BlogHer - Is Politics Making You Stressed? Anxious? Depressed? - Comments

Would you be stressed if Dems didn't make a decision until...

Catherine Morgan — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 12:48:40 -0600

Hi Sleeping Mommy. Would you be stressed if Dems didn't make a decision on the nominee until the Democratic Convention?

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
CatherineBlogs, The Political Voices of Women, Care2 Election Blog

I hope you made it through tonight's debate...

Catherine Morgan — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 23:58:44 -0600

Hi Frances. I hope you made it through o.k. with tonight's debate. It sounds like you could use a day at the beach.

:-)

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
CatherineBlogs, The Political Voices of Women, Care2 Election Blog

Goat farming in Greece

Suzanne Reisman — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 19:56:46 -0600

My plan is to move to Greece and raise goats and/or sheep for delicious yogurts and cheeses.

Suzanne Reisman, Contributing Editor - Feminism & Gender
Campaign for Unshaved Snatch (CUSS)& Other Rants

Stressed? No. Engaged? Yes.

sleepingmommy — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 17:52:37 -0600

During past elections I felt either apathetic ("oh well I'll vote for the lesser of the two evils, I guess") or downright disappointed. This is the first election I've really felt excited about and engaged by. Now I'd just like for the divisions in the democratic party to cease. Democrats are supposed to be a party that brings people together over issues of gender and race. Not dividing over it.

Sleeping Mommy
"If sleep deprivation is an effective form of torture, then the CIA should seriously consider employing my children."

Good Topic

Frances Ellen — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 14:38:55 -0600

I was wondering why I've been short of breath lately. I know I should try to stay away from the news, but tonight another debate is scheduled. There's no point in promising myself I won't look at it because I'll be drawn to it like a bee to honey.

Frances Ellen is the Narrator of the Story of Nadia - The continuing fiction story of a card reader named Nadia.

Paradise sounds good right now.

Catherine Morgan — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 14:26:43 -0600

Hey Alyssa, paradise sure sounds good right now.

:-)

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
CatherineBlogs, The Political Voices of Women, Care2 Election Blog

OF COURSE you can move in

alyssaroyse — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 13:30:16 -0600

Wouldn't that be great. A bunch of kick-ass smart women! hell, Paradise! :)

___________
Alyssa Royse
JUST CAUSE
make some good news!
www.JustCauseIt.com

Just visit????

Catherine Morgan — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 13:12:43 -0600

Just visit Alyssa? We can't move in with you and help raise llamas???

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
CatherineBlogs, The Political Voices of Women, Care2 Election Blog

Glad I'm not the only one.

Catherine Morgan — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 13:11:04 -0600

Hey Suzanne. Thanks...I was beginning to think I was the only one. :-)

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
CatherineBlogs, The Political Voices of Women, Care2 Election Blog

I was fine, until Nader flared up again.

alyssaroyse — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 13:00:01 -0600

That's all. Reminded that we are a nation of individual egos that would rather stir shit up to get our way than work together for change. I'm moving to Peru. I will raise llamas. You're all welcome to come visit. :)
___________
Alyssa Royse
JUST CAUSE
make some good news!
www.JustCauseIt.com

One word response to your title

Suzanne Reisman — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 11:37:41 -0600

YES!!!!!

Suzanne Reisman, Contributing Editor - Feminism & Gender
Campaign for Unshaved Snatch (CUSS)& Other Rants

You are so right about the ticker.

Catherine Morgan — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 11:34:58 -0600

Hey Laurie. You are so right about the ticker...I've given up trying to read it and listen. And they keep adding more and more of them, pretty soon they are going to be half way up the screen. I wish they would only use it when there is something truly "breaking", and then just leave it off the rest of the time.

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
CatherineBlogs, The Political Voices of Women, Care2 Election Blog

I'm with Virginia.

lauriewrites — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 11:08:24 -0600

I'm a journalist and I do watch tv news (and online news) but it's the tickers that get to me, and the repetition of images. It has a really strange effect on me to be watching one person talking about a topic and then, at the bottom of the screen, it's "Lohan released from rehab...the Dow Jones industrial blahblahblah...New cure for blahblahblah..." And we wonder why focusing is a challenge in the modern world?

Post-9/11, when the 24 hour news cycle had the same footage of Osama bin Laden walking up and down a hill with a walking stick, over and over and over again, I started to go a little crazy. Even when nothing's changed for hours, there is still that need to fill the space and that's when I have to shut it off or change the channel.

As far as politics, I am a little saturated right now (and irritated by racist/sexist media coverage but it's important to keep an eye on that.) And I still have to engage with it professionally so I have to keep finding ways to keep it fresh, not just stressful.

Laurie

Not watching TV news, is a great way to avoid stress...

Catherine Morgan — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 09:48:48 -0600

Hi Virginia. I think not watching TV news is probably the single most important way to avoid stress. And I'm sure the reason I get so stressed, is because I basically have the news channels on most of the day.

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
CatherineBlogs, The Political Voices of Women, Care2 Election Blog

You are lucky Carol...

Catherine Morgan — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 09:44:23 -0600

You are very lucky Carol...you get to vote twice! I got to vote once, but it doesn't count. I can definitely see why you are not feeling stressed, it must be so exciting to be in Texas. :-)

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
CatherineBlogs, The Political Voices of Women, Care2 Election Blog

Is Politics Making You Stressed? Anxious? Depressed?

Catherine Morgan — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 01:42:48 -0600

Is politics making you stressed? Anxious? Depressed? Some days are worse than others for me. Today was particularly bad, especially with that stupid, fear mongering, "scare us into calling our senators" ad I've been seeing all day.

I've written about this FISA issue so much already, it makes me want to just SCREAM! I guess that makes me a wee-bit stressed?

Do you ever want to scream at your television? Here is a video clip of the FISA ad with the "truth" pointed out...

Today I even let the "F-bomb" slip, and in front of my daughter no less. It was while I was on the phone talking about politics (specifically, my pet-peeve issue of Florida disenfranchisement), and my daughter was sitting in the same room. There goes my "Perfect Mother of the Year" award.

How would you rate your level of politically induced stress? Are you a one? And not affected at all over political issues? Or, are you a ten? And waiting patiently for the men with straight jackets to show up at your door? I don't think I'm a ten yet. But, at this rate, I'm sure it won't be too long before I am.

Here are a couple posts I found of other women who are stressing over politics...

Lori Wallach at The Huffington Post

As America's anxiety grows, the economy not only is becoming a preeminent issue of the election, but the presidential candidates are responding to public anxiety about the current model of globalization. The Democratic candidates are reflecting back the public criticism of the status quo, but so far, they have avoided stating how an aspiring future president would restore the economic security of the American middle class in this era of globalization.

Maya Reynolds: Election Day Preview

I woke early and was at my desk by 7:30--despite rain and the fact that I usually drift in around 9:00 AM.

I've been aware of a low-level anxiety all morning. Sort of like the feeling my mother used to describe as "ants in your pants."

While I was eating my Chinese food and cruising the Internet over lunch, it dawned on me.

Wonderful Electric - Election Blues

Okay, so on Tuesday I went to cast my vote in the Democrats Abroad primary at Portchester Hall in London. The problem was, I was having a massive moral crisis. I was an undecided voter, for the first time in my entire life (and yes, this includes casting a vote for Dukakis in my school's mock election in 1988 and crying when Bush won).

Since Edwards dropped out (and this Krugman column made me cry), I've had a hard time getting excited about the Democratic primary. This isn't just out of character, it's out of keeping with the massive turnouts recorded all over the states which (I assume) means that heaps of other people are terribly thrilled. It's a strange combination of disillusionment, apathy, and indecision that I've never experenced before. Between Obamania and the Hillarybot, who the hell am I going to vote for?

Elissa's Blog - Election Blues

I don't know about you, but I'm having a panic attack about the future of our country. I remember a conversation I had with a friend of mine around the time of the last presidential election. She considered herself a Democrat and I considered myself a Republican.

The real question is...How are we going to make it to November with all of this stress? Well, there is no specific "political" stress relief program. But, here are some general tips you might find helpful, in reducing your level of stress. When all else fails...Turn the "freekin" news OFF.

Child of the Waters - Stress: Don't Fight It, Control It.

Under stress? Always. First and foremost, don’t panic! Some people can work under stress because they do not panic. Keep calm and assess the situation. What is the sources of the stress? Is it your boss? Your officemate? The office/school itself? Chill. Hopefully, none of them bite. Here are some ways to control the stress in your life...

Pagama Mommy - Stress Relief

I heard recently that there is no such thing as stress. You can’t go outside with an empty jar, fill it with stress then bring it home or with you to wherever you go. Hmmm, sounds good. Then why are we so stressed-out? Why do we do this to ourselves?

So, tell the truth...Are you stressed out over politics?

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
CatherineBlogs, The Political Voices of Women, Care2 Election Blog