BlogHer - Political Blogger Stress Syndrome: A Survival Guide - Comments

John McCain in Wedding Crashers

Catherine Morgan — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 17:42:03 -0500

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
at Catherine-Morgan.com, The Political Voices of Women, Care2 Election<

Election Terror!

Ily — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 17:02:00 -0500

I'm stressed out about the election and I'm not even blogging about it...goodness only knows how I'd feel if I was! Good tips!

bring asexy back @ http://theonepercentclub.blogspot.com

The Daily Show and Colbert Report are lifesavers for me.

Catherine Morgan — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 11:29:13 -0500

For me...The Daily Show and Colbert Report are lifesavers. I don't think I get Bill Maher. :-(

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
at Catherine-Morgan.com, The Political Voices of Women, Care2 Election

Sex as a remedy for PBSS...

Catherine Morgan — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 11:26:41 -0500

Hey Christa. Sex as a remedy for PBSS? Even if it doesn't work, you'll have fun trying. And, if it doesn't work the first time...try, try again.

:-)

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
at Catherine-Morgan.com, The Political Voices of Women, Care2 Election

I wish it was as easy as having a drink.

Catherine Morgan — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 11:23:23 -0500

Wouldn't it be great if it really was that easy.

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
at Catherine-Morgan.com, The Political Voices of Women, Care2 Election

Comic Relief Helps

Sarah Granger — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 20:27:02 -0500

I'm so glad Bill Maher is back on the air - I watched his latest episode via TiVo yesterday and as we all know, laughter is good medicine. That helped. Then both yesterday and today I *gasp* spent time outside! Novel concept, I know. Now back to the race...

Sarah Granger

Sex as remedy for PBSS?

Giggle On — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 15:33:10 -0500

My name is Christa and I have PBSS.

I am perfecting a remedy for this condition as we speak.

The cure* for PBSS is a mixture of sex (preferably with a partner), rock and roll and Ghiradelli chocolate (not necessarily in that order).

Just a thought!

*This statement has not been validated by the Food and Drug Administration.

Christa @ www.giggleon.com

Ahhhh

PunditMom — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 08:12:03 -0500

I needed that!

Can't we just drink a

evilslutopia — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 00:56:03 -0500

Can't we just drink a lot?

Just kidding.

(Mostly.)

The Evil Slut Clique
Evilslutopia

3,2,1 ... CONTACT!

amberheravenus — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 18:58:26 -0500

Hello Catherine! Sorry to reach out to you personally through your comments, but I looked at ALL your blogs and couldn't find a single way to get in touch with you! Can you email me at amber(dot)scott(at)thezizogroup(dot)biz. I have a question for you/could use your help. Thanks so much!!!

Amber at www.capessa.com

Blissful Ignorance Sounds So Wonderful Right Now.

Catherine Morgan — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 15:44:09 -0500

Blissful ignorance sounds so wonderful right now...Where can I get some?

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
at Catherine-Morgan.com, The Political Voices of Women, Care2 Election

But even Hollywood has gone politics :(

L16 — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 15:08:35 -0500

I have this problem too. I just feel like there is no escape...heheh...the last time I watched one of my favorite movies I had to pause it, and momentarily flip my lid. I had no idea McCain has a cameo in Wedding Crashers!! Hahha, too funny.

I also have it very bad.

I'm so there!

Vegas Shopper — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 10:11:44 -0500

I followed the DNC gavel to gavel. It was fortuitous that the RNC is being curtailed because I don't think I have the strength to give it the same attention. Being the Last of the Bleeding Heart Liberals makes it even harder because there is all that tongue biting, etc. I spent the Labor Day weekend decompressing by watching a Monk Marathon followed by a Closer Marathon. I feel much better now. Thank Yew!

Other advice, put down the laptop and back away slowly. Good! Now go outside and take a walk. Look, there are people all around who don't give a shit about politics and they are leading lives of blissful ignorance! Maybe we could be like them. Nah!

AW thanks

Jill Miller Zimon — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 07:56:20 -0500

for thinking about this topic! so true so true that we need to take breaks.

Jill
Writes Like She Talks

Political Blogger Stress Syndrome: A Survival Guide

Catherine Morgan — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 02:28:40 -0500

This is the thing...Blogging about politics is very stressful. And, we all know what stress can do to our health.

Do you blog about politics? Is politics making you stressed? Is your blood pressure running a bit high? Are you getting more headaches than usual? Are you losing sleep because you're blogging to all hours of the night? Does the release of poll numbers give you heart palpitations? Do you ever get the urge to lock yourself in a dark room and not come out until after the election? If you have answered yes to any of these questions, you may be suffering from Political Blogger Stress Syndrome (or PBSS).

There is no medicine or treatment for PBSS [Although, give the pharmaceutical companies some time, I'm sure they will come up with something...expensive], and many sufferers don't even realize they have it. So. What can we do to combat the symptoms of PBSS?

I think the only hope for sufferers of this insidious condition, is a good survival guide. Trouble is, I looked, and there doesn't seem to be one of those.

Bummer.

Now what are we going to do?

If there is any chance of surviving this political season, and combatting the symptoms of PBSS, we need a survival guide, and we need one NOW. That's why I need your help...Together, we can write our own Political Blogger Survival Guide. What do you think? Can you help? How about I get us started?

Here we go...

1. I've already talked about how the movie "Mamma Mia" can help reduce stress. For maximum effectiveness, go to the new sing-a-long version.

2. Watch something other than the 24 hour news stations for at least an hour or so each day. I know a lot of people that love Project Runway. And, how can you not love Dancing with the Stars?

3. Tear yourself away from your computer, and go for a drive. Pop your favorite CD in, and start singing at the top of your lungs.

4. Turn the t.v. off and have some quiet time. Maybe try yoga.

5. Take some time to read a book. Recently, I had an opportunity to participate in a conference call, with the author of Enlightenment for Idiots. If I can practice what I preach long enough, I would love to read this book.

6. Get enough sleep. I am the perfect example of how not to get enough sleep. It's after 3am, and I am still up writing this post, with CNN on. So, for optimal stress relief, get enough sleep...Do as I say, not as I do.

7. When possible...Go to the beach, close your eyes, and listen to the waves hit the shore for a few minutes.

8. My mom said, walking in the rain helped her?

OK. That's eight. And eight is clearly not enough for a survival guide. So, I really need your help here.

Seriously, I need this survival guide more than anyone else. Let's put it this way...I should be the poster child for PBSS (I've got it bad).

I know you really want to help, and here is how you can. Let me know in comments, any suggestions you have for reducing stress, and combating the effects of PBSS. Maybe, if all goes well, I'll make it to November without needing to be fitted for a straight-jacket.

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
at Catherine-Morgan.com, The Political Voices of Women, Care2 Election