Posted on 11/05/2004 11:04:00 PM PST by ambrose
Kerry Supporters Dealing With Stress, Depression
Psychologists Reporting Patients Distressed About Election
POSTED: 8:06 am EST November 5, 2004 UPDATED: 8:11 am EST November 5, 2004
NEW YORK -- It's a long way from the Manhattan office of psychoanalyst Sherman Pheiffer to the Cambridge, Mass., practice of psychologist Jaine Darwin. But both are in blue states that voted heavily for John Kerry, and on the day he conceded, they heard plenty of distress about the election.
"My patients were incredulous, depressed, angry, very frightened," Pheiffer said. "Everyone talked about feeling frightened (about) the future of this country."
Darwin heard the same kinds of reactions. At the end of the campaign, Massachusetts Democrats "kind of let themselves hope Kerry would pull it out," she said, so patients felt "the roller coaster had crashed. I think we all had a little post-Red Sox magical thinking."
And among Kerry campaign volunteers, of course, the loss was still stinging the day after the concession.
"If I happened to be on a tranquilizer or Prozac, I would have to triple my dose," joked Sam Feldman, a 75-year-old retired businessman who lives on Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts but who volunteered for Kerry in Florida.
Elizabeth Marshall, a volunteer at the Centre County Democrats headquarters in Pennsylvania, said people there showed "bereavement, almost. People feel that something they had, which was hope for imminent change, has been taken from them."
The good news, mental health experts say, is that most Kerry supporters will get over their disappointment on their own. In fact, maybe sooner than they think.
"Right now you've got them at the depths of their despair," said Daniel Gilbert, a Harvard psychologist who has studied voters' emotional reaction to elections. "They're not going to feel worse in a week. They're going to feel better."
In fact, Gilbert said, his work has shown that voters get over their election-day disappointments faster than they predict they will.
"They don't think they'll be over it in a month, but they will be," he said.
Even now, Pheiffer, Darwin and other mental health professionals said they weren't getting any new patients because of the Kerry defeat. And Dr. David Rissmiller, chairman of the psychiatry department at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-School of Osteopathic Medicine, said there's been no election-related jump in calls at two New Jersey crisis centers he's familiar with.
Temporary sadness, anxiety and concern about the future are understandable responses among Kerry supporters, said Dr. Charles Goodstein, a psychiatrist at the New York University Medical Center.
So when is it time to call a mental health professional? "When something goes on longer than you're comfortable with, then talk to somebody," Darwin advised. "You don't have to have major depression to talk to somebody."
Healthy reactions to post-election disappointment include talking about it with others and becoming or remaining politically active, experts said.
"I think it's important to give yourself a little bit of time to grieve," said Mary McClanahan, a psychologist in State College, Pa., who volunteered along with Marshall at the local county Democratic headquarters.
She described herself as "incredibly disappointed" but also galvanized.
Her fellow volunteers felt the same way, she said. And for both civic and psychological reasons, she said, such people should re-invest that energy in politics.
"Whenever we suffer a disappointment, and there's a chance to have a future success experience and we don't take advantage of that, it leaves people with greater regrets in the long run," she said.
Thank you for your service and WELCOME HOME brother!!
Do you mean "Jonestown" Ld? (Guyana)
Amazing how no one had the first scintilla of concern about how WE felt in '92 and '96, eh? Now all we hear is how distraught and upset all these poor fools are.
Shaking head...
MM
I finally watched Bill Maher's show a couple of hours ago and I'm flamimg mad myself.
This is getting really old...little whiny liberals...how typical. Why don't they pack up all their gays and abortion doctors and Michael Moore's and get the hell out of here already! The world would be a better place!
hehehehehehe!
Right there. We would have chosen to visit ranges to sharpen our skills against the fascist attacks from the emboldened left that would have been soon to come.
I think you've pegged two of their problems: they're neither strong nor silent.
I'm going to be prepared and go anyway! ;-)
Well if they can only be one I'd prefer SILENT.
Coservatives pray, liberals go to their shrink.
What company makes Prozac? I need to know for Monday.
"Right now you've got them at the depths of their despair," said Daniel Gilbert, a Harvard psychologist who has studied voters' emotional reaction to elections. "They're not going to feel worse in a week. They're going to feel better."
The terrorists still hate the U.S.A.....but that's nothing new. What's new is that Dubya is DOING something about it, while Clinton did nothing. I sleep much better knowing that this Country will FIGHT aggressors, rather than "have a dialogue". All these upset, insecure, frightened masses are helping the economy too, in a twisted sort of way. I'd rather spend MY money on fun things, rather than therapy, but it all comes out even in the end. Try a smore! They're fabulous!
Heh heh....
It's the second oldest recession-proof business.
I suggest, for them, Jonestown, Guyana via Sherman and Mr. Peabody's "Wayback" machine. They can help themselves to Jim Jones's "special blend".
Nice quotes, ambrose:
Though I prefer:
"That which does not kill me, only makes me stronger".
Jebus! What a bunch of whiny assed pu$$ies!
Jack.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.