experience any symptoms that seem stress related is that you may have a serious condition, even one that untreated could actually kill you. Just as paranoids sometimes have enemies, fatigue and muscle aches and pains can be an indication of serious underlying health problems. Also, people who suffer from panic attacks sometimes actually die of heart attacks.
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Tuesday, Sep 18, 2018 · 2:05:54 PM +00:00
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HalBrown
Therapists coin new term: Trump anxiety disorder, Newsweek, July 28, 2018
LaMotte ( a therapist interviewed) said that these patients exhibit behavior similar to patients who have a parent with a personality disorder. “Whether it’s conscious or not, I think we look to the president of the United States as a psychological parent,” she said.
And the presidency seems to be affecting people across the political spectrum. This includes Trump supporters who feel isolated from friends and family for their affiliations. American Psychological Association has recorded a rise in anxiety since the 2016 election. According to the APA, a person’s political affiliation can affect their risk of anxiety.
The APA also found a connection between stress levels and electronic news consumption. Current news stories such as the separation of migrant families, retirement of Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, and Trump’s issues with world leaders, and his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Although “Trump Anxiety Disorder” is not an official diagnosis, the symptoms include a lack of sleep, a feeling of losing of control and helplessness in an unpredictable sociopolitical climate, along with endless negative headlines, and excessive time spent on social media. This has also been theorized in a 2017 essay written by clinical psychologist Jennifer Panning for a book co-edited by Harvard and Yale psychologists.