I was in therapy for a long time, so I learned a few things. I’ve been involved in politics since I was 10, I handed out literature for Eugene McCarthy, so I learned a few things. I read blogs and listen to podcasts on politics and polling as well as reading the New York Times and Washington Post every day so I am up to date. I said that to give some credibility to what I’m going to write.
The key word for today is Catastrophizing. I see many of my friends caught in doom loop able to think of little else but the election. Some are worrying about unlikely scenarios. They go through the list of terrible things that will and the larger list of things that might happen if Trump is elected the same way that Arya Stark would repeat the litany of people she needed to take revenge on. One of the most useful things I learned in therapy was recognizing that Catastrophizing is to your mental health what cigarette smoking is to your physical. It harms you but is addictive. It takes an effort to stop doing it. The first thing to try is just recognizing that you are doing it and deciding to not continue. What do we say when Catastrophizing comes? Not today! That’s often enough but not always. Meditation works for me, that’s the single most important thing I learned in therapy. Often diaphragmatic breathing is enough. Try it right now. Take a deep breath slowly through your nose so that your stomach sticks out then release it slowly through your pursed lips. Take just five breaths and you’ll feel calmer, and your heart rate will slow. It’s sometimes called Buddha breathing, as your stomach resembles the common depictions of Buddha. It’s also a Buddhist practice known as Anapanasati.
Some of you are now objecting. You’re saying, but we really are phasing a catastrophe! I assure you I’m afraid of what happens if Trump wins too but torturing myself now does nothing. I’m not ignoring the threat. I’m making phone calls for Kamala. I’m part of an organized social media campaign for Harris, Keyboards for Kamala. That’s does some good AND it makes me feel better. When you go to the site it directly addresses what I’m writing about. When you go to the page his is what you’ll see.
When you find yourself obsessing over what might happen try thinking about something you love. Hey, did you watch Agatha All Along? Wasn’t that great? What did you dress up as for Halloween? How’s that holiday candy? In The Once and Future King Merlin teaches young Arthur that the best thing to do when you’re depressed is to learn something. There are a zillion and one thing you can do, the hard part is tearing yourself away from your fears to try them. Do everything you can to prevent the things you fear but don’t let the fear control you. It’s not easy. You won’t always succeed. That’s fine, it shows your human. But realize that you can feel better even if not at peace.
Remember that you don’t know what’s to come, nobody does. FiveThirtyEight gave the best advice, stop following the polls. It’s not going to change. The election is a tossup. Don’t ride that emotional rollercoaster. You know what? Just watch this video and you’ll feel better why being called to action. That’s Pete and Maura Kennedy plus two then kids, this was 2014, that I love very much. I forgot till I just watched but I make a guest appearance. This is the best thing ever.
Wise Madness 