[Pavlov's Cat]

Can anyone relate or have any solution? This is about getting triggered by political discussions. I think it might be related to ADHD but I'm not sure.

Sometimes I can't stop thinking about a political discussion on TV if I am offended or disagree with someone, or even if I just disagree with their phrasing. There is frustration in hearing someone say something and not being able to respond to it or get clarification. So I end up just thinking about a response over and over again, knowing that the TV person would probably destroy me in a debate no matter what, because they're professionals and I'm not a great speaker.

ATM I'm obsessed over the discussion around the decision by Joe Biden to select a black woman on the Supreme Court. I don't care about the decision so much as the discussion around it and the discussion about affirmative action in general. I heard someone say why do we all assume you couldn't get the best people by looking solely at one minority such as female candidates only?
My answer to that would be that it's because this assumes that all the best candidates are all within that gender which is obviously sexist as well as incorrect, and that in reality the best candidates for jobs would be found amongst several demographics . . . I don't know if this person just phrased their position wrong or whether they are using a different definition of what the best candidate means, or whether they just feel that the top tier candidates of any group is more or less equal to the top tier of the entire population.

But regardless sometimes I can't stop thinking about this or other things I see on TV that I would like to respond to, but can't. I even go back and think of old interviews sometimes and try to think of responses for those.

[downandlonely]

Many people find it helpful to limit the amount of news they watch. I do find that the news does increase my anxiety, so I only listen to public radio in the car.

With politics, it's usually not possible to get the opposing side to change their minds anyway.

[Pavlov's Cat]

Yes I block news on social media and these days I'm blocking videos as well because most of those are political.

I recommend that everyone else do the same.

[eskielover]

I actually like hearing the opposing views because I can better understand what I am fighting against

[KD1980]

I guess it would depend on what bothers you about their response. Is it because you need them to agree with you? Is it because you just think they are flat out wrong? Does hearing people say wrong things bother you because you think it brings more misinformation in the world? Were they being silly or unreasonable?

[Nammu]

I’m another who limits my exposure to political news. I find verbal news hard so I limit it to captions on tv and printed form online. I top of that I limit how much news keeping it to under an hour a day.

I watch only a little bit of political discussions if it's something that I know that I will agree with. There's one show that's on for 15 minutes that I watch and that's it. I like it because it brings solace to me. I do appreciate hearing another view about something but to me it just seems like people who have a different view than I do never convince me. It's rare that I would change my mind when I hear an opposing view and vice-versa.

I prefer not to argue about politics and any other sensitive issues. It gets me down, even if I feel like I'm winning. It's very difficult to change other people's minds anyways.

[downandlonely]

I only listen to public radio in the car. I understand that it's good to be informed, but I don't think news 24/7 is necessary.

[MuseumGhost]

I think it's very understandable, feeling really upset and concerned about political conversations, especially in view of the fact that we are all part of a vulnerable community, and many of us suffer from anxiety, or anxiety-raising conditions.

The best solution I've found is to limit what I pay attention to. I can really only give it my full attention when I am feeling strong and a bit healthier. And even then, I have to be selective.

Another rule of thumb that's been helping me lately (and it is basic, but bears repeating) is: Do not fret over things you cannot control. Use your energy for the stuff you can affect.

Also, from right out of the CBT handbook: Finally, try to concentrate on all the positives you can find, when you start to feel like you're stuck, or ruminating too long.

[downandlonely]

I've been working on not worrying over what I can't control. It takes practice, but it is getting easier.

[sarahsweets]

I love the news. There I said it. I am a speed reader (thanks for the classes mom) and am interested in everything from science to art to human interest and weird stories. Most especially politics. I never ever argue about it with people or social media. When things took a turn I didnt support I deleted all the social media friends that would start arguments. I also pretty much either broke up with friends or established firmly no talk of politics.
I have a news folder on my phone of 29 news apps. I have liberal, right wing, libertarian, socialist, communist etc apps and media that I read. I will read all the sections. Like now Im reading through the wapo and reading all the popular stories in that section and will move on to world events next. After that its the NYPOST which is opposite politically. I dont read or consume political media to have my own voice and belief reafirmed. I read all sources and come up with my own ideas.

[downandlonely]

I just wanted to add that the main reason I keep informed is so I can have the information in order to vote. I just voted early on Thursday.

[Open Eyes]

I have distanced from the political banter because too much is stressed on having to say things a certain way for approval. It gets very toxic at times and I have noticed how some of these individuals have been exposed as genuinely toxic individuals and have lost their voice or standing in this often emotionally heated platform of political discussions.

I have had exposure to very controlling narcissistic individuals that have traumatized me and have punished me for not following their script. Hence I have distanced from these over emotional discussions and prefer to look for news facts without emotional political leanings.

[Open Eyes]

I think
A person can get sucked into the drama some of these news outlets present with their political leanings. It can get very unhealthy. I had a friend that got so obsessed it was all she talked about and she invested way too much time in it.

My husband has ADHD and absorbs too much of the drama if he watches these high drama news type outlets. So I no longer have them on because I prefer to distance from the negative drama. And actually some of these individuals ended up in big scandals, both leanings. I noticed a lot of hypocrisy tbh.

Be careful how much time you involve yourself in this political drama. It can get unhealthy for your mental health.

[downandlonely]

I totally agree that it can be detrimental to mental health.

[MuseumGhost]

Too much quarrelsome back-and-forth, and bad news, can definitely affect how I'm feeling. I am forever begging people to help shelter me from all of that stuff when they know I'm not doing very well.