Other Triggered By Trump

[hodge]

Yeah. He's so outrageous that the news media people follow him and give us every sleazy detail, which is good, but damn, I really want this election to be over with and not have to even hear his name again. He is just a disgusting individual.

 

[Ronin]

Personally I figure dictators & dictator wannabes of anywhere that's my area of concern aren't worth my fear, but infuriating & triggering & head desk inducing & worry bringing, they are.

Goes for Trump in my book, too. Pathetic & dangerous is a dangerous on its own.

 

[hodge]

I think Trump definitely wants to be a dictator, which is why he scares me. We've never had that in this country. But he's said he wants to "adjust" the First Amendment (freedom of speech) so that he can sue media outlets that criticize him. That's just one example.

 

[hodge]

I know this sounds crazy, but this line keeps running through my head and I have to get it out. I've posted this on the Trump thread, but this is my thread. It's really obsessing me.

"how do you like your blue-eyed boy [now]
Mister Death"

-- e.e. cummings
[Buffalo Bill 's]

The whole poem, which is only about a dozen lines and was written about Buffalo Bill, really does kind of describe Trump. Except for the handsome part.

 

[Sideways]

I am totally sick of Trump invading my life.

I get that when elections are on, it's everywhere. But keep it in perspective, yeah? Trump is not invading your life. You can make choices to seriously limit the amount that he's "in your life".

If the partner literally refuses to change the station and limit the amount of election-tv that's on (which sounds a bit unhealthy!!), leave the room, put on some headphones, do a distracting activity. If it's in the newspaper, turn the page. If it's on the radio, put on a cd. And if your tthoughts are totally preoccupied with this man, distract, cbt it, etc. If you've decided who you're going to vote for, there is no reason for the election coverage to be 'invading' your life this much.

If this guy is a 'trigger', in the ptsd-sense, letting him "invade your life" is really unhelpful. Triggers cause us a lot of distress, they're fuel to our bad head space. He reminds you of an abuser (and I'm there with you), but he is not your abuser. He's just a man that is in the media a lot who triggers you. And he doesn't need to be distressing you this much. He really doesn't. When your entering into poetry about Buffalo Bill and it reminds you of him? I'm thinking that this is starting to head towards a bit of a toxic obsession - and is that helpful to you? He is not your abuser. He does not need to be invading your life.

As odious as he is, he is not worthy of the same amount of anger and energy that we direct at our abusers. He's really not. If he's a trigger, that's a good reason to just plain avoid. Avoid like your health depends on it, because it does.

So make the choice, for your own sanity. Thought Diffusion 101: Trump is on the mind again? Thanks brain, but he's had way more airtime than he needs already, next thought.

 

[hodge]

Thank you, Ragdoll!!! I needed that!!! :-)

He is an abuser, though. But, you are right. I need to limit my exposure to him even more.

 

[hodge]

Eh, I so wish Hillary had not shaken his hand at the end of the debate. I was so glad she didn't at the beginning of it. Yuck. Yuck.

 

[Sideways]

@hodge - looking out for each other comes in different forms, and sometimes it helps to have someone bop us one and remind us, "hey! You don't need to be doin that!" I was a bit worried you might take offence, but then I thought this guy, he really is a trigger, and triggers mess with our head bigtime. And this man really isn't worth your energy, and definitely not worth your health.

 

[hodge]

Thank you again, Ragdoll. I am just so freaked out that this creature might become our president. I have no doubt that he already has an enemies list and that I'm on it. He is a dictator in the making. It's horrifying to normal Americans who have never had a dictator in power. I know I'm freaking out and maybe it's not that dire, but I cannot forget how confident I was that W. wouldn't be elected, that people would see how stupid he was and not vote for him. I was so wrong. And so now I'm scared to be hopeful that Trump won't win.

 

[Sideways]

You know what? Him winning is a possibility. Maybe not a great one, but it is a potential outcome.

And this headtrip you're sending yourself on, if you don't interrupt it and take control of this trigger now, you're setting yourself up to be a complete mess if the worst case scenario pans out and he ends up on the tv every night for the next 4 years.

I think that may come across as really blunt, but when I'm dealing with a real trigger, that's how I get. Triggers make me really distressed, so taking charge means opening a can of whoop arse on myself and saying, "Ragdoll, fix this sitch before it fixes you up completely". Trump is a trigger for me, so all my political passion gets the back seat to me just plain looking after myself. Can't afford to watch the tv? Then I don't. The line is really super clear. Can't afford to start getting stressed about him potentially winning and being in my face all the time? Then I bowl that shite outta the park with thought diffusion until he no longer exists in my head at all - not as someone I like, not as someone I dislike. I remove him from my noggin completely.

Last thing any of us want is to see a whole heap of ptsders getting worse because of some guy we never met (and never will). Got enough to deal with already without having a breakdown every time I switch on the tv, yeah?

 

[hodge]

Yeah. My T says that all of her clients with PTSD from abuse are getting worse because of Trump exposure and the high, high stakes in this election. .

Right now I wish we were in NZ :-)

 

[Sideways]

Everyone would rather be in New Zealand!!!