Election Anxiety (disorder) anyone?

[ribbon]

This is one of the many articles I found. I chose the one with the least amount of numbers in the link :supergrin http://www.nbc(twenty five)_.com/news/default.asp?mode=shownews&id=(two seven two six) . There were others that even classified this as a "disorder" though not recognized by the DSM IV :muhaha.

Election Anxiety Affecting Voters

FREDERICK, MD- Four days remain before Americans head to the polls and for many voters, Election Day can`t come soon enough.
"I haven`t been sleeping really well, I`m anxious to get the TV on in the morning and check and see what`s going on and when I get back from wherever I`ve been that day I check again. I check before I go to bed," said Lila Mallonee, an anxious voter.

Sound familiar? If you`re torn between checking the polls online and watching election coverage on TV, you might be suffering from pre-election anxiety disorder. And you`re not alone.

"I think it`s probably unprecedented in at least the last twenty years in a Presidential election that we`ve had this kind of interest and focus," said Len Latkovski, a history professor at Hood College.

Latkovski said the election obsession is actually a good thing, sending more educated voters to the polls and creating what he calls a "true participatory democracy." But until Election Day gets here, "Pink is weak for bush, red is strong for Bush, highlighted in pink is barely Bush," said Mallonee.

And at least to Latkovski, the reason for the attention is clear. "Many of them are very passionate about one candidate or the other. Others are concerned about the direction of the country, the economy, the higher price of oil; there`s no question there is considerable anxiety," he said.

With the race in a statistical dead heat, sixty percent of Americans said they don`t expect to know the winner next Wednesday morning, but don`t be surprised if all of this election anxiety is replaced with an election hangover.


Posted by Erica Taylor


I have this. I can't stop thinking about the election. I'm anxious about the frightening possibility of having four more years of arrogance and incompetence. I'm scared about the direction of our country :usa and the rights of women and a lot of other things I could list, but that would just feed into the anxiety :ohboy. I literally have knots in my stomach. Part of me can't wait for the election results, but the other part of me is afraid if the white house doesn't change I won't be able to calm myself with the words HOPE IS ON THE WAY .
I know I'm not alone. Most of my friends are going through the same thing.
Is anyone in the :bowl feeling the same way?

[xchangagirl]

I hear you! I am definitely terrified of the possibility of "four more years", but I have a sinking feeling that's what we'll get. Either way, I'm doing my part tomorrow and getting out there to vote.

;loveJessica:love

[safe t belter]

i think i have this too!:ummm:muhaha:ugh

it's killing me!

(i'm on the oposite side of things then :hugon jessica and ribbon :hugoff are on--- the thought of NOT getting four more years scares me!:scared)

only one more day!

:love michelle

[IthinkIcan]

Interesting to find that this has been a documented trend. I thought, Ribbon, that this was something you were postulating, until, of course, I opened the thread. I opened it because I related, though from an opposite POV and had a friend of mine confide in me this week that he has been literally physically ill from anxiety from this election, he thinks. As a physician he was uncertain whether it was physical or emotional, and as he is not prone to emotional ailments, all he could say is he could not wait for this election to be over. He is praying for God's will to be done and for the grace to accept whatever result may be.

Someone had written a post a while back about "is this the most important election" (I would gather "in quite a while"), and I would say "yes." As someone in my circle said, "I personally feel this is the most important election I've voted in, and I've voted in all of them, since I've had opportunity. There is an urgency as never before. I believe this election will set the (tone/stage) in our country for the next forty to fifty years, and we will be called upon to answer for our vote in this (election)." (almost a verbatim quote)

See you at the polls. :ugh Who knows when we will actually have an answer. I dread the process of all this. I've seen so much in this election already. My gentle friend railed on and on about politics to the point that I left my daughter "stranded" at dance for a minute or two (? or not, I'm always early, so I may have just "felt" late and sent a replacement in time) (sent her :reallymad dad--he got over it quickly when he realized the topic at hand and the friend--we've been friends for twelve years and he's never heard her stirred up :muhaha ).

Regardless of the outcome, I feel this is a pivotal election; I know our nation will change! It depends upon people's POV as to how we view the changes represented by this outcome.

The election is so close I feel no certainty, and it makes me queasy. The moral climate of this country would definitely come into question if one party would be represented, under certain POVs. Yet, I realize many positive changes this representative could implement on many fronts. I'm not totally anti-K. I've even harbored the idea of secretly voting for him. But, alas, there are certain things that prevent. I only hope the other side could see similar, but different, redeeming values/qualities, in the other party if elected. Somehow, I'm doubting he will be. Maybe that will make some of y'all feel better.

Take care of you. Either way, the beat goes on.

[MegaVictory]

"i think i have this too!

it's killing me!

(i'm on the oposite side of things then jessica and ribbon are on--- the thought of NOT getting four more years scares me!)

only one more day!"

I FEEL THE SAME. AND I AM SO WORRIED WE WILL NOT KNOW THE RESULTS ON WEDNESDAY MORNING, SOOOO, FURTHER ANXIETY.

THE COUNTRY IS REALLY DIVIDED THIS YEAR, SOME PASSIONATELY ON ONE SIDE, AND SOME PASSIONATELY FOR THE OTHER. I WISH THERE WAS A MIDDLE ROAD, SO NOBODY HAS TO FEEL THIS TERRIBLY SCARY FEELING, IF THEIR SIDE DOESN'T WIN.

[saralee]

:hugon ribbon :hugoff

thanks so much for this post. i feel the same way. i find myself checking the internet all the time, like some kind of information junkie. my school studies are also falling behind a bit, and, yes, my eating has been off kilter.

it's hard to just "relax and trust" when the election was very likely stolen in two thousand. what reason do we have to relax and trust?

if bush ends up winning, i will just have to work at coming to a place of acceptance, which will not be easy at all.

i'd like to give you(and myself) some words of comfort but there don't seem to be any. we'll just have to vote and work on being unattached to the outcome.

that's all we CAN do......

:love Sara :bandwagon

[Shauna]

Is what's worse is that it has definitely spread to Canada. I heard that the results won't probably be known until Thursday, so I'm a little afraid to wake up to find out that .... won.

[gone]

i was worried a lot about this a few weeks ago, until i realized that the country deserves whoever they elect. there isn't anything I, as an individual, can do other than casting my vote.

the polls tick me off, because they're missing large demographics of people such as those who use cell phones exclusively. but *cough* I am guilty of listening to talk radio when I'm driving and checking TV occasionally to see what's going on.

I'll be relieved when this whole thing is over. I've been volunteering at the local campaign office and let me tell you, politics are pretty exhausting.

I'm not very concerned about it being a tie or anything like that. I think that it'll be pretty clear early on who's winning, and even if appeals get dragged through court, someone's going to be so far ahead it isn't going to matter.

Voter fraud does concern me...

[Marigold]

:starsRibbon:stars,

Interesting topic!

If Bush wins I think I will be severly depressed for a while - and then settle down into a more adaptive depression. Oh well:sleepy
I also feel that the trouble we are in is not just going to go away if Kerry gets in. Four years of Kerry will not undo all this turmoil - but it will help, I deeply hope.

We may have to suffer, as a country, more before we see we are on the wrong path. That is my feeling about this if Bush wins. People will have to see ever more forcibly just how we will pay the price even more dearly if we get Bush again.

Of course I know that many feel the exact opposite from me on all this. Such is life. Each side is deeply convinced they are on the side of what's right.

Regarding Bush, I just don't know when we have ever had a stupider (or, ah, More stupid) sounding President. Honestly.

Here's a quote: "Not All the poor are Killers".

Gee, that's just great. Bush doesn't think that All poor people are evil murderers.:ohboy

If it were but one or two statements here and there...but it's a whole, long-running, surreal kind of "comedy skit" of gross errors of speech with this guy - except that it's real-life and therefore not such a laughing matter. I don't know if I can take four more years of That - let alone the fact that I think he's horribly incompetent.
-Marigold:sun

[IthinkIcan]

I'm just heartbroken and tired at this point. Several posts could tie together at this point. I'm definitely ready for this election to be over. I'm uncertain what it means to be an American, as I'm fully aware of our reputation abroad. Identifying as I do, with the villainified party, I feel unpopular in belief here and abroad. Interestingly, I have found some of the very arrogance spoken of here coming at me from those who denounce it. This is not a jab at the :bowl Y'all will understand in a moment why I'm feeling disillusioned. Maybe you will find me silly :ugh It's a FELONY to deface or take down political signs, but it was done anyway. I'll leave it at that. This was after learning that a pill was found in Halloween candy here locally (I mean VERY locally to me, as in my old neighborhood and in a town that shares business districts with the one I live in now--it's difficult to describe how they are almost one and the same, said in one breath, but not one town). Sealed up in a Three Musketeers without obvious signs of tampering (the wrapper was resealed and the pill carefully placed). There have been just so many things. I feel so disheartened . . . with my town . . . my country (which is seemingly torn in two and . . .). Some may say, so move, either out of the town or even the country. :sad Surely there is still much good here. So why are we fighting among ourselves and not even promoting the freedom living here is supposed to allow? Our sign only had a name. And to purposely try to hurt children. I'm sad tonight.

No wonder both sides are so scared. I would never disrespect the other side in such a way.

I know people here have admitted thinking about it. Just think about the message it sends. Thinking is one thing, think away, but don't do it. It's a FELONY, and I do not feel it is a small thing as it chisels away at the very heart of what makes it worth being an American, which is why I guess I feel a bit sick tonight. This action definitely sends the statement that we are not free to feel and believe and vote as we choose.

And, as for the other situation :cry :cry :reallymad :cry :cry I cried at the store when I learned, just a single tear that slid down my cheek, but I was shaken to the core. I cried more at home as I tried to explain to my daughter . . .

[Anakalia]

I am super anxious about this election. Part of me want to go really early to vote in the morning and then not listen to any news or the radio for the rest of the day, then get up on Wednesday and just look to see who won. That way I won't be going through the rollercoaster. I am very nervous that it will not be another four years.

I know everyone has different opinions, but I think we all feel the same anxiety and can identify to one another on that.

[fimbriae]

it's spread to australia too...

this election isn't just going to affect americans. given that australia's prime minister is george w.'s shameless lap dog, it's going to influence us here, too. given that the US is the most powerful country in the world, this election is going to have worldwide repercussions. you guys (the american :fishys ) are privileged to be in a position to have a say in this.

take care.

love,
emma

[PetuniaPetunia]

I find that the best thing to do when you have anxiety over something is to take action. It's all you can do. So my friends, get out and vote, get your friends to get out and vote, go volunteer with whatever candidate you support.

I support Kerry and I hope all the USA fishies vote for him.

[Vicks]

Regaurdless of what point of view anyone has, this election is anxiety filled. It just is. HOneslty? I can't wait until is is over. I even told myself that I refuse to watch the news today.

I hate exit polls too, because I think they discourage people from getting out and voting, because they predicte winners.

So for all Americans, everyone, reguarudless of party affiliation, or values, beliefs, morals ect... congrads for caring, congrads for being a little anxious, becuase it shows caring, it shows involvement, it shows passion and all I really want to see in people is passion for something. Passionate people are who make this world go around.

So I am anxious, anxious for it all to be over, and yes I have political leanings, but this post isn't about political leanings or bashing one party or another, it is about the anxiety we are all feeling over this election.

Vicks

[Shauna]

:hugonITIC:hugoff

Regarding the Halloween candy and signs being defaced--you're going to find that almost anywhere you go. Our little town has a problem with people knocking over headstones in graveyards. That's resulted in most people choosing to not have headstones, which is very sad.

Sad that people would resort to putting pills in a candybar given out to kids. Then again, kids threw firecrackers in the home of an eight-nine-year-old woman's home resulting in a fire.

[sflathinker]

I'm one of those weird people who love moments like these. I feel anxiety, but in an exciting, I can't wait kind of way.

[Catherose]

:hugonIthinkIcan:hugoff

I'm really sorry to hear how badly this is affecting you.

I'm very very nervous, because I'm pretty sure my guy is going to lose. I didn't realize how much I cared until this morning when I walked to my polling place and felt jittery and almost like crying at the prospects I faced.

I get frustrated with people around me who say they're going to leave the country if so-and-so gets elected though. Someone says that every year and they never actually leave. Whatever happens, I guess it's important to remember that we still have it way better here than mostof the world does.If the "wrong" person (whatever that means to you) gets elected, there are still hundreds of ways for individuals to turn the country into a place they'd find more ideal.

[IthinkIcan]

You are, of course, right Shauna. Not that, that makes me feel any the better. It's sad the state our world is in.


Thanks :hugon Catherose :hugoff

Think I'm just really triggered.

This was just all too close to an anniversary date. Abu*e issues, that kind of thing. I'm struggling. Adding it all together, I'm probably just over-reacting . . .

Guess at least in this thing I'm not alone. I feel SO anxious tonight, and I didn't fare well at the polls. Witnessed a car accident just outside immediately after. Took care of an emergency situation at home the day before, a true emergency. My nerves are frayed.

I need help. If having K for president would make that happen, I'm ready, but it wouldn't. Not in this town. No, not here. :sad

Please, forgive me. This time of year is reallllllllly hard here. I'll shut up now. :yay to all who voted and used their voices.

:love
me

[Catherose]

Go see a movie tonight- it's one of my favorite things to do when I feel overwhelmed and would prefer not to talk to people or watch the news.

[Shauna]

:hugonITIC:hugoff

Yes, it is a sad world we live in.

I hope that things have gotten better for you. What have you done to help yourself?

[ribbon]

:hugon catherinerose:hugoff
Easier than said than done. If my candidate doesn't win, some of my personal civil rights are in jeopardy. I'm very passionate about that. If it was just about the economy and foreign affairs I wouldn't be as anxious as I am now. This is very personal to me, more so than any other election in my life time. If my guy wins, he's not going to try to take away anyone's personal rights.

[Catherose]

Ribbon-
Most things are easier to say than do.
I understand how you feel, and many things that are important to me are at stake this year too. However, in many parts of the world, even more of our civil rights would be in jeopardy. I am nervous about this election as well, but am trying to remind myself of other ways that I can use my voice politically and other things I can do, should this election not end the way I'm hoping. For me personally, this feels much better and more productive.

A writer named Jon Carroll wrote a good article about this that I'm going to look for right now.

Best of luck to our candidate.

[Catherose]

OK, got it. This guy writes for the San Francisco Chronicle. You can see more of his writing at www.sfgate.com.

All around me is the rending of garments and the beating of breasts. All around me are people on their knees shaking their impotent fists at heaven. All around me people are saying that Bush will win and that therefore they will move to Canada/move to Mexico/join an ashram/go to bed for four years/marry a Republican/acquire ritual tattoos/take too many drugs.

My message to them: Get over yourselves. Retain a grip in reality. This is not the worst time in the history of America -- remember the Civil War? That was a bad time. This is not the nastiest presidential campaign ever -- check out the contest of [eighteen hundred], starring the soon-to-be-immortal Thomas Jefferson. This is not the first president ever to be held captive by corrupt industrialists -- see the years [eighteen seventy] through [nineteen hundred], where candidates were bought and sold like trading cards.

Also in [eighteen seventy] -- women and blacks could not vote; there were no child labor laws and no labor unions; pollutants were spread everywhere without government interference. It sometimes seems as if that is the era the Bush administration longs for, but it may long all it wants -- it ain't gonna happen.

First, it's not a lock that Bush is going to win. Polls are just guesses, and the guesses are disagreeing with each other, and for God's sakes it's September. So why is it the time for despair? Sure, Karl Rove is a genius liar, but Richard Nixon was a genius liar too, and he came to a bad end.

And you're giving up now? Now? Let's talk about Poland. Let's talk about [nineteen thirty-nine]. The overwhelming German blitzkrieg overran the country. The Polish army was large and gallant, but it was no match for the Germans. Once the Nazis controlled a town, they began executing people. If one person resisted, the whole town was razed. It took them five days to reach Warsaw.

And what did the Poles do? They kept fighting. England and France had pledged to come to their aid, but England and France backed out. The Polish cause was hopeless, but the Poles fought on. Death rained from the sky, and the Poles fought on. The Nazis installed puppet leaders and marched Jews to death camps and turned their attention westward to Belgium and France -- and the Poles fought on.

And you're going to retire to your tent because the numbers have turned sour? Is that what I'm hearing? It seems to me that despair is a luxury item right now; it seems to me that despair is an insult to all the people who had real reason to despair, and didn't. You gotta have more resilience than a futon, people. Meaning no disrespect to futons.

OK, let's assume the worst. Let's assume that Four More Years becomes a reality. That would be a bad thing, yes. The rivers and the forests, they would mourn. The have-nots would mourn, guessing that they would have even less. Workers in emergency rooms and classrooms would mourn. But it is not the end of the world.

You want the end of the world? Try Fallujah. I don't care which side you're on -- try Fallujah. If you're a solider in any army; if you're a mother or a merchant or a monk, you don't want to be in Fallujah.

And you know that Fallujah is on all our consciences. It's no good to walk away and blame Donald Rumsfeld; you are one of the people who can affect what's going on in Fallujah. You can't save the world, but you might save a few lives. And you're going to pick up your marbles and go home? Man, with that attitude Mahatma Gandhi would still be practicing law in South Africa -- and he'd be very, very old.

We can't help it; as American citizens we are inordinately powerful. We will be powerful -- more powerful than a citizen of Rwanda or Turkmenistan or Yemen -- no matter what happens in the elections. And with power comes responsibility, as we are forever being reminded. So take some echinacea and cover your head with a warm towel and take a deep breath, and then come out fighting.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oh really? How about we all go to Burma and then you can tell me how darned oppressed you are? Wanna live in downtown Kinshasa? You see my point.
Fight, fight for old Notre Dame, carry the banner, wearing the flame, la la la something something fame, something jcarroll@sfchronicle.com.

[shortstop]

Okay, I wasn't necessarily anxious. I was more ready for everything to be over and done with.
Now....I'm anxious. Polls close here in CA in about an hour, and I am confident about where my state will go. I'm more worried about my old home state of PA, and it's neighbor Ohio. It sucks that the predominantly rep states have finished already so I'm getting worried. Hopefully for no reason.
Vote Kerry!!

[joelle]

I'm waiting right now for results and I can't even handle it!!! Plus I'm canadian...I love Kerry. My heart is fluttering right now while waiting for Ohio's results...I'm not an American but I'm very scared for the world of what will happen if Bush gets four mour years...Go KERRY!!!

[battgyrll]

You know, I had this a little bit, until tonight.

Now I feel like I'm going to throw up...and not in an ED way...

I actually think it's good that people are feeling like this. It means we care and actually have something invested in this election. It wouldn't mean as much if we were all so apathetic.

:bat battgyrll :bat
Sara

[sflathinker]

It doesn't matter which candidate you "needed" to be president, it's personal for many people. It will forever be an issues whether your personal civil rights are actually "rights" in the legal sense. There is nothing wrong with people standing on opposite ends of issues, but we must come together as a nation no matter what.