5 Tips for Coping With President-Elect Trump

By Dr. Michael Oberschneider

Do you find yourself in a state of extreme distress, disbelief and shock in response to last night’s election results? Are you experiencing fantasies of avoidance and escape this morning (e.g., moving to Canada or someplace else)? Do you find yourself painfully reliving the traumatic event with the news as if it were happening again? Does all of this feel like a surreal nightmare to you? If you are experiencing these symptoms, you may suffer from President Trump Stress Disorder – the new PTSD.

Actual PTSD is a serious mental health condition. The distress being experienced by many in this moment is certainly not commensurate with the condition. However, a lot of people are very upset and are experiencing very real distress.

While you may presently feel like things will never be the same or you will never be well again, there is help for you. As a psychologist who will be treating President Trump Stress Disorder for the next several weeks, and in extreme cases, the next four years, I’ve put together a list of things to do in hopes of helping folks feel better.

Do…

…prepare. For any kind of change, preparation is essential, so why not start by making a conscious decision to adopt a more mindful attitude and sense of purpose in response to Trump’s presidency? As the old adage goes, “one’s perception is one’s reality,” and being open to seeing all sides of an issue or topic first takes preparation.

…breathe. Take a few deep breaths to begin to deal with the stress, anxiety and negative thoughts and feelings that have overcome the idea of President-elect Trump. Mindful breathing will help you calm yourself down when you become upset about what just happened. So, the next time intrusive, upsetting thoughts enter your mind, take some deep breaths. Remember some of the other tough moments you’ve gotten through or overcome in life and breathe, breathe, breathe.

…understand. Is it more important to be right about how bad you think President Trump is than it is to be friends with someone you once cared about? You very likely didn’t “Friend” – online or off-line – someone you cared about because of their voting practices, so why “Unfriend” them now simply because you don’t agree with them politically?

Perhaps this is a good time to repair relationships with others that were strained or even ruined this election cycle. As much as you may not get what just happened, the country as a whole just elected Donald Trump. This is a good time to appreciate differences and to mend fences since we are all neighbors, and we need to get along.

…accept. Gaining insight and self-awareness around problems allows you to make the important changes you might want to make in your life, including being more accepting to an upsetting moment. Sure, you can choose to remain angry and upset, but these are negative emotions that aren’t good for your health and well-being. Getting yourself to a place where you can accept Trump as your president and differences in political opinion will lead you to experiencing more positive thoughts and feelings, and you will be a much more agreeable person to be around.

…let go. Deciding to let go of something very upsetting usually takes patience and time, but after working on understanding and acceptance, it will be your next step.

OK, OK so President Trump Stress Disorder is not an actual disorder, but a lot of people are in great distress over Trump winning the election last night. And while being mindful — accepting, understanding and forgiving — isn’t a panacea, and while you cannot control a different outcome, how you manage yourself — internally and in relation to this moment and others — is in your control.

Take deep breaths and…Namaste.

Michael Oberschneider, Psy.D., NCCE, NCPC, is the Founder and Director of Ashburn Psychological and Psychiatric Services. Dr. Oberschneider is also a licensed clinical psychologist and a nationally certified custody evaluator and parenting coordinator. He is a Washingtonian Magazine “Top Psychologist” who has also appeared as a mental health expert on Good Morning America, CNN, WTOP, NPR and other popular news agencies. | Image via Shutterstock