if you don't feel up to it. In fact, it shows a lot of self awareness to be able to recognize that. Sometimes I cheat by not watching but peeking at DU occasionally. Pro tip.

But I am going to try to watch the debate, even if it means hitting the mute button when ever the convicted felon starts vomiting out lies.

I'll take my anxiety medication, of course.

I can totally understand and appreciate your feelings!

I don't know how long I'll last. I also have anxiety and I spent most of the first debate hiding in my bedroom.

Comcast has notified us that they are updating the system in town. We will lose the internet, phone and TV. They have no clue how long it will take. If I get desperate I will take my pad and sit in my car in the town next to us...not sure if they will be connected either.

Of all days!

like a corporate plan to keep people from seeing Kamala.

I am just pissed that it is tomorrow.

And I’d be pissed too. Maybe there’s a livestream on YouTube?

I’m going to go to my grandson’s baseball game instead.

Much easier for my anxiety

I’ll live blog here and watch the clips afterwards.
I simply cannot listen to or look at that POS.
I can’t be screaming at the tv.
I couldn’t watch in the debate with Joe either.
I felt much better with the help of the DU community on the live blog. CU there.

I admit it is a revelation how many anxious self-awares there are here who are actively making great choices.

I'm a bit of a luddite by comparison. Up to the B/T debate and the D convention, I do not recall purposely attending to any such event for years, mostly checking in for later commentary after the flames were out. But I believe it was largely due to a slightly subconscious sense that the live stuff, especially with a sociopath on the stage (and gwb fit squarely there, too) was a bit edgy for me.

Thanks to you all for your plain-speaking!

walk a few miles with my Sophie. That's my plan...

But I do not in any way diminish the anxiety potential.

Hang in there.

was in a file mood for several months, etc. My big mistake then was I was a regular participant on a bipartisan political discussion board.

Plenty of good Democrats, but plenty in bush cult. Christ, there were even a few honest to gawd Oklahoma klansmen posting. I learned some lessons.

Take care.

Springsteen played a few songs and introduced Kerry.

No Springsteen but Kerry made a great speech, targeted to the Pacific Northwest, clearly not cookie cutter, and it was well attended, even though it was raining. When I put on the news, their coverage was simply that he took his wife to the most expensive restaurant in town for their anniversary.

That will probably be how the debate is covered. Harris could walk on water and create a force field at the border and we'll just hear that Trump "won" if he manages not to drool on his tie.

I guess it could still happen, but I haven't heard anything about it.

Zero tolerance for pootin's ASSet.

I'll be watching comments here

It's so much easier to get the short version and analysis afterward.

Then watch clips of whichever portions are of interest.

I'll be looking in here & staying busy.

Diagnosed Anxiety. I haven’t watched a debate since bush VS Gore.

Thank Goodness for DU 🕯️🕊️💙🌊🇺🇸

If Mr Pip wants to watch it, I’ll check in maybe. We didn’t watch the Biden debate. We went for pizza and margaritas instead.

I’m so nervous about the election I’m not even going to be in the country. Will do my absentee ballot when it comes. We're flying to Lisbon on November 4. I plan to be knocked out with jet lag on November 5.

I’m planning to go to bed early because I have an early appointment in Wednesday.

Besides, my watching won’t affect anything. I’m voting a straight Democratic ballot.

In the following days, we’ll hear and read what the world thinks.

I can’t get worked up about things I can’t control.

...to keep me from getting worked up about this!

need to VOTE in record numbers.

I think we all are very cautious right now. I'm thinking of watching it on C Span, I wish Kamala all the best she is my only choice. I hate the felon. He's so mentally deranged.

Another donation may be coming her way that's how I work out my frustration.

but will not this time.

Harris - I'm for the middle class.

Trump - word salad word salad word salad revenge word salad salad word word revenge salad

I’ve seen more than enough of him.

I’ll check here for reaction, opinions and links to
media.

I may watch if it goes well but I can’’t handle the anxiety! I honestly don’t understand how candidates handle the pressure.

* on short YouTube clips.

No sense putting yourself through that. I saw my therapist today. She asked my anxiety level on a scale of 1 to 10. I said seven and depression is at 6. I said there are moments I feel hopeful, but the anxiety is always lurking. She suggested turning off main stream media, but I rarely watch it anyway, only if there is a major breaking stories, and then only MSNBC. I usually get news here or from Washington Post. I told her I can't stand to hear his voice or see his face, so I won't watch the debate.

She said to just keep up with my distraction skills like reading, spending time with my dog and cat etc. I have been trying.

She also said she would feel better if I am not alone election night. My sister is planning on staying overnight in the guest room.

gave you all great ideas. I think many of us have the same anxiety about the outcome.

We all need to vote our lives depend on it (preaching to the choir). But I have hope we can get Kamala and Tim to the finish line.

I believe they have been brought up in a more inclusive time, and aren't willing to loose the freedoms they have come to know. I am hoping they show up in record numbers. That will definitely help the Democrats, if they do.

Ultimately it’s not going affect how I vote. And it’s just very difficult to watch drumpf and that fish mouth of his

That is it! He is a goldfish. A demented goldfish.

I won't be watching live either, but will record it while reading the commentaries here in DU.

I want to hear Harris though, so while watching the replay I'll fast-forward over Dump (nothing he says is worth listening to).

Either anxiety or high blood pressure will get me.
That, and screaming at the TV.

My Pro Tip is to always follow the play-by-play on DU. That way, I know what's happening, without having to hear him, or see him, or be triggered by him in any way.

I am forever grateful to all the DU'ers who take one for the team, time and time again. They are all rock
stars!

I was thinking of blocking off with paper half of TV . I rather just give my attention to VP Kamala.

In case you want to do it ahead of time 😎

https://abcnews.go.com/US/abc-news-releases-rules-sept-10-debate-harris/story?id=113019909

If they do, it'll be a refreshing change.

I know I'll be here for all comments. Depends on my mood and anxiety level if I will watch. I know he will be up to his bully tricks and just throwing out his Gish gallop.

Thank goodness for DU.

If you had to pick moderators, who would you choose??

Give the debates back to The League of Women Voters, I say!

Never thought of doing that. Thank you!

I didn't watch the Trump/Biden debate because I fell asleep beforehand, but woke up just in time for the destressing post-mortems. I felt like I dodged a bullet by not seeing it live.

Despite my anxiety dx, I'm going to watch this one - wish me luck. Ativan is my co-pilot!

BTW, your prolific posting here on DU reminds me of a DUer we lost in the early years of the site. His handle was Khephra and was also quite prolific in his postings. Your posting habits remind me of his - we were all deeply grateful for his hard work on keeping us informed and deeply saddened to when we learned he suddenly passed away (I believe it was in 2004-2005). I bring him up because I want to thank you for all your hard work on keeping DU informed, stocked with fresh content and your overall commitment to this site.

Have a peaceful night tomorrow, and every other night Randy! Thank you again!

I'm not worried about the Vice President's abilities to debate. What worries me is the inability of the MSM to deal fairly with **$$Y-Grabber. I just know they'll whitewash anything he says to make it sound semi-sane.

In any case, he'll make the case for us by blathering bullshit to those who are watching. That's all he's capable of doing. He has no ideas. He has no policies. He has no understanding. He has nothing. If I searched high & low throughout this country of ours, I don't think I could find a more unsuitable candidate for president. He is disgusting to the Nth degree. And the repigs who are enabling him are just as bad.

She will never do anything right in the MSM’s eyes.

Why debate a chronic liar, habitual criminal and democracy hating pig like Dump? It's a worthless effort and just brings down everyone.

I won't watch live, will wait until Reid, Maddow, Wallace et al weigh in.

Since they are not real debates, I will wait for the MSNBC interpretation.

...I'm thinking I might limit my exposure to only positive content for a while, we ARE doing well, and I can just ride that wave for a while.

If we got to bang the gong to have one of the contestants grabbed by the hook and hauled off stage, we would all want to participate. But ABC won't provide us with a gong, and they won't deploy a hook, so they will lose many potential DU viewers.

I also have anxiety issues. I may tune out the rest of the week.

Also, I'm bringing home supper - off work at 6:30 and I'll be way too stressed to cook. Also, I won't be knitting my way through it, or I'll ruin the piece past saving. This has all the feeling of a horror show, and I hate horror shows.

I keep telling myself that she's damned good at what she does, and he's just a lousy two-bit criminal. If the moderators are worth anything, they'll keep it under as much control as is possible when Trump is involved. And if he goes off the rails, that's good for our side.

the stage past her to trump. she'll look 4ft tall and he'll look 10ft tall.

He'll talk non stop, trying to rattle her while the moderators will bounce back and forth of being terrified to stop him and fawning over his every word he says.

I agree with the person up thread, I kinda wish this debate never happened.

just posted something about how no lifts should be used the felon mentioned this and called Comrade Kamala, project much????

He's such a filthy POS.

"Well, he didn't drop the N bomb. He did, but that's just Trump being Trump."

"Her nail polish wasn't tres chic."

Day after I'll check with the DU and DriveWeSaid gangs. Both have well calibrated crap detectors and call 'em as they see 'em.

I think you’re in good company. Husband said he will watch in another room.

The sight of him and the sound of his voice makes me physically ill. I even hate it when ppl here post pics or videos of him.

My ex is also experiencing bad anxiety issues over this fucking prick. She's now on drugs just to get her to election day. Lord only knows what will happen to her if the con man wins.

This is total bullshit. Politics was NEVER meant to be like this. All of this, just because of the narcissist.

Politics was never the means to take over a country and change its governing system to authoritarian from democratic, but that's what he's trying to do. Since the media has failed us and the legal system has also failed to do its job in a timely manner, we're left to voting.

Which is not an altogether bad thing, but it's extremely disappointing (putting it mildly) that these institutions have failed to prevent this preposterous fool into getting into a position of leadership for this country.

I can’t watch either but I’ll catch some highlights later on you tube.

I can't wait until Kamala's like: "i'm speaking, don't interrupt me". Trump's gonne be like: "yeah, that's the problem", and the world will know Trump's a misogynist jerk!

myself. I have anxiety also, am famous w/ friends for shutting down, re politics because the stress hits me too hard. I was excited for the Biden debate but turned it off within 5 min, texted a friend and she texted back “not good.” Checked back in an hour, hoping for a change, but again turned off the tv.

Now, I’m excited again because I don’t think there will be a surprise the way there was with Biden. I think she’ll do great. In a way, I’m too nervous not to watch.

So yeah, I’ll be watching, only not sure if with meds or straight-up

I hate the man esp as an NYC'r, otoh soooo impressed w Kamala!

But I have to see, and hear them, and mods for myself - no filter from anyone. Will split screen, and follow postings here.

I'll tune in after to our MSNBC talkers, and
catch Brian Lerher (WNYC) as well [back & forth].

I'll be watching and checking in with Brian, too. But I'll also watch straight up on MSNBC. I have no anxiety over politics except for the major things like the elections. I'm surprised to learn so many people have anxiety.

One other thing: I'm sure she's going to kick his a@@#$ 40 ways from Sunday. I wouldn't miss it for the world. It's great that we have these tools to watch alternatively later on, so nobody has to miss anything if they don't want to.

edited to add:

I'll be writiing my postcards to N. Carolina voters while I watch. Probably have a big text conversation going on with my friends.

I watched the Biden debate - and wished I hadn't within the first 5 minutes. But by then I was too afraid to turn it off.

I'll probably watch intermittently. By the time it is on, I'll be deep in the middle of baking bread - so it won't be solid watching, at least.

and it follows their pattern. If Kamala has so much as one hair out of place they will say she looked "frazzled". If she doesn't have a hair out of place they will say she appeared to be "too perfect" and not relatable to average voters.

I'm still heartsick about that, even though I love both Kamala and Tim. I'll just watch the post-mortem. they'll show everything over and over.

to see how it's going.

I totally get it and

I am totally there. Happens for me, too!

Randy, I bet a WHOLE lot of other folks won't be watching in real time either....It's commendable that you know not to do something that may effect your health.

I have my annual Psychiatrist appointment scheduled tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. It's via zoom (which is fine by me).

He a great guy and detests dt. He's not a therapy Dr. but monitors my meds (antidepressants, and anti-anxiety). I have plenty of the anti-anxiety on hand but I'm probably not going to watch in real time either anyway.

I may be checking out things off and on here on DU but if the ABC moderators are being d**ks/a**holes to V.P. Harris, I probably won't even hop on here. I already have my favorite Monk episodes picked out (It's my favorite fun detective series that normally ups my vibe) to watch in lieu of the debate.

I went out to dinner last night with five friends and only one is going to watch in real time because they don't think they can take it either......

At this point, I'm praying, meditating, and visualizing.

He triggered me. and I cried for 2 days and stayed in bed. I won't even tell you how I felt when Hilary lost. I will follow the debate on DU. Good luck my friend and to all of us who will take care of their health by not watching that evil man.

.
Can't watch them live in playoffs for 30 yrs

I doubt I'll learn anything from the debate that I don't already know, and nothing that happens will change who I vote for. So I'll just keep my fingers crossed that Kamala knocks it out of the park, and read about it here on DU!

Do I watch it first round, or read DU first?

One minute I'm not, the next I am.

Geez, I'm waffling like two bit Republicans,
but it's their fault, so I'm taking myself
off the hook.

Now I want to see Sarah Cooper on
How to Waffle.

I know Vice President Harris will do well. But I just can't watch and listen to that wretched creature. It fills me with anxiety and an anger I have felt for no one else ever.

Just like the last one. When it became clear the moderators were giving Donnie a free pass to stomp all over the rules and ignore questions, I lost interest. This go-round, the first time the moderator does not cut in when Donnie goes back to an earlier question to spout gibberish, I will turn it off. And I have little doubt that is what will happen. The moderators are as bought and paid for as SCOTUS, MSM, and every network. Idiots.

If trumps mic was muted for the entire time. If he says anything intelligent I'll see it in the replay.
I am at the point where his voice is a trigger and I don't like what it is triggering.

So many people (I'm sure plenty of people who aren't DU members) want to vomit just seeing his face and hearing his voice. It isn't even the sh*tty policies (they're bad enough). He's just SO EVERYWHERE ALL THE TIME. GO THE F AWAY!!!!!!!

since the first Obama go around. I find them useless, given they won't change many minds anyway.

In addition - if you're still on the fence between Harris/Trump, you're an idiot. The guy is a convict.

will be having pre and post debate analysis on her Y tube channel. Mary Trump Media.

I think she will be pretty good to listen too.

If I am able I will watch it. Otherwise watch the recording.

I'll have a nervous breakdown.

I'll probably watch live blogging if I watch anything at all.

After all, this is not going to change my mind. I know what TFG is. I willl vote against him even if I can't vote for Harris. It's the same way I felt in 2016 and 2020.

A great deal doesn't pass the smell test.

The rich were already there. Nixon brought in organized crime and the southern and mudwestern buigots. Reagan pandered to all the crackpot religions, especially the ones that labeled women subhuman. Bush/Cheney saw the party going full fascist. TFG is supposed to bring all that together in a dictatorship: he's still rich enough, hea crook, he gives lip service to reluigious crazies, and he's a malignant narcissist who thinks he's already our king. Running for office is only a formality, the last one was rigged, his people will make sure this one goes his way, then nobody will have to worry about voting ever again.

If he gets beaten this time, his ego will compel him to run again in 4 years, at the age of 82. The GOP will likely comply, they have no principles or policies left, only the larger than life fat felon with the pep rally following.

They need to stumble off to the elephants' graveyard, alread, but they'll keep sputtering on until rich men find a home elsewhere.

Last edited Mon Sep 9, 2024, 10:39 PM - Edit history (1)

and I was so filled by anxiety we would react by running out of my parents den when Benson would score a point. It was a physical way to lett off some steam. Beer may have been involved and maybe my two brothers and a friend of theirs.

Now that I am on meds for ptsd i can tolerate much more.

Not in the least worried about Harris.
She is a woman. She has a woman's wisdom that will flow comfortingly over all of us.

I have such a visceral reaction to seeing the Orange Guy in real time. I wish Kamala all the best.
Fortunately I have prolotherapy session scheduled at the same time as the debate and would rather endure that as it will bring physical relief from some aches and pains.

That's the most important thing.