General Discussion

Caliman73

(11,767 posts)

20. No reason to be ashamed.

Wed Oct 28, 2020, 05:04 PM

Oct 2020

The human mind and body can only take so much.

These are things that are nominally under our control. We can do things to mitigate our stress but we cannot completely control it. The shame you feel is society telling you that it is not okay to be vulnerable, when each and EVERY one of us has that vulnerability.

If at all possible, disconnect. Stop watching the polls and going on news sites, even DU if you have to. You cannot control the outcome of the election even though you have volunteered and voted and done wonderful work to support democracy. Take care of yourself. Try some meditation or relaxation techniques. Get some sleep. Eat well. Do some exercise. If you have a hobby (not politics) engage in that and allow your mind and body to be occupied with something else.

Again, NEVER be ashamed of breaking down. It is normal under these circumstances. You have to counter act the dominant narrative that having an episode of understandable anxiety, is somehow "weakness". You have gone through more than 8 months of continual stress, not to mention the preceding 3 years of scandal after scandal. It isn't weakness, it is being normal.

Be kind to yourself.

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I am so ashamed of myself! [View all] macwriter Oct 2020 OP

You're not alone. StarryNite Oct 2020 #1

You aren't alone. uppityperson Oct 2020 #2

Try not to be so hard on yourself. You are not to blame for being stressed. secondwind Oct 2020 #3

If it's any consolation.... OAITW r.2.0 Oct 2020 #4

For starters, stop watching cable news. The Velveteen Ocelot Oct 2020 #5

Bingo BlueJac Oct 2020 #53

So on point... yokbizzi Oct 2020 #61

Great advice. BadgerMom Oct 2020 #70

Yep. Turn off the TV. Get your news from a relieable source. I know a lot of folks on DU japple Oct 2020 #78

A lot of us are stressed to high heaven. LisaL Oct 2020 #6

There's no shame in being sane Cyrano Oct 2020 #7

Right now this seems to be a national malady Turbineguy Oct 2020 #8

visit the Lounge daily - kitty and puppy pics are good therapy icwlmuscyia Oct 2020 #9

Welcome to DU, icwlmuscyia! Niagara Oct 2020 #39

Thanks - it's a long story, but I ain't really new icwlmuscyia Oct 2020 #82

Hang in there. No shame. It is an awful time right now. boston bean Oct 2020 #10

Can you all take walks with masks on? Karadeniz Oct 2020 #11

You haven't let down anybody. You're human Phoenix61 Oct 2020 #12

Turn off the news. Go outside for a walk. mnhtnbb Oct 2020 #13

I've been fighting it off myself. BComplex Oct 2020 #14

Welcome to the club Laurelin Oct 2020 #15

Welcome to DU, Laurelin! Niagara Oct 2020 #40

Listening to this easily, having it playing softly in the background, Sogo Oct 2020 #16

First, as others have said, you are not at all alone in feeling this way. femmedem Oct 2020 #17

You are definitely not alone! BlueMTexpat Oct 2020 #18

This will help...you are welcome safeinOhio Oct 2020 #19

Reminds me of a tool some colleagues introduced me to a couple years back: GopherGal Oct 2020 #35

No reason to be ashamed. Caliman73 Oct 2020 #20

Get stoned. It works for me. Cheap, easy and effective. panader0 Oct 2020 #21

This, and thank the Goddess for it ms liberty Oct 2020 #52

You have nothing to be ashamed of. All good people are stressed out of their brains right now judesedit Oct 2020 #22

Agreed. Couldn't have said it any better myself friendly_iconoclast Oct 2020 #25

No reason to be ashamed. sheshe2 Oct 2020 #23

I have on and off again had panic attacks and was totally clueless to start. I do not "take a blame" LizBeth Oct 2020 #24

What the heck do you have to be ashamed of? lagomorph777 Oct 2020 #26

You are not alone. ananda Oct 2020 #27

Please don't get on yourself marlakay Oct 2020 #28

You are NOT weak and No ridicule from me irisblue Oct 2020 #29

The entire rational population of the US MissB Oct 2020 #30

Please don't be ashamed, we are all feeling the stress. cayugafalls Oct 2020 #31

You're not alone having anxiety attacks dlk Oct 2020 #32

don't feel shame about how you're feeling... nebby70 Oct 2020 #33

Welcome to DU, nebby70! Niagara Oct 2020 #44

I've been hooked on DU since it started... nebby70 Oct 2020 #58

I thought I was having a terrible shift in health peacebuzzard Oct 2020 #34

Actually qwlauren35 Oct 2020 #36

Add a little rock and roll to your advice and we'll be back to the days of our youth. Arkansas Granny Oct 2020 #47

Remarkable that you lasted THIS long without losing it! pnwest Oct 2020 #37

You are definitely not alone. Niagara Oct 2020 #38

There's no reason for shame. This has been a tough year and it has affected us all in some way. Arkansas Granny Oct 2020 #41

Oh Sweetie. Please stop judging yourself. Anxiety can have some horrible symptoms Maraya1969 Oct 2020 #42

Hold on... Buns_of_Fire Oct 2020 #43

Why not get stoned? Yeehah Oct 2020 #45

Bake cookies! whttevrr Oct 2020 #46

You are brave to share your experience MLAA Oct 2020 #48

We are ALL in this TOGETHER! bluestarone Oct 2020 #49

Anxiety is a totally normal reaction. meadowlander Oct 2020 #50

bubble baths and chocolates. mopinko Oct 2020 #51

Please try to breath and meditate BlueNProud Oct 2020 #54

You do you! If getting stoned gives you some relief, go for it. Politicub Oct 2020 #55

I have felt the same and when I do I get busy doing other stuff. My advise: Escurumbele Oct 2020 #56

There is no shame in feeling stress. yardwork Oct 2020 #57

I want to add my voice birdographer Oct 2020 #59

Lots of good advice and good wishes here Jarqui Oct 2020 #60

I've been wondering how I can take the next six days off qanda Oct 2020 #62

I'm 72. I say: GET STONED!!! TruckFump Oct 2020 #63

Lots of folks are stressed Sherman A1 Oct 2020 #64

I am terribly grateful so many people have given good advice - soldierant Oct 2020 #65

Lots of good advice here. I do yoga almost every day. Lonestarblue Oct 2020 #66

I feel as you do. BadgerMom Oct 2020 #67

No shame, on the contrary... hay rick Oct 2020 #68

how do you know this was stress Skittles Oct 2020 #69

SEE....what I like to do... yuiyoshida Oct 2020 #71

This too shall pass. I would recommend meditation...try You Tube---- they most likely have c-rational Oct 2020 #72

Be kind to yourself. Joinfortmill Oct 2020 #73

Can totally relate DownriverDem Oct 2020 #74

Even Preet Bharara is worried for us.... BigmanPigman Oct 2020 #75

So get stoned, we wont tell! Tink41 Oct 2020 #76

Awwwwww... welcome to DU, macwriter! And here's some virtual hugs! calimary Oct 2020 #77

You need to unplug...let the rest of us battle DIVINEprividence Oct 2020 #79

Suggestion for you SheltieLover Oct 2020 #80

No shame in this post at all TxDemChem Oct 2020 #81

Getting Stoned Exacerbates Anxiety For Me. jayfish Oct 2020 #83

Please take care of yourself Fresh_Start Oct 2020 #84

Meditation using Ten Percent Happier App Chalco Oct 2020 #85

that's what we call an 'anxiety attack' Very real and debilitating bigtree Oct 2020 #86