There is such a thing as post-election stress disorder (or PESD) which affects both voters and non-voters. Symptoms include tension, anxiety, worry, fear, and even depression. I know some people who have been losing sleep and crying over the results.
The term was popularized in 2016 when Donald Trump won the US elections.
PESD is not a diagnostic term. The uncertainty and ambivalence over the future may manifest in mental health symptoms. If you are experiencing headaches, gastrointestinal stress, insomnia, and other sleep issues and exhibit this obsession with news and social media updates or angry outbursts, withdrawal, and social isolation, you may have PESD.
It’s necessary to stay active and, as I always advocate, to practice gratitude. Try to avoid dwelling on things you can’t control and engage in imagining worst-case scenarios. If the news or social media is causing you stress, then take a break and disconnect. Maybe it’s time to consider going out in nature to hike or take scuba diving or do something less strenuous like reading a book or meditating.
It’s difficult to stress over the future right now.
In the meantime, I continue the practice of Kundalini Yoga to keep spiritually fit, cultivating the inner energy needed to survive, thrive, and excel in these challenging times.
For the free Tuesday meditation sessions from 5:00 to 5:30 pm, it’s serendipitous that I’m running a series called “Seven Steps to Happiness,” where the meditation focuses on each step each week.
We’ve already covered the first step, which is Commitment. With commitment, all things are possible. You can start by committing to keep your word. Do what you say, and if you do, it is said that the Universe will test you to see if you’re willing to have what you want or easily give up when the times are tough. So when you do pass the test, the energies of the Universe will move to support your Commitment.
As the founder of Kundalini Yoga said, “Life without Commitment is like a flower without fragrance. Life without Commitment is like a moon without light.”
Sharing this chanting meditation for Commitment:
Do this: Bring your hands together in Prayer Pose at the chest level. Focus your eyes at the tip of your nose. The mantra is Humee Hum Brahm Hum (Translation: We are we, and we are one). The mantra is for creative expression. It helps remove fear to allow for authentic communication. Place your hands together in a prayer pose at the Heart center. As you chant each word of the mantra, press your hands together.
It’s been a long fight for a lot of us. However you are feeling now, let us use it to push on. Let us be the light in the darkness, as the song goes.
In loving service,
Rosan
