How I found post-election peace of mind (and a good night's sleep).

[Talitha]

Let me begin by saying that as of election morning, I have been totally abstaining from news - print, radio, tv and internet. The election results got me so damned shell-shocked, it actually took about a week for me to poke my nose into my haven, DU again - can you believe it?
I'd pop in to check the Latest Breaking News section and pop back out again. BTW, a big thank you goes out to all who post headline news there... you're my lifeline and I love you.


Ever since Joe took office, I'd fallen asleep to the sound of BBC news being broadcast on NPR. But on election night I just couldn't listen. And since then, they always put on sound clips of Dump's sickening voice. It would wake me up and I'd turn the radio off - but then couldn't go back to sleep again.

This is where it gets interesting - we never know exactly what might help us when we're in need, which is why I'm posting this - in hopes it might help someone else.

Personally I don't care a whit about sports. But while slowly working the dial back and forth on my radio desperately trying to find something to lull me to sleep, I came across Infinity Sports - and it was just what the Dr. ordered.

It's a 24/7 sports-talk radio channel, and it saved my sanity by providing the much-needed droning voices to fall asleep to - just like the BBC radio used to do.

Not being sports-minded, the topics under discussion don't interest me in the least and it's very easy to fall asleep to. And when the news comes on, it's all local - - not one peep about politics or national news - I love it!

OK, I do admit to being interested in the fiasco about the Bears' coach - I'm a Chicago girl, after all. But other than that, this radio station has given me a safe oasis - safer than BBC was, in fact.

Thanks for reading, and I hope this post will help someone in my predicament. Night-night!

[PeaceWave]

1. You took the election harder than most. Music helps a lot. So does exercise.

[Talitha]

5. Thanks, PW

Yeah, Jonn Serrie and my treadmill have been working overtime since the election. They say time heals all wounds. Heal, maybe not. But it eventually time creates a distance from it.

[arthritisR_US]

9. The Moody Blues and my treadmill, lifesavers!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. Thanks for your helpful voice, my dear Talitha! I'm sure it will help someone.

Most of the time, I'm blessed with the ability to climb into bed, get comfy and warm, and then completely relax every muscle! It generally works well.

Here's to better and more restful sleep!

[Talitha]

7. Thanks ever so much, Peggy!

[arthritisR_US]

10. Every post I read of yours I such a treasure, the universe

truly blessed us with you!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

21. Aw, thank you, my dear arthritisR_US!

That was very sweet of you.

[PXR-5]

3. I'm a NY Jets fan...

So sports radio is pretty traumatizing to me. 😆

[Talitha]

8. They talk about so many different things, it makes my head spin.

But at least I get to sleep at night. Sounds like their discussions affect you like political discussions affect me. I hope you find peace...

[mahina]

4. Thank you so very much. I will give it a shot.

Deeply grateful.
I've been listening to my audiobooks because my go to, NPR, classical music, breaks for the news and wakes me up in state I must prevent.
One of the podcasts I like is by Michael Lewis, Against The Rules. He is the author of The Big Short and Moneybag and my fave, The Fifth Risk.

Season 5 is all about the wild epidemic of sports gambling. I've been listening to his podcast Against the Rules since the first season. (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/against-the-rules-with-michael-lewis/id1455379351?i=1000433960321 excellent, on fairness.) You might find him interesting as well. Now I'll know what he's talking about a little better with the programs you suggest.


Also, maybe this self care strategies for Dealing with Anxiety from theCurrent Political Climate
Sunday, December 29th at 3:00 p.m.


"In these turbulent times, feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or uncertain about the future is normal. Whether it's that knot in the pit of your stomach or the weight of anticipatory anxiety, many of us are grappling with the emotional toll of living in the current political climate.

Join Dr. Ellen Caringer, a Psychologist, Neuropsychologist, and member of the Hawaii State Indivisible Leadership Team, for an insightful session on managing stress, building resilience, and maintaining your mental well-being in the face of our current political climate. Dr. Caringer will share cognitive-behavioral tools for stress management and mindfulness techniques for maintaining peace of mind—even in times of uncertainty.

This session is about more than just surviving the next four years; it’s about learning how to thrive and protect your peace of mind amid the chaos.

We hope you’ll join us for this important conversation."

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9026198075?pwd=TEN0NzhiWjJxOHVtb2tZTEF5Z2JUUT09&omn=81710961056

Aloha. May we find peace.

[Talitha]

11. Thanks so much for the info, mahina - I'll look into it.

[mahina]

14. My joy

[Silent Type]

6. Used to get the best naps with the drone of NASCAR races on Sundays. I hate NASCAR and their confederate

flags and typical fans otherwise.

Air America radio late night reruns kept me sane during bush years. Having gone through bush and trump’s first term, I’m trying to avoid major anxiety this time. Not sure how that will work beginning Jan 20th.

Take care.

[Talitha]

12. Thanks - yeah sadly, Jan 20th will be the ultimate test for us all.

Hopefully by absolutely ignoring all of the news, I'll remain oblivious. Not the smartest thing to do, but I have to consider my own mental health, which is a helluvulot more important to me than the creature whose about to slither into OUR White House again.

[Skittles]

13. alas, I cannot stand anything sports

rich men playing games hardly takes my mind off politics

[BWdem4life]

15. Be careful

You could get interested in sports, and that can be just as stressful as politics if you get sufficiently invested in a team.

[nmmi]

16. Noise machines (sound machines) do it for me. Plus I fall asleep remembering the names of the 35 brightest stars

After getting a couple sound machines with disappointingly low maximum volume ones, I got this which I love, plenty volume (adjustable of course)

      Marpaq Whish sound machine -- 16 sounds including about 4 white noise

As for the brightest stars (excluding ones I can't ever see, those that are further south than 45 degrees south on the celestial globe):

      Sirius, Arcturus, Vega, Capella, Rigel, Procyon ...

I have a few other things that I memorized that I recite in my mind.

[William Seger]

17. I've found that watching billiards and snooker on YouTube does the trick

I'm pretty much getting all my news from DU, and when the anxiety starts to set in (again), I go binge a few hours. Fortunately, there have been several interesting tournaments lately, and nope, no politics there. For example, the current number one snooker player in the world is Englishman Judd Trump, and in perhaps 10 years of watching his matches, I have never heard a British commentator even mention in passing that he has the same last name as the Burger King -- presumably because it would be insulting to Judd to suggest any relationship.

[Mike 03]

18. I realized I need to crack down on my behavior too, and one

of my sisters was essentially ordered by her therapist to shut off the news two years ago.

My sister and brother in law were like me and others here: news was on 24 hours a day. They somehow managed--on a dime--to shut that off and replace it with sports, exactly what you are suggesting.

I had less success limited by news intake, although I did settle for alternatives to our domestic major news sources, opting for BBC World Service, Bloomberg and Canadian news and talk. For the last three days I have gone back to listening to MSNBC in the afternoons and evenings. But I can see this won't work for me.

In fact, I was making a list of some new behaviors, and also looking at some psychiatric papers for how to literally protect the brain from prolonged traumatic stress. Luckily there is a lot of information available.

It is my hope that we will see and hear more about this in the months ahead.

Thanks for your post. I think this is a truly important discussion.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

19. Hillary's loss was more depressing because after that, I knew to expect anything.

Plus Hillary was closer to my age and I felt it more personally. I was not as surprised by this one because it happened before. I follow the polls very closely and it was not looking good for a week or so. I was more depressed with Hillary and Gore when they “lost.” This loss has made me angry and more activated to do something about it. It’s more like things are scary - what could happen to this country. Instead of feeling sad, I have my boxing gloves on and I’m ready to fight. It’s more like a war is going on. There really could be a civil war.

[Easterncedar]

20. Car Talk

Laughing and banjos. I started using the archive of old shows 8 years ago when caring for my dying partner. Like you, I was able to use the BBC radio for a while, but I always started with the brothers from Boston. I fall asleep to it, wake up and restart. It works for me, annoying laughter and all. I can’t bear to hear the mango monster’s name, much less his hideous voice.

[sinkingfeeling]

22. I go to sleep to true crime stories on 'ID' or 'Oxygen'.

I also haven't watched any TV 'news' nor read anything about the election
Don't intend to ever again. I don't even know the final electoral count nor popular vote nor how each state voted.
No longer care.

[Aristus]

23. I'm glad you found something that works for you.

We’re all going to need some soothing self-care in the years to come.

[RandomNumbers]

24. Audio Books from the library can work similarly

Particularly - for me anyway - anything philosophy or history from The Teaching Company or Modern Scholar.

If someone has a cd player and a nearby library that offers these materials, it can be a great way to distract the brain to allow settling down and falling asleep. Particularly if you have no need to actually LEARN the history of the Napoleonic Wars (or whatever).

[calimary]

25. Arts 'n' crafts keep me sane at times like these.

I have enough craft supplies from having kids and group projects and “teaching” events that sometimes I feel like I could make almost anything with it all or from it all. And Christmas-around-the-corner offers plenty of reasons to do so.

It won’t be the first time crafting has saved my sanity.

[umroman]

26. Terry Pratchett audiobooks

work too--books I love, have read 8 times, and dropped into the bathtub twice. Voices to send me to sleep, and if I wake up, I know where I am, Ankh Morpork.

[Salviati]

28. Audio books are great for that, but I've got the same rule for audiobooks as I do for print books...

... no new books before bed, otherwise I'll be up all night. Only rereads/relistens.

[cilla4progress]

27. I do the same, talitha! With a bit of a twist.

During tsf I, I started listening to news podcasts. This continued during Biden. A favorite was Allison Gill's The Daily Beans.

I have always loved white noise, falling asleep. Many listen to bedtime stories (I have an app for that. The Sleepy Bookshelf. There are others. She has a calming British accent. I dont mind missing parts.) My favorite white noise is a vacuum cleaner! My niece has a white noise machine for her babies.

Recently I disxovered my favorite "white noise" to block out those anxious, spiralling, negative thoughts about the state of things now, and to come: BINAURAL BEATS!! Heard of it?



Binaural beats are an auditory illusion that occurs when two different tones are played simultaneously in each ear, creating the perception of a third tone:

Some say binaural beats can help with stress, anxiety, sleep, focus, mood, pain management, and creativity.

[redstatebluegirl]

29. I listen to an archived program on WGLT.org

Do a search for radio Munson. The shows are filled with wonderful standards. Miss them so much I have gone to the archive frequently! They are very soothing for this old broad.

[ibegurpard]

30. I do relaxation and ASMR videos

I've found several whose voices and sounds are extremely relaxing.
I had to take sleep meds for a week after the election.

[CTyankee]

31. I've gotten over it faster than I thought I would. I was deeply depressed for about a week or so and then I just did get

over it. It was a relief to let go. I had a good Thanksgiving with family and that was a shot in the arm. Being around family you love is good for anyone's soul. All thankfully Dems of course.

We ate good food. Nobody drank too much. It was amazing how a family of all Dems just seemed to decompress together and be happy, talk sports, enjoy catching up with everyone.