Is it me? Or anyone else stressed to the point

[vetwife]

over this election and coming down to the wire that you can't sleep and feeling sick and apprehensive to the point that you don't know what to do with yourself? It is affecting my whole family !
Nobody is sleeping and keeping all hours and jumpy !

[freetobegay]

1. Same here.

I am to the point any little thing sets me off. I know I should back off but...

[vetwife]

2. Can't get anything done around here at the house, cook

or concentrate. This is a nightmare of uncertainity ! Pre election jitters and Post election fear !

[porphyrian]

3. I'm sleeping alright...

...but it's definitely keeping me medicated. I'm furious, and it's not a very constructive emotion.

[Bonhomme Richard]

4. I seem to be more concerned about the aftermath............

of the election. I think we are in for a very rough time.

[vi5]

5. I've been eating way too much...

Which for me is a sign that I'm stressed.

[LiberalEsto]

6. Waking up early

and just worrying, worrying, worrying. My tummy's all tied in knots.

Where's a deux ex machina when you really need one?

[alittlelark]

7. I'm in the same boat.

I try to stay sane by talking to everyone I can about this wretched situation. I work by rote. My kids are thus far relatively immune - hubby was a non-believer and is now almost as apprehensive as I am. I can't get to sleep earlier than 2am w/o a few glasses of wine. I try to take refuge in comedy when possible.

The really bad thing is that I do not see a true end in sight for months (at the very least).

We just have to keep going, and keep spreading the word, get involved and volunteer - you're doing a great job of that!

[vetwife]

15. Most of us here have been out front and really getting nervous

over the wrath some of us may pay for our activism..Either way.
Well, especially the gloating if there is a Monkey victory but the hate on us for a Kerry win. ITs a little nerve racking with some of all of us who have hit the ariwaves, papers and managed to scream at the top of our lungs for years trying to take America back. I especially feel for Michael Moore but shoot he has enough money to leave.

[tom_paine]

8. Man I thought I was stressed

It seems I am a paragon of calm compared to the posters in this thread.

(which is not say I haven't been stressed, just not nearly as much as some)

Buck up, folks. Be strong. It's tough, but if the Russian could kick out the Bolsheviks, we can kick out the Busheviks!

[nodehopper]

9. me too. I wish I wasn't out of the country.

[LizW]

10. I hear you

I'm the same, vetwife. Anxious, sometimes depressed, scared, irritable, too.

It has been better since the avalanche of newspaper endorsements for Kerry, but I'm still scared to death the election will be stolen.

[Bjornsdotter]

11. I thought it was....

....just me! I can't sleep, when I do I wake up in a panic attack.

I can't wait for it all to be over...I'm avoiding certain news shows as the urge to throw something at the TV is overwhelming. Last night I could sleep and finally turned on C-Span to watch the replay of Gore's speech. Ironically, then I fell right asleep....

Cheers,
Kim :toast:

[UnityDem]

12. Yes, glad I'm not the only one and

really can't wait for this to end. I am tired of avoiding my repub friends and family members for fear of what I might say to them.

[HootieMcBoob]

13. Yup

I'm obsessed. Have been for over four freakin' years. It gets worse every day. I'm coming out of my skin over here :scared:

[intheflow]

14. Stressed AND obsessed

Can't concentrate, want to crawl in bed and stay there until at least November 3rd, but will probably stay longer if/when election gets contested. But of course, couldn't obsessively check DU for new news if I did that, so I reckon I'll just deal with it.

Buck up, vetwife! You are not alone. O8)

[kitkatrose]

16. I'm stressed to the max

but most of it is unrelated to the election. I'll have to wait until election day for that. :)

[maxsolomon]

17. i sent in my absentee ballot

& got my 18 year old stepson to vote for kerry, so my stress level has gone down appreciably. plus i got a bottle of meukow cognac on sunday.

mrs. solomon has not filled out her ballot, and she read the NYT magazine article on bush & faith sunday, so now she yells at me all the time about my bush-voter dad back in ohio.

she needs to vote & have a snifter.

[RollergirlVT]

18. Yes I'm sick with stress.

[RollergirlVT]

19. Class action lawsuit anyone????

[info being]

20. Look on the bright side:

1) If Kerry wins, things will get better and most people will go back to sleep.

2) If Bush wins, our movement will only gain strength for 4 more years, things will get worse, more people will see through the corrupt system, and fundamental change is more likely.

Of course I hope that Kerry wins AND people continue to build the Progressive movement at the same time...but we're talking about apathetic Americans here so let's get real.

[cmf]

21. I am very stressed

I have that sick feeling in the pit of my stomach.

[VOX]

22. Lousy sleep, craving carbs, nodding off at work, irritability...

Both my wife and I are doing everything possible to ensure that Kerry gets elected, but we have been consumed by this process, and by the grim reality of the state of America right **now**, and the horror of what would happen if * is allowed another term.

[sandnsea]

23. Yes

Even creeping into my dreams. I think I only slept 4 hours last night. Not good. And after that Karl Rove article, I've got a sick feeling this isn't going to be over Nov 2, even if we win.

[snacker]

24. stressed and obsessed here too

Actually spent Sunday afternoon driving around our small town (pop. 3000) counting Kerry Edwards signs. There were only 5 Gore signs in the 2000 race, so was thrilled when my daughter and I counted 65 Kerry/Edwards signs and only a handful of Bush signs here in Wisconsin.

[dubyaD40web]

25. I'm not stressed BUT

my local liquor store has seen a large increase in profit this month.

[cmd]

26. I lost my temper this weekend at the office

Then I took my frustrations out on my husband. My knee was giving me big trouble and I was lashing out at everything around me. I will admit that this election is an obsession with me. It is with me every hour of the day. Yeah, I'm stressed.

[qwlauren35]

27. Yup...

I took a break for 2 weeks because I was too depressed to campaign. I've tried to go back to it, but it's hard. I put in 2 solid months, maxed my credit card on bumperstickers & yardsigns, made my husband into a campaign widower while I registered folks to vote, phone banked, hung signs, hunted down new volunteers, etc.

I could use some valium.

[Ladyhawk]

28. I crawled into bed yesterday morning and stayed there all day.

Sorry, guys, I just had to check out for awhile. I'm going to try to get a few "election things" done today--donate and write Sinclair advertisers--but every time I think of election day and the aftermath, I just feel sick.

I also have some other problems. I don't know many Dems personally and my family are Shrub lovers, all. I just cut off a "friendship" over this shit. My mother has been visiting relatives in her hometown of Springfield, Missouri. I'm not looking forward to her reaction when she sees my Kerry-mobile.

My best friend in the whole world might have cancer and I can't get ahold of him to find out whether or not he got the test. PTSD and medical procedures don't mix very well.

I feel terrible.

I have medications that are supposed to help with this, but I'm not doing so well. :(

(If we have to camp out in D.C., will someone help me? I'm serious. My own health isn't very good, but one more body will certainly get in the way of neo-fascist plans, will it not?)

[BiggJawn]

29. So stressful in my world...

That when I read that AHH-nuld had said "Aye vent fur vierzehn daze mitowt Zex..." I said "So? I'll TRADE you"

Hoping the floodgates open Nov. 3.....

[Butterflies]

30. I've been avoiding cable news (except Keith Olberman)

because all of the campaign coverage has been making me crazy. I feel calmer and sleep better the less I pay attention to it. I volunteer at Kerry booths on the weekend festivals in my area, but otherwise I have to take a break and keep my sanity. A bush win is too terrifying to even think about . . .

[apnu]

31. I have a special Beer in the fridge waiting for the evening of Nov 2

I'll open it in celebration of Kerry's victory.

or

I'll open it in consolation of a Bush victory.

[Redleg]

32. I am almost to that point. I am having a hard time focusing on my work.

I am more irritable than usual and very often preoccupied with this election stuff. I pray the Kerry wins- I don't know how I will handle Bush staying in the Whitehouse for 4 more years.

[pauliedangerously]

33. VERY STRESSED

I've been seeing a psychologist since last Fall.

[TrustingDog]

34. me too. and I'm not American...

I feel like Granny Clampett's weather beetle when there's a big storm a brewing.

I've been feeling all jittery and anxious ever since mr. bush went to Iraq.

[ArkDem]

35. Here is a little song I wrote

You might want to sing it note for note
Don't worry be happy
In every life we have some trouble
When you worry you make it double
Don't worry, be happy...

Ain't got no place to lay your head
Somebody came and took your bed
Don't worry, be happy
The land lord say your rent is late
He may have to litigate
Don't worry, be happy
Look at me I am happy
Don't worry, be happy
Here I give you my phone number
When you worry, call me
I make you happy
Don't worry, be happy
Ain't got no cash, ain't got no style
Ain't got no girl to make you smile
But don't worry be happy
Cause when you worry
Your face will frown
And that will bring everybody down
So don't worry, be happy (now)...

There is this little song I wrote
I hope you learn it note for note
Like good little children
Don't worry, be happy
Listen to what I say
In your life expect some trouble
But when you worry
You make it double
Don't worry, be happy...
Don't worry don't do it, be happy
Put a smile on your face
Don't bring everybody down like this
Don't worry, it will soon pass
Whatever it is
Don't worry, be happy

[juslikagrzly]

36. Rollercoaster emotions here

high one day, reading polls looking good, * failing miserably
down the next, reading polls looking bad, Cheney's lesbian daughter is the talking point of the day

I was going to post this yesterday to see where everyone else is.

Today, my lunch buddies talked about planning a month long watch party, since we doubt we'll know the outcome on Nov. 3.

Depressing? You bet!

Mom's got the bail money ready though :)

[petrock2004]

37. not just you

my reason being that i'm working ~12 hours a day on this campaign. i phone bank 5 nights a week, and then spend anywhere from 4-8 hours every day working on get out the vote stuff. WHEE!!

and also, i'm slightly more frustrated because of a job offer i received that depends entirely on john kerry winning the presidency. :crazy:

but i'm optimistic.

because the way i look at it, either WE win and restore peace and democracy, or * wins and it gets SO bad that people are FINALLY MOTIVATED to do something about it!

either way, yes, i'm stressed. and thank you for opening this thread for all of us worrywarts to vent on!

so, until nov. 2nd, chill, take it easy, campaign if you can, and most of all, just remember that if you are cool enough to be trying as hard as you are to defeat the shrub, then,

:yourock: :toast:

[Eloriel]

38. No, I'm not stressed

In fact, I've been toying with the idea of what I can do election night instead of watch the returns. I just have this nagging feeling we won't know who "won" for a while.

But more than that, the deal is this: everyone has done what they could, and everyone will be finishing up over the next 14 days, so the matter is now almost on its own to unwind. What will be, will be and we're gonna have to live with the outcome, whatever it is.

I personally don't think the election process itself will be pretty. We have vote suppression and vote fraud going on all over the damned place already that we KNOW of, and we also ALL know the Bushies won't give up power without a fight, and the dirtier the better in their minds.

I don't have any idea how it will all turn out, but I am mentally and emotionally prepared (or so I think) for the worst simply because my motto has always been: hope for the best, but prepare for the worst and if you're lucky you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Then, too, there's that small matter of my not exactly looking forward to a Kerry administration. Having Bush out -- if that's what happens -- will be great, of course, we all agree. But I really can't get very excited about Kerry in office. And, I know I'm not exactly alone on that point.

[Save Our Planet]

39. Sleep deprived for sure.

The closer the DAY comes, the more I think about how we must have a new leader. I pray that a new day will dawn and our long, dark night will come to an end at last, at last, at last!

And somehow I KNOW that we will bid an unfond farewell to George, Jr. and his illigitimate, never elected regime on Jan 20, 2005.

Sleep well.

[H2O Man]

40. I'm excited!

I think that political science is one of the most fascinating subjects. I believe strongly that grass-roots activism is the life-breathe of democracy. So I try to do some work each and every day, and I am convinced that we are coming within sight of the days that were predicted by three of the great leaders from the 1960s: Robert Kennedy spoke of individuals' actions causing a ripple, and that when millions of riples joined together, they create a great current. John Kennedy spoke about each generation having an opportunity to keep democracy current and alive in America. And Martin Luther King helped define those moral issues that we face as individuals and as a people.

The problems that face our nation are, to a large extent, exactly those faced by other empires in world history. But we have more pressing and more severe problems. Two of them would be WMDs and the wide-spread contamination of the environment.

Our mission in November is far larger than a mere presidential election. Human kind is literally at a crossroads, and making the wrong choice will lead to a widespread intensification of warfare, violence, pain and suffering. Bush is in his merry ignorance leading us on the path to self-destruction.

Kerry is not "the" answer to every problem, but he is the choice that will afford us the opportunity to make great strides towards life and liberty, to reconcilliation and to the relief of many of the man-made problems that are causing hell on earth for millions of people.

We must change as a people if we are to survive. Only those who master change will be able to help move us in the correct direction, in that current that Robert spoke of. Making changes causes anxiety. That is normal and to be expected. At the same time, people should be excited, because we are seeing some concrete results in this most difficult of conflicts. We are going to win. Count on it.

[Robbie67]

41. I have no interest in anything else right now

I hope that, no matter the outcome, I can re-energize myself and try not to be so bogged down in my worry about the future.

[marlakay]

42. Any threads like this in freeperville? I don't look at theirs

My husband says he can't wait until election is over because I am obsessed about it. I am exhausted and feel numb. Not scared not happy just numb. Afraid to feel either way.

I am also overeating and desiring sweets and foods I don't normally eat. I was doing fine a few months back.

[greekspeak]

43. Well, I do not think I would be so irritable, tired and fussy

I do not sleep well these days, I am irritable, I do not feel as well as I normally do. Some is stress from my schooling, but a great deal of it is worrying over what is coming down the pike in the next few weeks. No matter who comes out on top, you can rest assured that the other side is not going to accept it. I think I am worried about the state of panic afther the election as much as I am worried about the outome of the election.

[callous taoboy]

44. Fortunately, I have the key

to escape reality...

Oh you may see me tonight
with an illegal smile
it don't cost very much
but it lasts a good while...

[vetwife]

45. Think about this fellow anxious Duers

Some of what we are feeling is excitement, apprehension, nerves, not counting our everyday stress. If we feel this way how must the candidates and their families feel? I have just gotten my phone bank list and will return to the phone in a bit. I am about to close the Take it Back Store but I am stressing over that because I am not sure I can do that till Nov 3rd. Not that it ever made any money. I am hearing from more veterans than usual.

The hate mail has let up. (Thats good) The interviews are still out there and the canvassing still continues. I feel like I did 35 years ago having labor pains and about to deliver and I know Post Partum depression follow that most of the time. We have been so busy here that our whole focus will change somewhat but there is still plenty to do. I am glad I started this thread because I am not one that is used to change very well and I sure wasn't ready for the 2000 change. I am ready for this change. I do wonder about revolt in either win but we have to take it one day at a time. (Now you know why I won't close the Take it Back Store. 14 days of this nightmare or 4 years and 14 days. That is the apprehension !

I FEEL YOUR PAIN FOLKS !

[JohnOneillsMemory]

46. Chomsky: This election is marginal to the real issues we face on Nov.3rd.

He said this in an interview excerpt on Pacifa Radio's 'Democracy Now' program.

He said that making a big deal over Nov. 2 is an intended distraction to the big picture of taking control of our own government and enlightening our fellow citizens and organizing.

So don't get into that all-or-nothing black-and-white thinking pattern that fundamentalists and fascists exploit so well.

While this isn't good news to smile over, it does help to have a bigger perspective than the Nov. 2nd election results.

All the issues are large and will take years to deal with no matter who wins.

So consider keeping your sense of purpose for the long haul that is ahead of us and don't freak out over a possible Kerry 'loss.' If he does win, that will be some help but not the answer to our problems.

[BamaGirl]

47. I was feeling reasonably calm the close we get

until my incident at the kids school today. I just posted about that, the Mad as Hell post. Now I just feel sick. People that I am reading as intelligent and informed and analytical are apparently not.

[Beaverhausen]

48. Think positive!!!

Forwarding this!

With only six weeks before the Presidential election, I
feel compelled to share this idea. I am an author,
activist, and former science writer. I enjoy the
intersection of physics and culture - never more obvious
than this fall.
And what today's most sage scientists are saying is that
when we focus on
something, we attract more of it. So with only six weeks
left, we need to focus on what we really, really want.
Let's join together in the "60 Seconds a
Day for 6 Weeks Campaign." To turn the tide now, we need to
do something
unstoppable. We need a critical mass of us to stop railing
against what is and reach for what we want.

What do we want? We want John Kerry as our next President.
Give up focusing on George Bush. We don't have to agree
with him or support him in any fashion. Instead, we have to
turn our thoughts now to something greater.
We have to do something unstoppable. In the legacy of
Einstein and all
great thinkers, we have to harness the power of our
thoughts to get the
outcome we desire in November.

If only 3 percent of the U.S. population takes 60 seconds
to do this
exercise every day, we can make a massive difference. This
is how it works: for 60 seconds each day visualize John
Kerry elected as our next President of
the United States. See the celebrations and excitement and
sense of fulfillment all across America. See yourself
rejoicing with people in your home, neighborhood, and
workplace. See us all rejoicing with people all over the
world! See John Kerry being sworn into office. Feel the
hope, joy, and gratitude. Feel it in your hearts. Believe
it is possible.

Now, imagine John Kerry restoring greater wellbeing in
America. See
people streaming back to work. See young children getting
the support they
need. Visualize our teachers, police officers, single
mothers, the mentally
ill, and many others getting the help they deserve. See our
soldiers coming
home to their families. Imagine our leaders establishing
greater trust and good will with other nations. See peace
spreading across the world. See the Iraq conflict ending.
Feel how good it will be for the environment to be
protected and renewed. See hope rising across the world in
the hearts and souls of all of us. See these pictures in
your mind for 60 seconds every day between now and
November.
Be grateful that you have the gift of participating in
shaping a
greater country. Be grateful that you care. Believe that
all this is possible
--and more! And be sure to vote!

[Lorien]

49. It's not just you

I haven't been able to fall asleep until 5AM most nights (I wake up at 10AM only because my Maine Coon is standing on my head-then I'm exhausted all day). I've spoken to friends and family that feel the same way.Everyone seems short tempered on top of it all.
I want to go out canvassing for Kerry, but I'm afraid I'd get too emotional and end up getting the opposite result from the one that I want.

[n2mark]

50. Thank goodness

I'm sane, I think! and not alone. I've not been sleeping, did not sleep at all last night and only a few hours nights before. My house is a pig sty ( my house was always spotless before). My moods fluctuate and my only conversation is politics. My daughter asked me the other day why does all our conversations turn to politics? I just feel so strongly with this election. It is so important and young people really don't have the concept of the importance, at least I don't think they understand the ramifications if Shrub wins.