I got an email today from a student, saying she has to drop my course

[struggle4progress]

because the Kavanaugh hearings brought back so many bad memories she can't concentrate

I know my own subject --- but it's not psychology, and I'm really not competent to deal with this stuff

When teaching, I keep my own political views in the background, so I almost never hear about how the political climate affects people

I'd guess a lot of people are angry and hurting right now

[MuseRider]

1. I think it has kicked us all

hard, even those who have never had a problem with men abusing them.

[SharonAnn]

17. Yes. it has been overwhelming for many of us.

It has triggered so much anguish, pain, fear. It diminishes hope in the future.

[blue cat]

2. I am very angry

We’re more divided than ever. It’s maddening to watch but I’m having trouble looking away. I’m thinking about upgrading my cable with the hope of pulling my mind away and watching series for a while.

[DemocracyMouse]

3. Give your student the benefit of the doubt.

Nobody I know is focusing that well. It's a self preservation instinct to shift awareness from the normal tasks at hand to the dangers around us — and those welling up in our memories.

It's healing for the country to shift attention towards the forces destroying our democracy. Maybe ask your student if she feels strong enough to do a special project to address her concerns. But don't pressure her. Be kind and caring and patient.

[Ilsa]

4. My son's psychiatrist broached the subject with me, but we

didn't have time to talk it out. She couldn't believe the belief in their own rich white male entitlement. She said Dr. Ford was absolutely honest in her report to the committee.

I couldn't watch Dr. Ford's beginning statement. I didn't want to be triggered.

Wish your student well and remind her to do healthy things to take care of herself.

[moriah]

5. I've been extremely triggered by the things talking heads and our President are saying...

... so if your student could have been the victim of an alcohol-facilitated sexual assault, I can see why they might be having problems right now.

If you feel like going above and beyond and your school has a decent counseling program or you know of free services and/or a local Rape Crisis group, you could email your student the resource information with hopes that they can get the support they need to get through this.

[struggle4progress]

33. I actually did forward the student such info, after a brief discussion with several women on campus

[Ms. Toad]

6. Yup. Not just students.

I've got employees who aren't able to focus - and I'm not doing so hot myself.

[WhiteTara]

7. I think we had a collective nervous breakdown.

[handmade34]

11. we are

still in the midst of the breakdown... I find myself walking around the house ranting and swearing...

this is a horrific time for our Country

[bdamomma]

12. I think

the past week they are trying to get our moral and mental compass shot, they are ruining our psyches. We can't let this POS do this to us, and that 30% are not the majority, we can take them down.

[WhiteTara]

15. I was with a group of women tonight

and everyone spoke about the unnamed terror that woke them in the middle of the night and how some weren't able to watch the news and everyone felt triggered. One woman who's 80, was living in Germany during the war and she is a mess.

I had to stop with everything. Today is the first day I didn't turn on my computer during the day and I actually accomplished 3 little tasks that I haven't been able to touch for a week.

Oh; please let this nightmare end soon.

[lagomorph777]

25. I'm a man and waking up in the night in terror.

We are better than this.

Time to dispose of the Disposables.

[WhiteTara]

29. This is a very difficult time.

Register at least 3 people between now and the 8th. Get forms at DMV or county clerks office. Help them fill it out, make sure they sign and turn it in. We have one last week. Ask everyone from the store clerk to the delivery person.

[handmade34]

31. also...

if in a state that has early voting... take as many people as you can and GO Vote! Thanks!

[WhiteTara]

32. Oh, brilliant! My next move

that starts Oct 22.

[luvtheGWN]

20. I do too,

and there's not a damn thing (as a Canadian) that I can do about it. I'm so unhappy for you all, and so incredibly, deeply disgusted by what is happening to my neighbours to the south. We see the same hateful mindset of our ultra-conservative politicians here in Ontario. At least here, I have some ability to express my views and try to change things in my small, limited way. But it's so hard. Just know that we like-minded Canucks are hoping against hope that your midterms go the way you all hope they do. Do your best -- that's all any of us can do, or expect from others.

[lapislzi]

30. My friend, a therapist, likened this to having an unsafe parent

You know, the kind that you have to walk on eggshells around all the time. You never know when the next grenade is going to land. I thought it an apt analogy.

[struggle4progress]

34. The student actually described her feelings in similar language

[byronius]

36. You're describing my father.

Highly intelligent, no-boundaries nuclear weapon.

Yes, this is all messing with my head.

[Blue_true]

8. Can you give Incomplete grades?

If so, tell her that you will give her an incomplete if she can't drop the class. Suggest that she go and talk to someone at campus health, if you have that, if not, tell her to contact a sexual assault hotline, they should be able to provide her with resources. Tell her that once she is ready, you welcome her taking and completing your class.

[Lars39]

9. I bet student requests to speak with a psychologist

are way up. They were probably up last year, too, but the hearings have probably made it even worse.

[FakeNoose]

10. Most campuses have a rape crisis center

They are usually staffed by women who are trained to help with sexual assault issues. Perhaps your student could be referred to someone for help? It doesn't have to be about an assault that happened recently either. Maybe there are group therapy or even private therapy sessions available for students who need them.

Good luck!

[lunatica]

13. Those of us who have been victimized

Do our best to overcome our feeling of shame and fear and try not to think about it because it is horrible to remember how you felt.

Then something like this happens and it all comes back with a vengeance. We feel the shame, the psychological and psychic pain wash over us and we are helpless and in panicked terror and can’t control it.

If you get a chance tell these people that they aren’t alone and that if they seek out people or groups they can talk to they will heal. You really cannot heal until you deal directly with it and on purpose and the best way to do that is talk about it in a safe environment and to listen to others’ stories.

[ProudLib72]

14. Wow! I'm glad you told us of this

I hadn't considered the possibility of it affecting my students this dramatically. I'm not going to bring it up in class, but I'll be on the look out.

[ecstatic]

16. The things he says and does... I know we should all be immune by now

But no... it's still hurtful. Painful. He is such a disgusting, divisive person.

[IronLionZion]

18. They are normalizing abuse

teaching some people it's OK to abuse and different people to expect to be abused. And there won't be consequences or any sort of deterrent.

In this case it's about gender and sexual abuse. In other cases it's been about race or wealth or other types of power and privilege.

[mahannah]

19. Teachers are paramount.

[Stonepounder]

21. For whatever it is worth,

this all has kicked a lot of us males as well. I knew there was a lot of sexual abuse going on, but I never understood how incredibly pervasive it is in our culture and it makes me want to lash out at these sub-humans who think they somehow have the right to abuse women. I can't really talk about it because I become incoherent due to my rage.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

22. my feelings exactly

I wanted to say "me too", but that expression is reserved for those who are victimized by the culture.

There was a post on DU a few days ago (seems ages) showing a survey of men and women, asking what they do to avoid sexual assault. It was shocking.

[struggle4progress]

23. I want to thank folk in this thread for many useful suggestions

[MineralMan]

24. Seems like a perfectly valid reason do drop.

I'd let that student drop with no penalty for it, however it works where you teach.

[lunasun]

26. Acknowledge email and maybe offer assistance you know of through the school . Some schools have

help centers some do not offer much but instruction . At least acknowledge understanding maybe?

Hard for you to see this too . Take care.

[panader0]

27. What do you teach?

[struggle4progress]

35. Various mathematical topics

[Initech]

28. I'm pissed off and embarrassed that this POS is being fast tracked to the Supreme Court.

Fuck Trump and fuck McConnell.