How will you optimize your personal mental health if "the other guy" wins the election?

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Thus, if you support Trump and Biden wins or if you support Biden and Trump wins? What approaches will you consider implementing to minimize your feelings of disappointment, sadness and maximize positive relations with coworkers, patients, and others that you come into contact with? Personally, I plan to focus more "on my own life" but also look for opportunities to become more socially and perhaps politically active in the causes that I believe to be important.  Does anyone have any other "tips" on how to handle these situations for better personal mental health and more harmonious relationships?

Specializes in ICU, trauma, neuro.

I would only assure you that the opinions on both sides are equally articulated and felt with equal passion. Even in my own household (for example my son shares your perspective, my wife is on the Trump side, and I am somewhere in the middle) there are people with equal passion for your side and who share the opposing perspective.  Thus, the challenge becomes how to find relative peace within that dynamic and at the same time work with others (it is literally part of my job) in doing the same.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.
29 minutes ago, myoglobin said:

I would only assure you that the opinions on both sides are equally articulated and felt with equal passion. Even in my own household (for example my son shares your perspective, my wife is on the Trump side, and I am somewhere in the middle) there are people with equal passion for your side and who share the opposing perspective.  Thus, the challenge becomes how to find relative peace within that dynamic and at the same time work with others (it is literally part of my job) in doing the same.

Suggesting that I seek to find peace with people who support racist, fascist, immoral, unethical and corrupt people like Trump is tone deaf.  I dint need peace with them. These are the people who thrive on my tears and trauma...just ask them.  My peace comes from within, from my faith, the love that is in my life.  

I'm retired, I don't have to suck it up and be "professional" when in the presence of cruel ignorance and disregard for others.  My peace is found in knowing that pushing against the politics of Trump and the GOP right now is the most patriotic and self respecting thing that I can do. That means pushing back against the people who perpetuate it with their voting habits and antisocial attitudes. 

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Specializes in ICU, trauma, neuro.

I see great people on both sides and merits in many positions of the left and the right.  Thus, one call I may be working with someone injured in protests during a BLM protest (usually Seattle) and the next I might be dealing with someone who was beat up by Antifa protesters during a counter protest (who lived in the Everett area).  There is peace, love and goodness on both sides and merits in many of the arguments on both the left and the right. Thus, I try to focus on things like exercise in the am, good nutrition, certain supplements, learning to play a musical instrument, and volunteering in organizations that help people.  It does nothing for example for my SO/wife to yell at my son that he is a communist who "hates black people" and wants to see more babies killed because he voted for Biden and for him to argue back that she is deluded and supports a fascist.  Both are smart intelligent people, with perspectives that have merit (oh and they are mother and son which is also important).  These personal attributes should take precedence over political, and social differences as it should with my clients .  There are ways to find happiness and peace no matter who rules the government.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.

Nah.

Once you suggest that there is peace and love on the side of white supremacy, white nationalism, proud boi accelerationism and the like, I stop reading.  That's nonsense.  There is no reality where those groups include "goodness".

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Specializes in ICU, trauma, neuro.

I don't think it is any more fair to paint one side (Trump voters) as white nationalist than it is to paint Biden voters as (Socialists/or anarchists). In most cases both the Biden and the Trump voters are somewhere much closer to the middle. I have many family and friends on both sides of the isle and while we disagree vociferously on specific issues we avoid these labels.  Extremists groups are one thing, but reasonable people can disagree and still like and love one another. I thought Biden did a great job of making just that point this afternoon when he talked about how if we were to heal this country both sides would have to learn to love one another (or at least tolerate and I am paraphrasing what he said). Just under half the country voted one way and just over half voted another. I don't think that you seriously believe that most of the people on either side of that equation are in line with either the extreme left or extreme right.  

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Specializes in Public Health, TB.

I see no merits in the party of Trump. They are not conservatives, they are not Republicans, they are not the right. They support a malignant narcissist because he makes empty promises while doling out money to his grifter friends and family.

We are the laughing stock and pariah of the world, but sure, he is preventing genocide. Gag me. 

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.
1 hour ago, myoglobin said:

I don't think it is any more fair to paint one side (Trump voters) as white nationalist than it is to paint Biden voters as (Socialists/or anarchists). In most cases both the Biden and the Trump voters are somewhere much closer to the middle. I have many family and friends on both sides of the isle and while we disagree vociferously on specific issues we avoid these labels.  Extremists groups are one thing, but reasonable people can disagree and still like and love one another. I thought Biden did a great job of making just that point this afternoon when he talked about how if we were to heal this country both sides would have to learn to love one another (or at least tolerate and I am paraphrasing what he said). Just under half the country voted one way and just over half voted another. I don't think that you seriously believe that most of the people on either side of that equation are in line with either the extreme left or extreme right.  

Again, nonsense. 

This isn't about being "fair". Trump is a racist.  Trump is supported by racists.  Trump says that they are fine people.  Trump is supported by vigilantes and domestic terrorists, whom he praises after they murder people in the streets or crash into liberals with their vehicles.

Trump is no where near the middle of the political spectrum. Trump's policy is so right leaning he makes the pre-Trump GOP look like a bunch of commie hippies.  Trump is a liar and despot.  He doesn't even want the votes counted.  Is that middle of the road American politics, in your view?

I don't know what percentage of Trump supporters love all of his lies and corruption. The fact that they can stand with and vote for a corrupt and racist liar, at all, is what is important.  Yes, I do think that most Trump voters are in line with the extreme right politically...they just voted for it. 

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Specializes in Public Health, TB.

As to the original question , I do mindfulness practice daily, I tell my  S/O how much I care for him every day, because both of us are at risk for complications for COVID, and I make regular contributions to the local food bank. I hope everyone in my family makes it out of this pandemic unscathed, no thanks to Trump. 

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Specializes in psych/medical-surgical.
3 hours ago, toomuchbaloney said:

Trump is a racist... supported by vigilantes and domestic terrorists, whom he praises after they murder people in the streets or crash into liberals with their vehicles...Trump is a liar and despot...even after killing a couple hundred thousand Americans with incompetence and lies....

Do you have evidence for any of your accusations? I'm very curious how you know that Trump supporters are murdering people. Last I check, bad people murder people. If you are so concerned about violence, might be better to figure out why blacks killing each other:

https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2016/crime-in-the-u.s.-2016/tables/expanded-homicide-data-table-3.xls

You blamed Trump for killing hundreds of thousands of Americans. I assume you mean COVID19? So why are you upset at him for locking "our borders are so tight..." during a pandemic. Are a you a nurse or a troll? 

Regarding Trump being a fascist/despot (by definition, he can't be either?

https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/21521958/what-is-fascism-signs-donald-trump

https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/how-fascist-is-president-trump-theres-still-a-formula-for-that/2020/08/21/aa023aca-e2fc-11ea-b69b-64f7b0477ed4_story.html

As far as white nationalism/supremacy... both Biden and Trump are white men. So, this is a moot point, but again, where is the support for this?

https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2020/10/02/trump-and-white-supremacy-he-did-condemn-and-has-repeatedly-column/5883336002/

And, if you think you voted correctly, take a look at California (D). I am sure you saw on your biased news station that CA is experiencing a mass exodus:

ttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_of_California

https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/sacramento-tipping-point/article246370775.html

Would you mind doing some reading? About the only thing that you were correct about was that the public is ill informed. I'll leave you with a man you should listen to is he is actually educated (maybe give the biased Trump hate media a break): 

 

Now, back to something actually productive. 

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.
46 minutes ago, adammRN said:

Do you have evidence for any of your accusations? I'm very curious how you know that Trump supporters are murdering people. Last I check, bad people murder people. If you are so concerned about violence, might be better to figure out why blacks killing each other:

https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2016/crime-in-the-u.s.-2016/tables/expanded-homicide-data-table-3.xls

You blamed Trump for killing hundreds of thousands of Americans. I assume you mean COVID19? So why are you upset at him for locking "our borders are so tight..." during a pandemic. Are a you a nurse or a troll? 

Regarding Trump being a fascist/despot (by definition, he can't be either?

https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/21521958/what-is-fascism-signs-donald-trump

https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/how-fascist-is-president-trump-theres-still-a-formula-for-that/2020/08/21/aa023aca-e2fc-11ea-b69b-64f7b0477ed4_story.html

As far as white nationalism/supremacy... both Biden and Trump are white men. So, this is a moot point, but again, where is the support for this?

https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2020/10/02/trump-and-white-supremacy-he-did-condemn-and-has-repeatedly-column/5883336002/

And, if you think you voted correctly, take a look at California (D). I am sure you saw on your biased news station that CA is experiencing a mass exodus:

ttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_of_California

https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/sacramento-tipping-point/article246370775.html

Would you mind doing some reading? About the only thing that you were correct about was that the public is ill informed. I'll leave you with a man you should listen to is he is actually educated (maybe give the biased Trump hate media a break): 

 

Now, back to something actually productive. 

Rittenhouse murdered peaceful protestors.  Rittenhouse is a Trump supporter.  Trump said Rittenhouse was justified. He said the white supremacists in Charlottesville were fine people.  Trump, like you, also deflects to black on black crime when confronted with discussions of racism and violence against blacks. Meanwhile, the rest of us are going to continue to protest the brutal treatment of blacks by police and the judicial system across the country. 

I'm just going to laugh out loud about your nonsense about covid and Trump's border fixation.  Are you really a nurse who doesn't understand that Trump's partial ban of travel from China was ineffective in controlling spread of a contagion that was already loose in the country and was not followed by decisive national leadership.  Trump, in fact, undermined the national masking recommendation at the very press briefing it was introduced.  Trump's lies and corrupt incompetence are responsible for tens of thousands of deaths. 

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMe2029812

Yeah, Trump inspires white supremacists.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/18/white-nationalist-hate-groups-southern-poverty-law-center

I don't watch television much.  I don't have cable television access.  Your assumptions couldn't be more incorrect about how I obtain my information. It's also interesting that you asked me to read something and then offered up a video. 

I'm retired, I'm not worried about being productive but clearly you are so I don't expect a response. 

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Specializes in ICU, trauma, neuro.

All of both of your perspectives have counter points: a. Rittenhouse claims to have acted in self defense and there is video tape evidence to support this perspective. b. Many European nations despite earlier, longer, and more strict lock downs have seen wave after wave of infection, equal or higher infection and death rates (per million people). My point is there can be disagreement about these issues without hate and discourse with less contempt for the other sides position. At the end off the day essentially half of America voted for “the other guy”. Thus, unless you choose to live an isolated existence it is probably useful to emphasize love for all fellow citizens and work to persuade them to the views we feel best serve the interests of this nation. I believe that Biden took just that tone yesterday.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.
1 hour ago, myoglobin said:

All of both of your perspectives have counter points: a. Rittenhouse claims to have acted in self defense and there is video tape evidence to support this perspective. b. Many European nations despite earlier, longer, and more strict lock downs have seen wave after wave of infection, equal or higher infection and death rates (per million people). My point is there can be disagreement about these issues without hate and discourse with less contempt for the other sides position. At the end off the day essentially half of America voted for “the other guy”. Thus, unless you choose to live an isolated existence it is probably useful to emphasize love for all fellow citizens and work to persuade them to the views we feel best serve the interests of this nation. I believe that Biden took just that tone yesterday.

That's Biden's job...one that Trump was incapable of ... to take a tone of unity.  

Yeah, it's a real problem that so many americans are so foolish and ugly as to support a dangerous and incompetent liar like Trump.   Yes, it's a problem that so many millions of Americans will openly support a man who justifies vigilante violence.  It's a problem that you think that Rittenhouse was justified in breaking laws to cross state lines with a weapon that he couldn't legally own to intimidate protestors from properties that he didn't own.  Yeah it's a problem that so many Americans are excited by Trump rhetoric to the degree that they storm state buildings with weapons, use their vehicles as weapons and attempt to kidnap a governor. 

Yes, it's a problem that so many Americans deny science and are so susceptible to propaganda. It's a problem that so many Americans refuse to wear a mask because Trump politicized that single action from the start as he lied about the pandemic. 

Yeah...there's going to be ongoing disagreement about those Trumpian and very unacceptable and anti social attitudes...especially if Trump is no longer in the presidency.  It's time we stop pretending that racism isn't a big American issue that MUST be acknowledged and remedied.  

I don't hate Trump supporters. I don't listen to Fox news which uses the language of hate more than any other msm and I no longer listen to the daily radio mashup of Christian programming and right wing political voices like Limbaugh, Hannity, and Levin.  But I listened to it often enough for a number of years in the Ohio, MI, Illinois and Indiana region of the country.  I know that a common mantra from Trump supporters is about liberal tears...that they literally say that their motivation is to make liberals cry. So, it's always a interesting spin when people suggest that somehow its liberals who are hating anyone. Liberals aren't conditioned to think about or encouraged to feel hate by their media outlets like Trump supporters are with Fox. 

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2020/sep/29/fox-news-uses-hate-five-times-more-often-than-competitors-study-finds

About covid...Trump mishandled and lied about every aspect of this pandemic response.  We get to stack a second wave of infections on top of the continuing never ending first wave that unmasked Trump supporters require of us. Other civilized countries managed to slow the spread before they were slammed again...Trump just let people die while states struggled with no leadership from his administration. His ineptitude is epic. 

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