I have had two Fox News viewer friends physically compromised this week

[yankeepants]

I live in a very small rural upstate New York community where we all look out for each other but it is very white and very red politically. Recently two rabid Fox fans have ended up in the hospital for extreme physical conditions related to stress. One of those person's family swear it is due to Fox. The other one knows but won't go on record. They are ramping up the base and killing them.

[unblock]

1. hmm sounds like a movie is saw recently....

[democratisphere]

2. What a horrible way to go.

[cwydro]

3. If a tv channel can put you in the hospital,

you seriously need more exercise.

[Mariana]

4. I believe it.

My father's blood pressure is high. Not surprisingly, it's always higher after he's watched/listened to that crap for a few hours. He spends so much time angry, and he spends so much time angry because he's getting wound up by Fox News and RW radio every single day. He obsesses over it, he rarely thinks about anything else. I can easily believe the stress of being angry and/or afraid all the time is affecting people in more serious ways.

[coolsandy]

5. They were already brain dead but is killing them by stressing them to their limits and now it seems

they are so stressed out they are turning on each other and actually killing themselves.

If only we could have a do over of 2016 and try to make America sane again...if it ever was. At least there was a spirit of good will when Democrats are in the WH.

[Bradshaw3]

6. If you haven't seen it, I would recommend this documentary

It's called The Brainwashing of my Dad
http://www.thebrainwashingofmydad.com/

It tells the story of another father who sounds like yours, and how they got him away from the RW spin machine and got their old father back.

[Mariana]

15. I have seen it, and it's right on.

Not going to happen at my folks' house, though. When he visits here, I provide him with a radio so he can go outside and listen to RW radio (we don't have cable, so Faux is out). If I don't, I swear he gets withdrawals. He gets jumpy and irritable and just makes everyone around him miserable. If we blocked Faux from his teevee, he would be on the phone to the cable provider to come fix it - and in the meantime he'd still have radio and internet. I really think he's a hopeless case.

[Bradshaw3]

17. Sorry to hear that

Of course in the movie he had a stroke I think which allowed them to get control of his media feeds and his tv channels. He didn't seem to miss it, which doesn't sound like your situation. Good luck with it.

[Cereal Killer]

16. I found It here.

https://view.yahoo.com/movie/60798523/the-brainwashing-of-my-dad

[BumRushDaShow]

7. There was a Donald Duck video short that made the rounds awhile ago that fits

[lindysalsagal]

8. Here you go: Cognitive dissonance: Causes stress, depression, stupid

https://cogsci.stackexchange.com/questions/10810/what-are-the-consequences-of-prolonged-cognitive-dissonance

It appears that extended exposure to cognitive dissonance ignites an initial emotional reaction that is then mediated by the rationalization process. If no rationalization can be made, or if the emotion cannot be effectively controlled by the individual, then the initial emotional reaction may grow more powerful, resulting in mood-regulation disorders such as depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder. [5]

Details

Cognitive dissonance is thought to reveal a human's internal desire for consistency. Those who experience cognitive dissonance become psychologically uncomfortable, and thus may take measure to reduce situations that may induce cognitive dissonance. [1]

Humans have a tendency to want to explain how the world works. There is a discomfort in not 'knowing'. In cognitive dissonance theory, there are several underlying themes, most notably that of religion in cognitive dissonance. Insofar as the theory goes, religion is one helpful mechanism for avoiding cognitive dissonance, as religion often provides an explanation for the nature and generation of the world, as well as a set of guidelines to follow. This provides humans with internal consistency. Skepticism/loyalty to the 'objective' nature of the scientific method can be another form of avoiding cognitive dissonance. [2] Rejection of any sort of method of navigation (or purpose) in the world often lends itself to a feeling of nihilism, though this is not always related to cognitive dissonance as it is defined.

[Skittles]

10. I hear you

yes indeed I do

[cwydro]

13. Lol. nt

[Snake Plissken]

14. Trump enjoys tormenting people, he always has, his base is made up of misogynistic idiots

[angstlessk]

18. Like a commenter said..Trump can do without friends

but he needs enemies!