Did you wake up Wednesday morning wondering if you’d had a bad dream?
You didn’t. The U.S. election is over, and while a lot of people are rejoicing over Donald Trump‘s win, many others are devastated by the results. Some may even be a little depressed about them.
Shimi Kang, a Vancouver-based psychiatrist, calls it “post-election stress disorder.”
“There’s a lot of emotion that is wrapped around this…For some people it’s a very big loss.”
The election outcome may even trigger the stages of grief in some individuals, Kang says.
We’ve all seen the first stage — shock — during the election broadcasts, as political experts struggled to come to terms with the outcome polls hadn’t predicted.
Then there’s denial.
Anger is next. People are mad at the voters, angry at Clinton’s campaign and wondering, “how can we get this so wrong?”
A sense of depression and hopelessness often follows before the final stage, which is acceptance.
Kang says there are three common reactions to stressful situations:
- Freeze (debilitating anxiety or sorrow)
- Fight (anger)
- Flight (checking out and turning to alcohol or drugs)
There are also three healthy ways to cope:
- Play (doing what you love or taking up a hobby)
- Social connections (talking to family and friends about your feelings)
- Downtime (getting enough sleep, taking a break from news, spending time with your family)
Each should be done in balance.
Given that advice, here are six suggestions for how you can bounce back from your election hangover.
1. Take comfort in knowing you’re not alone
2. Watch away your pain
Whether it’s cute puppy posts on Instagram or funny cat videos on YouTube — there’s nothing wrong with indulging in a little distraction.
In fact, Indiana University researcher Jessica Gall Myrick even found scientific proof it’s time well spent.
WATCH: Viewing cat videos is good for you, according to researchers
If adorable animals aren’t your thing, though, there’s always Netflix.
And there’s a whole batch of new goodies on there this month.
WATCH: Some highlights of what to binge-watch on Netflix Canada in November
3. Meditate
Just breathe…and let it out.
Whether you meditate or practice mindfulness, both can help shake off negativity.
WATCH: Monk helps unlock the secrets of meditation
Mindfulness, which is sometimes compared to mental strength training, can be practiced while washing dishes, driving to work, brushing your teeth and during other routine tasks. The point is to prevent your mind from wandering and projecting fear or worry.
You want to be able to train yourself to accept and enjoy the moment, regardless of the circumstances.
If you’re new to it, experts suggest starting with a teacher or one of the numerous apps or online videos.
Headspace‘s popular app offers 10-minute guided meditations, while the 1 Giant Mind’s free app includes sessions of up to 20 minutes with a guide, music or silence.
4. Treat yourself
Maybe you’re tempted to eat away your sorrows with some cheesecake.
Or perhaps you feel like you need to sleep the sadness off.
While there’s nothing wrong with either of those in moderation, you might also feel better doing a little trip planning.
WATCH: Did you know Canada was named Lonely Planet’s best destination for 2017?
There’s no time like the present to map out next year’s travel, which is bound to lift your spirits.
5. Be grateful you’re Canadian (or join the masses trying to move to Canada)
We have a lot of things going for us in Canada — like reproductive rights and freedom of religion, just to name a couple.
So it’s no surprise a “proudtobeCanadian” hashtag was trending on Twitter Wednesday.
Americans are lining up to join our great nation.
As Trump began to lead in election results Tuesday night, Canada’s Citizenship and Immigration website crashed and searches for one-way tickets to Canada skyrocketed 133 per cent on Cheapflights.com (that’s twice as much traffic as there was over the past four Tuesdays).
Some already started the lengthy immigration process, which (FYI) can take more than six months and cost CAD$6,000.
6. Focus on the positive
The American dream means anyone — even a reality star with no political experience — can become president.
As hard as it may be for some to comprehend that, it’s important to remember the will of the people made it happen.
It’s the double-edged sword of democracy, which has to be respected.
Whatever the consequences of that decision may be, Kang suggests using any frustration you may feel over the election results and channeling it into something productive.
If you’re worried about how America’s decision may impact causes you care about, Kang says you may want to consider joining a group or volunteering.
“Take action.”
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