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Post by mamakoala on Feb 17, 2017 14:12:55 GMT
So, my blood pressure is up, I am getting terrible headaches (and I am NOT prone to them), I have nausea and indigestion, and my anxiety and irritability is sky high. This is all since 45 was elected. I am very politically involved and I have to find a way to balance my activism (I run a local progressive group) and my health.
I am trying to meditate daily, and exercise, and eat well. But I feel like every time I read the newspaper, or turn on the news, I am confronted with yet another horrifying thing 45 or his ilk has done or said, and I literally feel my blood pressure rising. I can't NOT be informed, but I also can't continue down this path.
Would love ideas and thoughts. I am considering a 2 day a week news fast but not sure that's enough.
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Nink
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,947
Location: North Idaho
Jul 1, 2014 23:30:44 GMT
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Post by Nink on Feb 17, 2017 14:15:21 GMT
Maybe just limit yourself to 30 minutes a day of news. Years ago that's all anybody got and it worked okay and take weekends off and focus on things in your own life you enjoy.
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Post by kamper on Feb 17, 2017 14:19:35 GMT
Also, focus on what you are doing to make things better and not on what Twitler is doing.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 18, 2024 22:35:13 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 17, 2017 14:22:27 GMT
Maybe a 5:2 diet, only news related? Unplug completely or as much as you can for an entire day every so often. I spend every Sunday focusing on anything but the news.
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Post by beebee on Feb 17, 2017 14:24:22 GMT
Maybe just step away for a short while. I am more on the right and I had to do the same thing when Obama was in office towards the end. It really helped. Just the short break and focusing on other things gave me a more positive frame of mind.
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peppermintpatty
Pearl Clutcher
Refupea #1345
Posts: 3,842
Jun 26, 2014 17:47:08 GMT
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Post by peppermintpatty on Feb 17, 2017 14:26:22 GMT
My therapist said this is a REAL problem with all her patients. Everyone is complaining of increased anxiety other problems. Her suggestion is unplugging. I have been trying to do that. I don't watch the news, I only go after "him" on twitter, nowhere else. I also have started meditating again and it is helping a lot.
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Post by Tasha on Feb 17, 2017 14:29:58 GMT
Are you religious?
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pudgygroundhog
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,643
Location: The Grand Canyon
Jun 25, 2014 20:18:39 GMT
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Post by pudgygroundhog on Feb 17, 2017 14:33:19 GMT
So, my blood pressure is up, I am getting terrible headaches (and I am NOT prone to them), I have nausea and indigestion, and my anxiety and irritability is sky high. This is all since 45 was elected. I am very politically involved and I have to find a way to balance my activism (I run a local progressive group) and my health. I am trying to meditate daily, and exercise, and eat well. But I feel like every time I read the newspaper, or turn on the news, I am confronted with yet another horrifying thing 45 or his ilk has done or said, and I literally feel my blood pressure rising. I can't NOT be informed, but I also can't continue down this path. Would love ideas and thoughts. I am considering a 2 day a week news fast but not sure that's enough. I think many of us can relate! First and foremost, take care of yourself. You are most useful to the resistance if you are healthy. And don't worry about taking breaks - we all help carry each other. It is hard to balance being informed and not letting it get to you too much. I would suggest limiting your news intake (and under no uncertain terms are you to read the comments or engage in them). I get a briefing email from the NYT each morning and it's a nice summary. Maybe find something similar? I find during weekends when I'm spending time with my family or friends and engaged in other activities without checking news or discussing politics, I feel refreshed. Time with family and friends, exercise, time outdoors, reading (especially with a cat on my lap), visits to the cat shelter have all been very helpful for me. I'm also currently trying to line up another volunteering opportunity - I feel like giving back to my community and creating the community I envision and want to live in is a great way to move forward. Hope you find something that works!
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Post by lemondrop on Feb 17, 2017 14:37:45 GMT
As previous posters have said, unplug. Limit yourself to 30 minutes a day. Of course the constant bombardment of negativity is going to take its toll. I see that you are scrapping again - good for you; do it more!
Take care of yourself.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 18, 2024 22:35:13 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 17, 2017 14:40:37 GMT
Staggered breathing. Take care of you. We all need to take a breath.
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Post by mamakoala on Feb 17, 2017 14:58:03 GMT
I don't know. I was Christian, but became disillusioned with all of our local churches. I feel like I am on the fence. I love Jesus, but dont think I can call myself a Christian anymore. I do follow other spiritual practices like Buddhism and meditation--i have practiced yoga in the bpast (maybe should restart!) and try to see things from a holistic perspective.
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Post by Tasha on Feb 17, 2017 15:22:42 GMT
Ok, I asked, because if you weren't religious at all, my reply would not be relevant. It still might not be, but I'll tell you how I cope, anyway!
I am religious. I believe in God and The Bible. I believe that God is All knowing, He saw the end before the beginning.
If you believe in the Bible, we were told by Jesus himself in Matthew 24 that all these crazy and horrible things would be happening at the time before his second coming. I think he told us these thing so we would be prepared for the crazy things that are happening now. So we would know that He knew these things would happen. But He is the way we shouldn't fear. Now I'm not saying that ignoring everything that is happening is the way to go. I believe that we should be informed. Stand up for what you believe, try to make the world a better place, however you feel best. I believe, that in the end God will prevail. His mission, his plan WILL NOT be thwarted.
So you know where I'm coming from, I do believe that there is life after this earth life. And, really, that is what gives me hope and peace in this life. I want to share with you a scripture. I am member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, (aka LDS or Mormon) and this scripture comes from our Book of Mormon.
And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.
So that is how I cope. I hope you don't think I'm too crazy, and I hope I might have helped you even just a little!
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Post by iamkristinl16 on Feb 17, 2017 15:33:48 GMT
I have been trying to reduce the amount of time that I watch news shows with pundits. I also am very picky about where the info that I read comes from. I know that some people say that "we" need to understand where "they" are coming from, but honestly I can't listen to the crash anymore. I am not giving credence to Fox News or any other right wing outlet. They are a big part of the problem, IMO. Also, if I hear one more person say, "yes, this is how I felt when Obama was president" I am going to scream. I don't care what side of center you are on, there is no equating the crazy that is going on right now to anything that has to do with President Obama. Unless you have been watching fox or reading the truly fake news for years.
I agree that we can't just ignore what is going on, but need to find a balance so that it isn't affecting us negatively. Deep breathing, meditating, being kind to people, finding hobbies or reading (or maybe even cleaning!) instead of watching endless CNN, etc are things that I am trying to do.
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Post by scrapcat on Feb 17, 2017 16:34:19 GMT
Have you gone for a well check up just to be sure there isn't anything else at play?
I know it's easier said then done, but really limiting what you expose yourself to is probably the easiest way.
In line with yoga, meditation, holistic, how about a gratitude journal? or lighting a candle every day for someone/something? If you study all this, then you know the universe needs your positive energy and intentions. Don't let the man bring you down!
Sometimes a walk around the block helps, looking up at the sky, watching birds at a feeder. These are all things that work for me.
My Dad, who pays a lot of attention to politics all his life, says it's always been this way. We just didn't have the 24/7 news feed and the sound bytes and the tweets. It's just constant now.
I get perspective by reading things like Thoreau's Civil Disobedience. Reminding myself people have been fighting things like this since the beginning of time. The haves versus the have-nots. Goes back a long long way.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 18, 2024 22:35:13 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 17, 2017 16:42:34 GMT
I've turned a lot of it off honestly. I've pretty much refused to open any post out here that says "political". For some reason, we've allowed politics to invade every part of our lives -- it's now more blatantly in places where it never was before in a much higher degree - entertainment, tv shows, this forum, my HR/law forums, even some of the quilting blogs I read have felt the need to protest/politicize their posts to those of us that just go there to read about quilting. Honestly it's even helped to give up satellite TV and to limit the amount of shows I truly watch - I rarely watch any news at all. I sometimes click on a link on Facebook if the topic interests me enough, but that is much rarer than I used to be.
As I unplug from places I used to enjoy, I've found I am reading more books, some religious...I am working on hobbies more.....I am doing more with my kids and honestly am just more content and happier not to be reading and analyzing and fighting every little battle. I too believe that there is a God and He is in control no matter what any person might do in this world. He never promised us that life would be easy or exactly the way we want it to be.
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Peamac
Pearl Clutcher
Refupea # 418
Posts: 4,218
Jun 26, 2014 0:09:18 GMT
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Post by Peamac on Feb 17, 2017 16:45:04 GMT
Limit your news consumption to just 30 minutes a day, avoid the political posts here (or limit yourself to just one a day, posting only one or two comments), and be careful what you read on facebook (maybe block a few friends for a while if they post political stuff.
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Post by mamakoala on Feb 17, 2017 16:58:44 GMT
Have you gone for a well check up just to be sure there isn't anything else at play? I know it's easier said then done, but really limiting what you expose yourself to is probably the easiest way. In line with yoga, meditation, holistic, how about a gratitude journal? or lighting a candle every day for someone/something? If you study all this, then you know the universe needs your positive energy and intentions. Don't let the man bring you down! Sometimes a walk around the block helps, looking up at the sky, watching birds at a feeder. These are all things that work for me. My Dad, who pays a lot of attention to politics all his life, says it's always been this way. We just didn't have the 24/7 news feed and the sound bytes and the tweets. It's just constant now. I get perspective by reading things like Thoreau's Civil Disobedience. Reminding myself people have been fighting things like this since the beginning of time. The haves versus the have-nots. Goes back a long long way. This helps. thankyou. I think i will start journaling again, and i like the idea of a candle each day. I try and get outside and that helps, and I have been sick (with flu) but will start exercising again.
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Post by peano on Feb 17, 2017 17:06:27 GMT
In addition to what others have said, I've started DVRing some late night talk show monologues (Stephen Colbert, Seth Meyers) and I also watch Samantha Bee and John Oliver. If I can't laugh with them, I'd just being in a state of anxiety all the time.
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Post by annie on Feb 17, 2017 17:12:54 GMT
If it's affecting you like that, you need to step away. Why torture yourself into illness when you can just take a break until you feel more able to cope? I understand you have to be informed, but you don't have to digest the news 24/7.
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Post by stefdesign on Feb 17, 2017 17:18:10 GMT
I've started reading more. I mean novels, biographies, etc. instead of turning on the TV or my favorite political newsites or webpages, I pick up my book. I still check FB but stay away from political rants on both sides. I have been spending a lot more time on Instagram too- pictures vs. political rants: a no-brainer.
Honestly, I also think it's unhealthy to only surround yourself with like- minded people. It might be fun to become part of a different kind of group of people: birdwatchers, quilters, a book club, a walking group, musicians, etc. All of that negative energy just feeds itself.
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Post by kelly316 on Feb 17, 2017 17:23:32 GMT
WINE
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wellway
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,769
Jun 25, 2014 20:50:09 GMT
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Post by wellway on Feb 17, 2017 17:27:35 GMT
Have you considered getting your news from another English speaking country, UK(BBC) Ireland(RTE) etc etc? It might give enough of an overview for you to keep up to date with the bonus of being probably a shorter report.
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Post by gmcwife1 on Feb 17, 2017 17:34:20 GMT
I've started reading more. I mean novels, biographies, etc. instead of turning on the TV or my favorite political newsites or webpages, I pick up my book. I still check FB but stay away from political rants on both sides. I have been spending a lot more time on Instagram too- pictures vs. political rants: a no-brainer. Honestly, I also think it's unhealthy to only surround yourself with like- minded people. It might be fun to become part of a different kind of group of people: birdwatchers, quilters, a book club, a walking group, musicians, etc. All of that negative energy just feeds itself. I agree. And you have to do it yourself. Sadly it seems to be a game to make sure people are posting more and it's more in everyone's face (on message boards and FB). No one wants to give others a break, so you have to pull away and protect yourself. It's kind of like when a celebrity passes and too many people have to be the first to post the news. Right now too many people are fighting to be the first to post, the first to point each thing out, the first to put it in everyone's face. I also agree on mixing up your group. I have friends that are left, right and center. I'm also in different groups so I'm not surrounded by only people that think or act like me. I just joined a new meet up group for a dog breed I don't own. They are similar but not the same. I also joined a walking group since I currently walk with my co-workers and again, it's the same topics over and over again. It's easy to get sucked into the negative when you are only with people that see the same thing.
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Post by ilikepink on Feb 17, 2017 17:48:45 GMT
As I said on another thread- I want to know what's going on, but I don't want to know.
Don't watch/listen/read as much. I pick and choose a bit which crap I pay attention to, and focus on that (i.e., Betsy DeVos really got to me, and the National Park Service, the other cabinet posts not so much). Aside from finding things that you enjoy doing - hobbies, reading, etc., to distract you - find something positive you can do to affect the change you want to see. I marched that day, and plan on working with the local group preserving rights for women. You/I can't change the vastness of the crap that has been going on, but we can change a small part, and that change may lead to other positive things.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 18, 2024 22:35:13 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 17, 2017 17:59:41 GMT
Pretend like Hilary won the election.
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purplebee
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,734
Jun 27, 2014 20:37:34 GMT
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Post by purplebee on Feb 17, 2017 18:08:08 GMT
Just had this conversation with my Primary Care MD when I saw him a few weeks ago for my Medicare wellness check. He is from India, as is his wife and their parents still live there. They travel to India every year to visit.
He told me that he has stopped listening to NPR on his am commute, and calls his Mom instead. He and his wife have green cards and are not citizens. He said that he believes that there are still many many good people in our government, and that good will prevail. His advice was to stay informed, but unplug, and find something else to do that makes you happy instead of dwelling on the political situation.
He made me stop and take a deep breath, because if someone in his situation can be calm about it, then I certainly should be able to. He rocks!
I've been doing a lot more book reading lately.
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Post by cade387 on Feb 17, 2017 18:09:13 GMT
I feel the same as the OP.
I also know I should step back, but then again - I feel guilty that I *can* step back. I'm not being persecuted (at least not directly and not yet). Others don't have that option. I feel that if I disengage then I won't be there to support those who need it now and I certainly won't be ready when they "come" for me. Does that make sense?
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Post by canadianscrappergirl on Feb 17, 2017 18:23:20 GMT
If it was affecting my health in such a negative way I would unplug from it all!
I think there is a fine line between being a concerned citizen and having it impede in your life daily and constantly. I guess what I'm saying is be concerned in moderation. Find a hobby to occupy your time, do some me type activities. Put ppl on fb who constantly have political posts on ignore.
Life is too short to let a dumb ass affect your health.
I know I have limited my cnn watching because it upsets me.
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cycworker
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,375
Jun 26, 2014 0:42:38 GMT
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Post by cycworker on Feb 17, 2017 18:38:17 GMT
Unplug. I have haw it of liking articles on Twitter to read, then later I go through sad decide which ones are worth it. It's like not impulse buying - waiting to check out of Amazon. You decide you don't necessarily need as much.
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Post by mamakoala on Feb 17, 2017 18:39:42 GMT
In addition to what others have said, I've started DVRing some late night talk show monologues (Stephen Colbert, Seth Meyers) and I also watch Samantha Bee and John Oliver. If I can't laugh with them, I'd just being in a state of anxiety all the time. yes! laughter is critical and i find myself watching more comedies now--melissa mccarthy comedies are my fave. I have also taken a bit of comfort in thinking that Trump is literally mentally ill, or at least suffering from alzheimers or something. It's hard to wrap my mind around his evil-ness unless i can think "maybe he is mentally ill". I remember when my kind, loving grandma began to get alzheimers and she became so mean to everyone, paranoid, delusional and really, just not nice. So maybe that's what is happening with Trump, in part anyway. Somehow, that makes me feel better.
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