My father

[KA60]

Having trouble making my frequent call to my elderly father. He voted for the current administration and since the war started I have not been able to check on him. Yes. My father was a factor in the emergence of my ptsd. I had gotten past that but him voting for this administration and decisions that will affect all of us with no insight into it is hard. Apologize for mention politics here too but it is related. I will make the call. Need to be sure to be in control of my emotions first and keep call brief

 

[arfie]

empathy, ka. this happens to me quite allot. my father wasn't on that list because of estrangement, but i routinely find myself using politics as an excuse to increase my social distances from people i have mixed emotions about. talismans and mantras are my most effective therapy tools for dealing with the encounters i can't avoid. "a talisman" being a small, discreet object i carry in my pocket to use as a grounding tool to help me hold steady while i endure the latest political rants. the mantras serve, among other things, as white noise to drown out the verbal vomit.

but that is me and every case is unique.

steadying support while you find what works for you.

 

[Movingforward10]

I have to build myself up to speak to my mother. My father is dead now.

Can you avoid political talk with him? If my mother goes to a topic I don't want to discuss, the easiest way to divert is to ask her a question about something else. Works really well. If I say "it upsets me when you say that", it makes no difference. So diversion is better. As is very low contact.