A few weeks out: have you been dealing with genuine depression since the election?

I don’t feel suicidal, but I’m unmotivated and couldn’t care less about my job or the general course of my life. This has been going on for a while but it’s ramped up since the election.

That's depression, r1.

Yes.

Yes. I really don’t GAF about anything anymore and have wondered how to off myself before things get too horrible.

I’m just worried my pets would be left to fend for themselves.

R4 Stay alive as long as you can and take care of those pets. You'll be dead forever. Why not live until you can't? There must be some good you can do.

More angry than depressed.

Anger is often a major symptom of depression, r6, especially if it's still lasting this long.

Being depressed does not mean you have to feel sad.

Uh, two weeks is a long time for the four years plus that we will all be spending in hell?

I cried on election night and the day after. And I’ve had a few instances recently where I’ve lost it (either anger or tears) over minor things or even for no real reason at all. The only other time this has happened to me was when I was working at a particularly toxic job—I was so on edge all the time that the littlest thing would push me over. I assume what’s happening now is related to the election and really hope it passes once the initial shock wears off. Otherwise it’s gonna be a rough four years.

I’m taking copious amounts of pot, silly!

This has been a weird thing to go through because almost everyone I know is also depressed, yet very few people amiong my friends really want to talk about it because the outlook is so grim. Pretty much most people I know are suffering in silence.

R11 - what's there to talk about? Everyone knows it's going to be bad.

Two items to consider or give some relief:

1) He talks a lot of bluster but he's super incompetent. He hardly got anything done his first 4 years. It's all theater.

2) Mid-terms are in 2 years - it takes awhile to implement the shit that he wants, if they are able to do it - but there's a chance to take back Congress (both Houses) from these charlatans. Then he won't be able to do shit.

I’m trying to figure out the balance between staying informed and taking care of myself psychologically. Not just for me but for my/our young child. Deciding to know what’s going on vs. deciding to thrive.

The struggle is real, to talk in cliché for an instant. Hugs to everyone else in this.

The people I know seem firmly committed to ignoring politics and “getting on with their lives.”

My obsession with it is isolating me because I know they don’t want to hear it, so I keep looking for signs that maybe I feel a little better and can get back to whistling happy tunes. I don’t, though. Not really.

I don’t even anticipate that I’ll get to say I told them so as it unfolds. They aren’t MAGAts. They’re just committed to feeling and behaving as well as possible in the wake of a disastrous defeat and I’m just depressed.

[quote] I don’t even anticipate that I’ll get to say I told them so as it unfolds.

But that's always so appreciated!

The black folks around here seem unfazed as usual, nothing seems to change, no outrage at all Eldergay is devastated, he walked around saying we got this and I said, that's the same thing you said about Hilary, just before the election he is it, just like that rabid retarded cunt that showed up here saying the same thing. Can someone find that post? He underestimates the fickleness and retardedness of the American people, you push too hard and people get scared, it seems very unstrategic to me.

R12 I no longer trust the American electorate. Maybe he doesn’t do anything. Maybe we have free and fair elections in 26 and 28. Will the people wake up and finally see that he’s full of shit and everyone around him is a criminal, sexual abuser and/or grifter? I don’t trust that they will. I think it would take a devastating 08 recession or a terrible attack on us that is a direct result of a Trump action. I’d rather not have either. If the country remains relatively safe, peaceful and prosperous MAGA will not die in 28.

There's no guarantee my right wing friends will go 'huh' or 'oopsies' if and when Trump starts doing stuff that's horrible, all the Project 2025 stuff.

Frankly, many of them will say oh, it's not that bad. The same ones who bitch about gas prices say that women can just drive across state lines to get an abortion. They pro-life folks use the line about how abortion is a lazy birth control method and that libs want to abort kids outside the womb.

In cases of 11 year old girls being raped and being forced to carry their rapist's baby, right wingers say that oh, that never happens.

I've never met anyone whose mind has ever changed. Except maybe my own. Worrying and getting angry and making myself sick will change nothing. I'm just going to try to take care of myself and get ready to go all Bobbi Adler with an I Told You So dance someday.

Seeing similar on social media, R16. There was a post on Nov 6 from a friend of mine, older Black gay man, simply “smh that all my white friends are in shock” and it set off a lot of intense but worthwhile dialogue. With a nod to history, clearly Black people can be forgiven for having little faith in the collective “American people” and how they’ll vote.

Well if you were worried about a US war you would not be fighting in then relax. Biden takes us closer to war and trump farther away.

And once we are out of nato we won’t be sending troops to fight in Europe.

Mexico, LA, places like that is where you might see US troops deployed

The country has changed and DL still talks about 2028 like it will be a normal election.

Some good points raised. The final weeks of the election had tight polls but most people from far left to never Trump had settled on “she’ll pull it off because the American people cannot be that stupid”. Every day he’d threaten another group, fellate a microphone, sway to Ave Maria, fantasize about military tribunals and firing squads or tell a blatant lie. Every talking head would express outrage but they all had that “the American people cannot vote for this again, she’ll hold the blue wall” attitude. Well, they are that stupid. And that selfish. And that myopic. And that uninformed. “Did Biden drop out” was a trending search at noon on election day.

Vance ended his campaign calling Ms Harris “trash”. I think a lot of people are coming to terms with who we really are because we thought we were better. But nope. “We” handed the country over to the most perverted, morally bankrupt men alive - because eggs are too expensive.

Depression and extreme anxiety.

Thank you for that good catch, R15.

What I meant to convey was lost in the tone deafness introduced by writing and the consequent loss of sarcasm. To be clear: I don’t know anyone who would have voted for Trump and, thus, have no one to whom I might look in the eye and suggest that they have no right to complain when Trump’s plans make life worse for any of us AND THAT’S A GOOD THING. I’m lucky in that.

I don’t want to torment people who did NOT contribute to Trump’s taking the White House.

I thought all of the deaths from COVID would change people's minds about masks and vaccines - it didn't.

They live in an alternate reality. Anything bad that happens will somehow get blamed on the Dems. Watch.

I think it's time to separate - there's no way to keep a relationship going with half of the country and a political party that actively lies and acts in bad faith, treating the rest of us like suckers.

Depression, anxiety, and absolute rage that I can do nothing with. I find myself sitting at work thinking "what the fuck does this even matter."

R21, your post should be an editorial in the NYT. Fabulous.

I was depressed about the election but then a guy was murdered on my porch and spent his last moments banging on my door begging for help while he bled out so now there's that.

I was really depressed prior to the election but now ive come to peace with a lot of shit and im not going to let Trump 2.0 bring me down.

My depression has been growing steadily worse this fall, even before the election. The election did absolutely nothing to help, though.

How are you all doing?

Life is too short to be consumed by this shit. I'm exhausted by the constant hysteria and outrage.

Moving on.

I’m becoming angrier, actually, and I’m trying really hard to find humor in anything, so I find myself just focusing on my dogs and my family and my community while trying to figure out how to fight back.

Much more angry in general and EXGREMELY irritable about minor stuff. I find myself staying away from people and I no longer am the one to initiate greetings, small talk, conversation. It's kind of a secret, heavily concealed 'FUCK EVERYONE' attitude. 'THE HOLIDAYS' are only making this worse.

Me too, r32. I was on a plane the other day and the woman in front of me started to recline her seat as soon as we began taxiing to the runway. The same thing has happened on a few other recent flights, and I wanted none of it. I pushed my arm out to prevent her from reclining. She spun around and tried to tell me her "seat was broken." I was in no mood, but my reaction -- physically preventing her from reclining -- frightened me a bit.

here, bishes

Why this is bad news for the Harris/Walz 5K new years run.

I just had my SSRI upped (I was taking the minimum dosage) so I'm hoping that helps.

I have pure apathy for the larger world.

School shooting? Don't care.

SCOTUS makes it illegal to breathe air? Don't care.

New Defense Secretary is a meth head who murders puppies? Don't care.

Measles makes comeback and kills millions of kids? Don't care.

I don't care. At all.

I quit watching any news program. I no longer read the Times (LA or NY). I don't watch The Bulwark or David Pakman or anyone. I refuse to turn on NPR. I have no desire to hear people whining or blaming or anything like that.

Instead, I am reading novels (new and old), watching cool TV shows and movies, playing guitar, finally writing that novel and going for more walks and runs. America is over as we knew it. And the decision to murder it was made with the full volition of its citizens. So the good guys lost. The bad guys won. And this is a new form of bad guy. We ain't coming back from it.

So whatever happens isn't about me or my wishes or wants, so I am gracefully bowing out of giving a fuck. But I won't be "depressed". I am just going to do what they always do: Take care of myself, my family and my friends as best I can.

[quote] But I won't be "depressed".

Most people don't have the luxury of simply willing their emotions to be a certain way.

I’ve pretty much said “fuck it” to the whole situation as well. Stopped watching any news, stopped reading news sites. Of course, a lot of the crazy filters down, but fuck it.

I was aware of the looming shutdown, as my manager called to tell me we are “nonessential” and wouldn’t have to work if the government shut down (we HAD to work without pay when the dumb cunts shut it down in 2018)

Now I don’t care. He starts round up and deporting Latinos, Muslims, Indians and I’ll tell them they voted for it so STFU

What little sympathy and compassion I had is gone. My sympathy and compassion is for MYSELF because I need it.

When your country fails a national IQ test, naturally you’re depressed.

I already feel like 2025 is a lost cause, especially the first few months when our "new normal" sets in.

I know people who've unplugged from the news since the election. Some of the nightmare goes away if you back off reading X all the time, etc.

I've pivoted to looking forward to the 'but I can't afford groceries' crowd getting screwed over. I want MAGAts to suffer and there's a good shot of some buyer's remorse and tears ahead.

The thing is, r42 ... they never will. They will never admit they have been conned. They will never blame Orange Jesus for ANYTHING bad that he does that harms them directly or indirectly. Never. They will die far, far sooner than they ever look inward and dissect their own terrible choices.

Look at how many MAGAs died at the height of COVID because they loved Trump, hated Fauci, hated masks, and hated vaccines. They STILL believe COVID was a hoax -- the ones who lived, anyway.

[quote]genuine depression

As opposed to snarky and deviously disguised depression?

[quote]As opposed to snarky and deviously disguised depression?

No.

As opposed to just being sad for a day or two it didn't go the way you wanted.

When we were in our late 20s, we had a lot of fun. Our country, not so much.

I have a sense of impending doom and have been spending too much money. My other major feeling is embarrassment that we elected this fucking odious carnival barker—twice!

We would never be The Greatest Generations. We would have spent WW2 depressed, scared, withdrawn, and sad.

I'm more depressed that the market spike around the election has been wiped away and my investment accounts are now down a shitload of money - 5%.

If I have to put up with this bullshit presidency, I want to have a lot of money to ease my pain. I can't take both poverty AND this idiot in office.

My partner asked me today if I was ready to hang out with conservative friends and family members yet. Like the time between Election Day and now was just me taking a time out.

It wasn't and I'm not. Disassociating with people I know voted for Trump has been a godsend. Ican't recommend it enough. Sure, it's occasionally awkward but I kinda dig that. It SHOULD be.

I wish moving to Ontario were as easy as moving to another state.

I feel like a lot of people are exploring how to be unshockable

[quote]Disassociating with people I know voted for Trump has been a godsend.

Well sure.

Disassociation tends to be a very good way to escape from life.

Yesterday, I made a list of all the things that are contributing to my depression. (I am r29, above.) I have struggled with depression for 2/3 of my life, sometimes seriously so, and this is perhaps the most proactive I've been, rather than just waiting for the depression to lift on its own, which it always does eventually. I only wrote down things that were in my control, such as "lack of exercise" and "excessive time online." I hope to take small steps to change my lifestyle in some of these areas, which hopefully helps with the depression. Honestly, when I am seriously depressed, I spend almost all my waking hours trying desperately to feel even marginally less depressed. It's a long, exhausting, seemingly endless battle.

Get our of your own head. Think about other things/people. Do things for other people. Care about other people.

It's not that hard.

Depressed people some almost life long depressed people spending their time on the DL so they can spend all their on line time with other depressed unhappy people.

Sounds like the DL Plan for Good Mental Health.

I live in a very "Christmasy" area, and only a short ride to NYC. Used to go see all the traditional sights and markets and decorated houses and Rockefeller Center and Bryant Park and more. This year nothing. Just feel like sitting on my couch (okay, lying down), watching television.

Hence, r56, "Misery loves company."

[quote]It's not that hard.

Spoken with the smugness of someone who've never been seriously depressed.

R58 misery like to wallow in misery with other miserable then complain they are so miserable and then they get life advice from the rest of the miserable.

Wow, r48. Way to scorn the Conflicts in Korea and Vietnam and the dead and wounded. Oh, and never mind Iraq and Afghanistan.

I'm not denigrating at all my father's WWII generation; he earned Silver and Bronze Stars in the Battle of the Bulge in their (and our Allies') defeat of Nazism. But several following generations also served at their mortal peril.

R60, There but for the Grace of God go ye.

And pride goeth before a fall.

I was as close to suicide as I've ever been for 3-4 weeks after the election.

But after I started to put my expat plan into action, it slowly lessened. Now I'm not even considering it. Which is good -- because I'm at the max dosage of my anti-depressant and this is absolutely [bold]not[/bold] a good time to try to switch to something else.

Currently, I'm so busy trying to get my shit together before I leave for Panama next week -- I have to clean my place (which is filthy, even for me), go out and buy something dressy and lightweight to wear to the embassy, and prepare my dog's food for when she goes to the local kennel. Yada yada yada.

But at least I'm no longer wondering if I'm doing the right thing by getting the Pensionado Visa. Christ, the MFer isn't even president yet and the shit's already hitting the fan.

My view on Trump has been a little different than some on DL. He sucks, but I don't think he's going to be Hitler this time around and we won't end up in camps. I don't fear him. And I am not suicidal.

But I am SO tired of the man. Exhausted. He's been on the front page since 2015. His presidency, then all the scandals and trial during Biden's and the next race, and now as President-elect.

The Panama Canal shit is a prime example of why he's so infuriating. Not even Putin would start at that level of "negotiation" if he were in Trump's shoes. And that's because Putin, while a thug, is not an idiot and doesn't just do random shit. Trump is constantly creating drama where it doesn't need to exist.

I won't move, but I did consider it the past few days. Not for my safety. But just because I'm so fucking tired of Trump, Trump, Trump. I'd really take almost another politician right now as POTUS just to not have that man be the center of American life for another four years.

I may have to tune out completely for my own sanity. But it's hard to do that and still be informed on other news because BAM he's always there doing something that gets the top of the page or a breaking news alert.

*Almost any other politician that should read at r64.

R38 I am not talking about clinical depression or dysthymia or generalized feelings of sadness or any other mood disorder that is diagnosable.

I am talking about the very situational, often ephemeral, frustration "caused" by the results of an election.

I believe we very much do have a choice in how we let those sorts of feelings dictate our daily life. At the very least, we can learn to manage them in a way that is healthy and most beneficial to our own well being.

Good on you, r54, for taking charge of your situation and taking steps to do what you can.

I hope you are feeling at least a little sense of control.

Good luck to you and I hope you keep it up!

I'm in a "wait and see" mode as Trump has been known to back out of his campaign promises. Also hoping that the Republicans will collectively grow a spine and not let some of his stuff through.

[quote] [R38] I am not talking about clinical depression or dysthymia or generalized feelings of sadness or any other mood disorder that is diagnosable.

[quote]I am talking about the very situational, often ephemeral, frustration "caused" by the results of an election.

So, the thread is explicitly (even from the title) about [italic]genuine[/italic] depression, and yet you read it somehow as about "very situational, often ephemeral frustration."

What is your deal?

Thank you, r67. I cleaned my apartment today for the first time in a few months. I am usually fastidious, and it had gotten bad. I feel a little bit better now.

[quote]Spoken with the smugness of someone who've never been seriously depressed.

False. I also work on a crisis hotline. We have many chronically depressed and anxious callers. The overwhelming majority of them can't get out of their own heads and won't take any concrete action to improve their situations. They're wedded to their mental illness.

[quote]False. I also work on a crisis hotline.

Although my bullshit meter reads "false," if this were true, it would not inspire confidence.

I was feeling very down and then I woke up and remembered what a complete failure Trump was the first time, and also that he will very likely be an even bigger failure this time as he's made so many grandiose promises he won't and can't keep. Plus, he's surrounded himself with criminals, incompetents, and fame seekers who are going to bring his administration down like a hot rock. Then I started coming out of my funk because it's going to be fun to watch them all fail. There may be some wins for them, but overall they will crash and burn hard.

R73 you may not realize but what you see as Trumps complete failure was Trumps popularity in the US, as measured by surveys, going up from 2016 to 2020 and then up again to 2024.

My guess is that trump is more popular today than he was on election night. Winners have a tendency to attract while losers don’t.

Betting that Trump will crash and burn. Years after the pussy grabbing tape . Don’t bet real money.

I didn’t get upset at all. I was always hopeful, but I thought Nate Silver’s map and analysis about how Kamala had stalled at 45% in October was going to be correct, and it was.

Kyle Kulinski posted a map of Kamala winning Iowa and Florida. 🤣 That’s when I knew we were fucked.

I hope everyone has learned their lesson about David Packman, Meidas “IT’s OVER” Touch, TYT, Kukinski and Farron Cousins. There isn’t much money to be made in telling your audience the truth.

That’s right, r74.

It reminds me of Faye Dunaway’s line in Network about how America is looking for someone to articulate their rage.

I don’t like it either, but he’s more popular now than ever.

Trump has already started laying the groundwork for one of his failures, the price of food in the markets. He said recently that "it's very hard to bring down the cost of food". This is after all his grandiose claims that he's going to do just that.

As as usual I fully expect the mealy mouthed democrats to never utter one word about all his failures as they happen. They expect the voters to magically see the truth.

Idk, r77, Jeffries seems willing to throat punch these cunts when they start lying.

He was calling them out about their bullshit over the government shutdown.

Pelosi always wanted to sugar coat shit or say something in a way to not upset the thugs, but Jeffries seems to be willing to take the fuckers to the mat.

Now, if we only had someone in SENATE leadership who did the same, things may get interesting.

We need people to call it like it is. We need people to start calling Trump Vance MAGA weird. That is the key to keep reminding america that they are weird. Not senile. No senile is a word the Dems should stay away from.

I think a lot of people in Congress are just scared to call Trump out at a level they should because they know he's insane and capable of doing almost anything to make their lives miserable. Don't ever think that if things got bad enough that Trump would never resort have having a hit put out on someone. He's just that crazy. And remember he has a history of dealing with the mob, or what's left of it. Plus he is delusional enough to actually think he can do anything and still be untouchable. I believe he has periods when his insanity increases dramatically, possibly from drug use. But one thing I'm still relatively sure of is that he will never make it through a full 4 year term. His people will attempt to hide his insanity, but the day is coming sooner than we think that the whole world will see he's clinically insane.

[quote] We need people to call it like it is. We need people to start calling Trump Vance MAGA weird.

Because that worked out so well for Kamala. It didn’t work.

[quote] Jeffries seems willing to throat punch these cunts when they start lying.

Jeffries is a non-entity and completely ineffectual. The American public doesn’t even know who he is.

R81 of course it worked. Listen to the progressives telling us how historically close the election was. It’s almost like we won the WH, the Senate, the House, the race was so close and all because our approach was to call them weird. And Nazis. and criminals as well.

Harris Waltz 2028 They Are Not Weird

Harris Waltz 2028 We Are Not Convicted Criminals

Harris Waltz 2028 Federal prisoners and children should…..( ok maybe not that one)

I think the bigger moment is going to be (and it will happen) when marriage equality is overturned.

And it will.

You see a bunch of gay influencers on social media, who live in Tennessee, Texas, Florida, ect….that will change. You will have to move to New England or the west coast to have your marriage recognized.

That will be when people realize what exactly has happened.

Course for millions of immigrants who are “lost” or “misplaced” in the camps during the roundups….everything happened much sooner.

Two weeks ago i got into a huge argument with my Republican sister who lives in Florida and i told her I never want to speak to her again. I had a similar fight with my eldest sister who lives closer to me in California. She’s also s Trumpster. Now i have no family in my life. We usually put politics aside and have a pleasant holiday season but this year is different. I just can’t draw the line. Now i’m so fucking depressed and haven’t slept for days.

R85, I’m really sorry. I didn’t break things off with my Trumpy parents in 2016, but the relationship never recovered. It wasn’t even about politics, it was that they proved how little they believed in the Christian values they bludgeoned me with growing up. You need to protect yourself.

R85 R86 I’m sorry. I know it’s always cliche to talk about “found family” and all of that stuff and some wounds never heal…but know you are worthy of people in your life that don’t vote against you.

[quote] The black folks around here seem unfazed as usual, nothing seems to change, no outrage at all Eldergay is devastated, he walked around saying we got this and I said, that's the same thing you said about Hilary, just before the election he is it, just like that rabid retarded cunt that showed up here saying the same thing.

I was only ever fazed by Obama becoming President. I just did not imagine it ever happening. Obama's campaign was an exhilarating ride but I was convinced we'd be disappointed on election day due to "The Bradley Effect." I was excited by Harris' candidacy but I knew she was running in Biden's shadow, and I was already convinced Biden would lose. Still, I was optimistic about Harris and those were the best 100 or so days of 2024.

Ultimately, I always expect white people to be white people. My schadenfreude is reserved for the POC who voted for Trump, or didn't show up to vote for Harris.

[quote] Anger is often a major symptom of depression, [R6], especially if it's still lasting this long.

Anger can be very motivating. It can have a positive impact.

[quote] I'm more depressed that the market spike around the election has been wiped away and my investment accounts are now down a shitload of money - 5%.

I still work so I was relieved when the market tanked. I didn't want to pay taxes on gains that would be lost in 2025 when Dump & co. push us into recession.

Marquette U poll from six days ago

Those that approve of Trumps first term is 53% of respondents.

Those who approve of Trump today also 53% of respondents.

Bidens approval rating 32%

Most of the country does not care even a little what us who post on DL have to say. The country is actually happy or more happy.

[quote] Jeffries is a non-entity and completely ineffectual. The American public doesn’t even know who he is.

???? The American public are proven idiots. Trump, Mike Johnson and Elon Musk certainly know Jeffries.

R91, Americans’ opinion of Trump is through rose colored glasses. Biden was at 57 percent at the beginning of his term. How did his approval turn out? And, as r91 points out, Americans are proven idiots.

Rose colored glasses

I remember all those many months many on DL where so many downplayed the polls that showed this a close race. In fact if you had said this was a toss up race or worse that trump might have a lead you would have been called a Boris who loved trump.

Idiots ? Or just Rose colored glasses?

This would be a perfect week to tune out politics and see if it makes you feel better. Even politicians take a break from politics, as many indeed are doing this week. Don't get into a pointless spat on social media while your elected representative is on a ski vacation and chilling out in a cabin. Try to relax, too.

[quote]Those who approve of Trump today also 53% of respondents.

That figure further proves that a lot of the American people are straight up trash. Anyone who would support a corrupt narcissistic felon and pathological liar to lead their country has a screw loose. We should never try to normalize them or Trump, because they aren't normal. These next four years will be a harsh lesson in why you shouldn't ever empower an incompetent, unqualified candidate and political party to govern and sadly, the only way that will happen is if democratic principles we've been used to are truly compromised. And there will be no one left to blame but themselves.

I hate it, but In a weird way, I’m relieved because it’s here and no longer looming if that makes sense. They control all three branches of government, so it’s entirely on them. I’m hoping it’s such a clusterfuck that people get the cult out of their systems. Harris winning only would have delayed the inevitable. MAGA is the culmination of the Southern Strategy going back decades. It wasn’t going to go away with a Trump loss. I’ve gone from being down to being stoic, realistic and aware. The Democrats are a shambolic mess, and no one is going to step up to save us. It has to collapse from within. Glad I don’t live in the USA anymore, but this is going to impact the entire world besides just Greenland.

With all respect, r97, it’s a little tone deaf to say “let it burn” when you don’t live here.

I knew when he had rallies in our city we would be left with the bill.

^^^I guess he thinks Kent County needs to be punished for sanely voting 52%-46% in favor of Kamala Harris, so he can't find the extra funds. Asshole move by a professional asshole.