General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsHow do you keep yourself from getting in the dumps these days?
I mean regarding Trump and the Republicans.
I think about the Senate, and how McConnell is going to use some kind of shenanigans to make the thing a circus
I think about, suppose Trump steals the election again in November like he did before. I know thats projecting, and I try not to project.
you got any suggestions?
RKP5637
(67,112 posts)SamKnause
(13,110 posts)That's all I've got.
Runningdawg
(4,526 posts)SamKnause
(13,110 posts)I had 2 dogs, 2 rabbits, 1 horse, and 1 cat.
It's just me and the cat now.
This place is like a pet cemetery. ( I haven't tried to bring any of them back to life) Stephen King reference.
My niece buried her dog here also.
LOTS of weed.
FarPoint
(12,466 posts)I just almost get diarrhea when I watch...the stress of the GOP obstruction, the loss of Democracy as we knew it....the soft coverage by media overall and God knows I cringe every time they play and replay tRumps lies....So, I can't tolerate this..
I may watch Netflix, Food Channel cooking shows, Star Trek programs....I cook from scratch/ at home with noted skill and this is therapeutic...I also work full time...I'm taking more, " On Call"...just for the diversion...
CTyankee
(63,912 posts)some old movies on TV. Eat.
I don't drink any more so that option is not available but food is more attractive and that's good!
Re-read some old classic books. Play with the grandchildren (if available).
samplegirl
(11,513 posts)Already lived through the Reagan and Bush year and this has those all beat.
Trying to go to work at 62 doing physical labor because I wont get hired anywhere else.
Feeling low when my friends text me and tell me they dont see retirement on their future that are my age. I worry daily, and nightly.
Seniors who should have been able to retire at 62.
Vet sad and makes going out to work so much worse.
TheFarseer
(9,326 posts)Although sometimes that can backfire
WhiskeyGrinder
(22,467 posts)PJMcK
(22,056 posts)Exercise always makes you feel better, even just a brief walk around the block. It's got something to do with endorphins.
As SamKnause wrote above, weed is a great mellower, if you're into it. (I am!)
"Music calms the savage beast." At least some music does. 10-15 minutes of music without any distractions is also a good way to mellow out.
Plan and make a very good meal. Think about the ingredients and how to prepare them into a gourmet feast. It'll take your mind off the BS of the day and you'll have the reward of an awesome meal!
Above all, TURN OFF THE DAMN TV!
greymattermom
(5,754 posts)outdoors when the weather is nice, at the gym on other days. Both have "scenery" I like. I also volunteer at a local thrift shop. I like the back door, where the donations come in. There is plenty of money out there to buy expensive things, then just give them away after a year or two, but the Hispanic folks in this neighborhood get to wear high fashion.
FM123
(10,054 posts)somehow those animal videos not only bring a smile to my face and strength to my bones, but restores my faith in humanity.
Guilded Lilly
(5,591 posts)lunatica
(53,410 posts)about animals and the people who care for them. Catbyte is wonderful!
dubyadiprecession
(5,726 posts)So don-the-con will be a one termer.
LuckyCharms
(17,463 posts)Not really. I walk a few miles a day. It helps.
Zing Zing Zingbah
(6,496 posts)This made me laugh because it reminded me of myself a bit too much. If I get really depressed I kind of turn into a nympho, which is a really bad coping mechanism. I went on a Tinder rampage after Trump got elected. I was on a self destructive path, but I was able to come back from it gradually. I take an antidepressant now. It's been helping. I also got myself off of Facebook. Too much crap gets posted there that triggers me. I limit my news to just the daily Flash Briefing (CNN and ABC plus local news headlines) I get from Alexa. Well, I also get some comedic news from Seth Meyers, Jimmy Kimmel, John Oliver, and Bill Maher. I've always been pretty good with diet and exercise, so that's at least not an issue for me. I've been trying to be more social... Arranging meetups with friends and going to see live music/comedy shows. I just recently decided I still need to do more to make myself relaxed. I've always had difficulty with being relaxed. I have this book that I intend on reading that looks like it would be pretty good. It's called The Relaxation & Stress Reduction Workbook. That book might help a few people here.
LuckyCharms
(17,463 posts)I masturbate to it.
Zing Zing Zingbah
(6,496 posts)You're too funny.
Proud Liberal Dem
(24,446 posts)and that there are (I think) more of us than there are of his supporters and, if we GOTV like we did in 2018, he *should* rightly be toast. The ramblings of some news articles aside, he's not in a particularly strong position for re-election and everybody who isn't part of his MAGA cult seems tired of him, even people whom are not particularly progressive. He also won't have somebody like Hillary, who was (falsely) portrayed as massively unlikable and corrupt in 2016, to run against in November. He and the GOP will, of course, massively smear the eventual Democratic nominee but it will *probably* not stick as hard as his own record will on him.
Raftergirl
(1,294 posts)in terms of aggravation. When I start getting the feeling of heart palpitations, its time for me to tune out for a bit to the comfort of my bubble. I find HGTV, Real Housewives (my guilty pleasure) and tennis on Tv works for me.
mitch96
(13,930 posts)bdamomma
(63,931 posts)that could help. And taking a respite from the news, or just come here for your news.
ancianita
(36,161 posts)I don't want my mind to be disabled by my fears and daily reactions, because those are energy drains that can't help when fight or flight comes.
You're not projecting. You're reacting normally to abnormal conditions.You are thinking about possible outcomes, so you're already channeling fear into thought about the future.
Focus on what you can do, say, read, who to depend on. Eat, sleep, well; prepare to care for you and yours.
Keep building on what you're doing. We'll need all pro-Constitution hands on deck soon.
unc70
(6,121 posts)I am doing many of the things mentioned by others: limiting cable news, exercise, various distractions. Plus I have gone wild this past year with reading. About 120 books, most detective stories. Allingham, Moyes, Tey, James, Donna Leon, ... A good mystery works about as well as anything else.
Talitha
(6,625 posts)I get the most important news here, and can skim around as I please - unlike watching tv where you can't pick and choose.
Other than that, sometimes I put on soft music and dive into whatever novel I'm reading.
Or take a long walk if it's nice out. If the weather's disagreeable then I put in an old movie and watch it while walking on my treadmill.
But my favorite way to stay out of the dumps is viewing the night sky. If it's decent outside I set up one of my telescopes and get the hell off of this planet for a while and visit lovely places that are literally light years away from all this chaos. Even without telescopic aid, viewing the night sky is wonderful therapy in these stressful times. It's a meditation of sorts - it recharges my battery and soothes the soul.
appalachiablue
(41,182 posts)it's the best to relax, heal and reinvigorate. Reading good stuff, films, music big time, gardens and plants, art, beauty,
sakabatou
(42,186 posts)NewJeffCT
(56,829 posts)binge watching TV shows, movies, shows (plays/musicals), etc.
live love laugh
(13,164 posts)pnwest
(3,266 posts)and humorless. And thats after backing off of 24/7 news watching. For now its just DU and Rachel, and all this business still affects my disposition. These are desperately serious times and I am unable to keep my mood light for very long at all.
lunatica
(53,410 posts)then you really need to find a way back to your normal self. Depression puts cognitive blinders on you so all you see or feel are the cause of that depression. Its very difficult to see the light side of life when you keep finding yourself under stress.
When that happened in the past for me I took a complete break, even from DU until my normal self came back. I went into a real funk when Bush was re-elected that lasted for a couple of months. What helped was that on top of taking a break I tried to immerse myself in the good things in life. The good things do exist, in spite of Trump.
The world will continue to be the way it is with or without you to stress over it. When you come back it will still be there but you will be reinvigorated and ready to fight again. The way I see it is if you know your limitations and function within them there is nothing you cant do that you set your mind to.
lunatica
(53,410 posts)I also binge watch tv shows too. Its all art to me.
And Ill watch MSNBC until I feel frustration then Ill switch to DU.
MoonRiver
(36,926 posts)KY_EnviroGuy
(14,496 posts)I'm retired now and stay "in the dumps" most of the time (been down so long it looks like up to me, LOL). Depression and recent losses of key people in my life are the primary reasons but I've learned ways to cope. Being a stoic helps.
So, achieving a bit of feel-good is a big event and allows my getting crucial things done. No alcohol or drugs, but I use...
* Fixing stuff for other people - electronics, mechanical, etc. Most anything within my current physical and mental limitations.
* A variety of herb and other supplements to help with depression and lack of gumption.
* Spending time with my daughter and granddaughter and helping to stir her interest in science and music.
* Read news and cultural and travel stories and documentaries on-line, mostly from European sources like BBC and Guardian UK. Almost no TV at all.
* Videos of craftspeople all over the world doing their thing - luthiers building/repairing instruments, machinists, people making most anything such as pottery and even chefs.
* Journey meditation and sleep.
* Music of certain types but mostly those with stringed instruments - harmonic and clean, with those "feel-good" cord structures providing an uplift. I rarely listen to the words of songs.
* Doing the chores for my son and I like cooking, laundry and reducing our mass of clutter.
* Avoid negative emotional triggers like photos of vermin like Trump or Cheney.
Looking back through life, probably the most emotionally rewarding times were those kitchen table chats with a close friend with a personality, history and interests similar to mine (introvert/stoic/highly sensitive) and just flat letting the hair down for a while over coffee.
Those days are long-gone, as no one seems to value that precious exercise any more. Sorry for the long rant.
mnhtnbb
(31,409 posts)where it's very tough to ignore and not slow down to see what happened.
We've all been subjected to this car wreck on a daily basis for the last three years.
I have had to limit watching the news. I no longer read any newspaper. Used to read the NY Times and the local Raleigh paper daily. I walk several times every day with my dog. Watch the dawn turn to sunrise. This morning I was awake early enough to see the moon rise over the city lights. Sat and watched it climb higher in the sky while I had coffee. I read a lot. Play with my photography hobby. Go to the symphony and ballet. Watch comedies on Netflix.
I am very concerned that, like Nancy Pelosi said recently, we can survive one term of Trump, but not two. And in my view it's not going to be easy coming back from the damage he's done already.