Is anyone else bordering on an anxiety attack today?

[Pacifist Patriot]

There are times when DU is an inspiration to me. Times when it keeps me company and makes me laugh. Times when it serves as a window to the world. And then there are times when all of the above becomes too overwhelming and I start to feel the PNAC noose tighten around my neck. I wonder what makes the positive or the negative stand out on any given day.

I need a pessimism check!

[atommom]

1. Me too. Too many big stories have come down the pike lately,

and they're all ending badly. I can't stop checking the news, and I can't stop seeing the pattern. It is a nightmare.

[GreenPoet64]

2. Too many story with too many questions lingering . . . yes. n/t

[caledesi]

13. So many big stories with little endings. Makes me so depressed. nt

[helderheid]

3. right there with you

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. With me, it's been intolerance

which I have found here at DU. Rather disappointing.

[berni_mccoy]

5. Anxious?

Let's see:
Cheney implicated in OUTING A COVERT CIA OPERATIVE for a political vendetta and claims he has the legal authority to do so (MSM Agrees)
Cheney nearly blows a man's head off in a drunken stupor and the police and press end up covering his ass.
Democratic lawmakers agree to Patriot Act. One step closer to a police state.
Whitehouse cuts a secret deal to sell the control of six major ports to TERRORIST NATIONS.
More TORTURE media is released...America YAWNS.
Congress condemns Iran on Nuclear Program. One step closer to war with Iran.
China/Russia warning US AGAINST attacking Iran. One step closer to WW III.
Survey Says: America MOST HATED COUNTRY IN WORLD.

What are you WORRIED ABOUT?!?!

[meganmonkey]

6. Turn off the computer

and take a walk in the woods!!!

All you need is a little bit of peace and sanity.

[hang a left]

26. very cool picture. n/t

[meganmonkey]

29. Google Images

I just pick combinations of words, I think this one was 'peace nature' and I always find what I need :)

[MuseRider]

7. Yes

there are days. Develop a mantra to get you through. We will prevail.

[RufusEarl]

8. NSA story

this is just one "albeit a big one" that comes and goes, with little or no attention paid to it at all. Of course i've not mentioned the other's, and i don't understand it.

Why haven't people in power in this country done something, why aren't they up in arms about this administration and how they've conducted themselves? I don't get it, all the folks here at DU make phones calls, send faxes and emails, and it just keep rolling along no one ever gets fired a reprimanded in this admin.

It is frustrating and leaves me with a helpless felling, but i'll stay here at DU no matter what. At least i'm with knowledge people and real patriots.

[Skidmore]

9. Yes, and yes again.

I just feel like crying till I run out of tears. I'm really upset with all that is happening and noone appears interested in putting the brakes on this fast slide into oblivion. I'm angry, frustrated, and heartsick and Dems and Rs. alike. Rs make me physically ill because of their memememe mentality, and Dems are exasperating me because everyone seems hellbent on not demanding squat of the party leadership. Personally, there are not too many Dem incumbents I want to see return at this stage. To quote Normie Coleman, in the "balls to the wall" moments, we find some amazingly nutless and clueless people up there. Check out some of those major votes. Everyone is afraid to call * a liar and Cheney a greedy SOB. Both truths. Noone will tell Sensenbrenner he's a facist pig and Bennett that he is too.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

10. I've been thinking a whole LOT about this

because I am supposed to be taking a break from DU. That is what I announced last week in the lounge, and what I promised my family. And you can see how THAT is working out, huh?

I think one of our characteristics here on the left (even tho I consider myself pretty moderate) is that we internalize everything that goes on in the world. We feel responsible for it. And if you enjoy keeping up with current events, that is a whole lotta angst.

Now, I could say just forget about it and look the other way, but then we would be...um... Republicans. But if we freak about everything that happens we will have no effectiveness. I have no easy answers, because sometimes I do freak. And that's one reason I take little tiny white pills now and then. But sometimes I have to do a reality check. Because very little of the horrendous things in the world affect me right now, today, in my life. Oh, yes, I know they can..they might.. and my grandchildren. Believe me, I know. But sometimes you just have to deal with what you have at hand.

Here on DU you know we all have Cspan running in the background, talk radio on the way home, newspapers, and then we hit all the blogs, left and right, just to keep the blood pressure cooking. And sometimes it is too much. We live in interesting times. But so did our parents, with a World War (talking Boomers now) that was almost lost...and their parents, with another War that took an entire generation of European men... and before that all kinds of other horrid things, including the potential of having six kids before you are 25 and losing them all in two weeks' time to diptheria (great grandmother of mine..she started over and did it again, only to lose two more boys in WWI).

So our challenge is to balance our anxieties about the abstracts in our lives (truth in government, freedom, torture, etc.) with the realities. (work, household things, our family, friends). I suggest that one way to do this is choose ONE thing to concentrate on. We can't all end torture AND rebuild N.O. AND impeach GWB AND stop the war, etc. Just one thing. Right now for me, that is a homeless family center right behind where I work. I'm putting a lot of time, thought and resources into that place. And as for the others, the things I can't change, well... I pray. Now, that's not always well-accepted here on DU where we tend to be free spirits, but it makes me feel like I am doing something. Even if there ISN'T sky pilot up there, I am metaphysical enough to believe that prayer is powerful. For all we know, it has some sort of invisible waves like sound waves. Who would ever have believed TV and radio technology 200 years ago?

So try and chill. It is Friday night. Life is oh, so short. Live it here and now.

TG

[RufusEarl]

31. Soothing words Grannie, and I'll pray along with you!

[stevietheman]

11. I've been telling people "We're in the midst of a shitstorm"...

We'll just have to ride it out... and hopefully, we will also gain a lot of material to go after the GOP with, and maybe even bring Bush's regime to an early close (if we're lucky).

[MadMaddie]

12. Yes....I am logging off in a couple of hours and

I am going to go see the new movie "Dating Movie". I like stupid humor and I am going to go Yuck it up.....

And then I am going to go eat at one of my favorite places.


A couple of other movies that are out on DVD if you like silly, funny movies.
Scary Movie 1-3
Not Another Teen Movie

Take a break...we all need to...

Have a good weekend:yourock:

[H2O Man]

14. Everything

is exactly how it should be, or it wouldn't be.

[0007]

28. ....and nothing can change it!

Not bad, not good, it just is....

[H2O Man]

37. Not true.

People can change. It's an individual choice .... to do good or bad. It's a choice we all make every single day.

[0007]

39. You're opinion is well taken

[fed-up]

15. Today and last few months, things ain't looking pretty- n/t

[zippy890]

16. take a break from politics

it helps to step back from it, after all life is too short -

I watched the new Wallace & Gromit - Curse of the Were - Rabbits movie( yes I'm an adult - 51 years old)
it was so funny & refreshing

:beer:

have a beer while your at it!!

[atommom]

20. You can't go wrong with Wallace and Gromit.

And a beer doesn't hurt, either. :beer:

[Ladyhawk]

17. I'm not exactly on the edge of an anxiety attack, but I've felt

rather pessimistic lately.

When I see someone express their honest pessimism and someone flames them for being a "defeatist," it doesn't do anything to raise my spirits. Pessimism and optimism are both honest feelings and expressing either shouldn't automatically equal a flaming, but it happens almost every time on DU: "You should feel like I do and besides, I'm out there every day _______." Fill in your own blank. Regardless, it makes me sad. People feel like they feel and yelling at them isn't going to help.

I've been taking something of a necessary hiatus from politics. Right now I feel that the 2006 elections are already in the bag for the Republicans, courtesy of the electronic voting machines and the apathy of your average "Murkin." Hopefully, something will come along--besides a flaming--to make me want to fight again, but right now I'm just too damn tired. My feelings may change, but flaming me for having them certainly won't make them change any faster.

It also doesn't help when your personal life hasn't been exactly roses. I've been sick and I'm behind in school.

Good luck to everyone feeling this way. Take a break if you need it, eh? Maybe I'll see you on the flip side, ready to fight it out.

[adriennui]

18. not today but

yesterday, i thought i was losing my mind, everything seemed out of control but luckily i had a shrink appt and we talked it over.

i begged her to give me a script for xanax...she refused. (in the past i've had a love affair with drugs).

[Beelzebud]

19. I smoke 2 joints before I smoke 2 joints...

And then I smoke 2 more!

[Marnieworld]

24. That and DU

are the only ways I can handle the depression caused by being aware of what is going on. :hug:

edited for bad pothead grammar

[Beelzebud]

27. /me passes the bong Marnieworld's way. :D

:smoke: :pals:

[Marnieworld]

35. cough cough

I'm more of a pipe gal myself. ;-)

:pals: :smoke:

[suffragette]

21. Crossed that border yesterday

with the news about the NSA and the Patriot Act.

Today, I feel the fight or flight pressure tugging me in two directions.

:hug:

[Hubert Flottz]

22. Whenever I feel like that I go here>>>>>>>>

http://bertc.com/18Track18p.mp3

http://bertc.com/dropkick.htm

[KAT119]

23. This is the darkest of the dark moments for Mother Earth/us-the Dawn

SHOULD BE PHENOMENAL , PLEASE GOD/DESS!!!!!

[Janice325]

25. No.

I'm not bordering on an anxiety attack (YET), but I am feeling much more anxious today than yesterday. There's soooo much bullshit/negativity/insanity going on with this "administration" and it keeps getting worse.
Oy. Anything else I'd write just now would probably make me feel more anxious.
I think I'll go do some laundry now, give DU a rest for a few, then come back and see what new bullshit/photo op/interview happens next.
Thank goodness I discovered DU and Air America a while back. I'd rather be informed and anxious than be a ignorant moran.

[alfredo]

30. Let's see if the Friday bad news dump will change your mood.

What bad news will the junta try to bury with a friday evening release? What's bad news to bush could be good news for us.

[atommom]

41. There have already been many revelations that should

have ruined them, but every time they slither away unscathed. Don't get me wrong, I'll still be happy to see stories that mean bad news for them ... but it's hard for me to maintain the hope that they will ever be taken down by revelations of misconduct. And they called Clinton the Teflon president...

[alfredo]

42. I am not satisfied, but then I want them in prison for

crimes against humanity. I think it is coming. Even Bill O'Reilly is saying we have lost the war in Iraq.

Even a dog gets its fill of cat litter cookies.

[liveoaktx]

32. Yes... I felt like that yesterday-it was like diarrhea of news, most of it

bad... overwhelming. The Pat Roberts deal with Bush pushed me over the edge. I ended up watching Die Hard, the original movie last night and watching how, back in the late 80's we were calling people TERRORISTS... but at least one man got some justice on them.

[Carni]

47. Yeah and we know that turned out to be just a robbery didn't it?

Odd--sort of has something in common with 911 IMO

We just don't know who actually stold what yet or who got to split the loot!

[laruemtt]

33. i lose myself in novels at night

and walks on the beach in the mornings, but somedays with the news and menopausal hormones, i still lose it. for those days i've just ordered some books by Dannion Brinkley who's had several beyond "near death" experiences and reports back that the next life is amazingly wonderful. so when this one looks futile, at least i can be happy about the one coming up!

[RufusEarl]

34. Thanks you DU!

And thanks for this thread it's been helpful. I'm going to take the night off from DU and politics, and work on my next album. I'm going to smoke a doobie, kiss my wife and play some guitar.

See all of you soon, have a good weekend and good night and good luck!

[OhioBlue]

36. yes - i have lately.

i have totally been in a slump - partially personal life, partially world & state happenings. But mostly, I think it is the seasonal mild depression that seems to set in with me around Jan-April. (weather, heating bills, catching up on Christmas bills, colds, flu, etc.) I'm not sure where you live, but a lot of people I talk to in Ohio seem to experience the same thing.

[Vidar]

38. Extreme depression here.

[in_cog_ni_to]

40. More like DEPRESSED! First the Patriot Act is passed and now the

illegal wiretapping issue is going to be made LEGAL????!!!!! WTF. I want the Democrats to leave DC, tell the repukes that they'll be back to clean up their fucking mess when they're finished completely destroying the country. I am so sick of this shit.

[Pacifist Patriot]

43. I missed something. The wiretapping is going to be made legal?

How the hell did they pull off that little miracle of jurisprudence?

[seabeyond]

44. raising hands. and i haven't been on much today

i have only read a handful of posts. and not so much the actual post. the culmination of a week of shit, a week of shit bushcos are getting away with. i look at it more as a collective feel. the energy you and i feel in pessimistic is collective.

and not a paranoid. it is just get so much info on all the lies, abuses, allowing rights to readily be given away

one of the major things that feeds this for me is maher last night seems to imply he is ok with being spied on to get the bad guys, just dont judge he says to nsa. wtf..... why in the world does he think they would do anything other than judge. like call for pot maher, they have you on tape. foolishness, yet here this man gives to nation in voice, just reinforcing dont be pissed they are listening. i am pissed

[Carni]

45. Well..yesterday I was convinced I was having a heart attack

And earlier today I thought I was having a stroke.

I am still sitting here typing and have managed to go about my normal household biz without keeling over so I am guessing it's an anxiety thing.

Let's put it this way...I am not the tranqualizer type (hate them actually) but if I had access to some I would be taking them today

I see no way out of this mess this admin has us in--financially, or otherwise--

I already knew my generation was screwed but he's well on his way to screwing a couple of future generations at this point.

There is no way this country can sustain this I would like to think it can but I don't.

[walldude]

46. It's getting tougher every day

not to go off the deep end. I have been coming to DU less lately. I got a job on the road so I don't have the time I used to. It's a double edged sword though. I get less news and information so I am not as pissed off all the time but then when I get home for a break I feel guilty for not being as involved as I was.

[globalvillage]

48. Yesterday, no. Today, yes.

For some reason the 14 year old being beaten to death put me over the top today. It was the tipping point after dangling on the edge with the port security deal that's hardly being covered by the media.

[Pacifist Patriot]

49. I missed the 14 year old story.

A friend of mine lost her 14 year old cousin to violence in December. I'm not sure I could take another story like that.

[globalvillage]

52. Then don't watch the video.

It's devistating. Beaten by FL law enforcement.
Bastards.

[Greenbeard]

50. I feel the same way today

the pessimism and worry for our collective future is becoming tangible and the inability to change the outcome is suffocating.

However deep within there is still a great beacon of light demanding Hope.

[Twist_U_Up]

51. Thank our wonderfully elected leaders.

They are the only ones right now that can uncover these rat bastards but......................................................................................................................................................................................only a handful are not in the pockets of bushco and big business.

[DemExpat]

53. Check out this good DU post for the more positive perspective

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2467732#2467793

:hi:

DemEx

[B Calm]

54. When things are too overwhelming, I read a John Grisham novel!

[Blue Belle]

55. I've been teetering on one for awhile...

It's pretty sad when politics makes it into my dreams at night, and during the day I find myself openly scowling at drivers with Bush stickers on their car. The worst is when I see the mainstream media take an incredulous line on the Cheney Hunting weekend, but then fall right back into lock step on pushing the President's agenda with every other news story. Politics is everywhere... from the commercials that link our TV shows, to listening to Brian Williams' dissertation on what countries are our friends during the opening Ceremonies of the Olympics. We're being programmed... programmed what to think and told that we're still loved in the world for the stance our Country is taking.

What kills me is that no one asks questions anymore... no one (well, besides those of us on the DU)... they just think that if it's on the news then it must be true. This Administration is guilty of so many things, but most of all they're guilty of robbing this country's citizens on their intellectual curiosity and knee-jerk reaction to question authority. This country is in a tailspin, and everyone seems content to continue on with the status quo and let this plane we're on bury into Terra Firma.

Usually I find hope and encouragement when I check in to the DU... but on days like today, where there is an over abundance of harsh reality threads... where almost every other thread is an "I don't know why this issue isn't on everyone's lips/ the headline on every news paper/ on every news show" issue... where every other personal story is, "How will people live/survive?" or "The Brown shirts are here and thirving"... Where as I write this, the main lead in to the days news accounts on the TV is "Muslim cartoon protests".... It's days like this where I think it wouldn't be a bad thing to pop some Xxanex with a Stoli chaser.

It's not that I'm giving up the fight. It's not that I'm criticizing the important issues being brought up in this forum. It's just that some days are better for me than others... and this happens to be an "Orange Threat Level Anxiety Scale" day for me.

[dogday]

56. Want The Blue Pill Or The Red Pill

Why oh why didn't I take the blue pill instead?

[xiamiam]

57. two days ago i fell apart..went to my neighbors..and began sobbing

total meltdown..after looking at the torture photos...out of character for me to go knock on a door and break down...but that is what this administration has inflicted on us..not just me...because everyone i know walks around with a cloud hanging over their head...its messed up..and it will continue until we do something...really do something...collectively..and stop waiting for a handful of ineffective representatives in congress to do it for us..that is never going to happen...they have no power to stop this..because politics is above decency and humanity in washington..and greed rules...