ANDREA SCHNEIDER, MSW, LCSW
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Elections and Political Commentary Triggering for Many Abuse Survivors

10/11/2016

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. With all the heated debates in the news and political commentary permeating the media these days, many abuse survivors are feeling triggered by the outrageous acts and horrific verbal vomit coming from the mouth of Donald Trump. As a therapist specializing in narcissistic abuse recovery, I am literally sickened myself that a political party could endorse such a malignant narcissist/psychopath as a potential leader of the free world. It is UNFATHOMABLE to me that this individual continues to be supported in the polls.

 DJT is an individual who brags about sexually molesting women. He hasn't paid his taxes (unlike most hard-working Americans); he is a racist, a bigot, a misogynist, a xenophobe, and a homophobe. And yet he still has people supporting him. Folks, this is how Hitler came to power -- passively allowing a fascist dictator to seize power.

For my clients who are survivors of abuse - whether emotional, physical, sexual, domestic violence, etc...this election season is amounting to tremendous anxiety. When survivors see the very behaviors in DJT (a potential leader of the free world) that their abusers engaged in, it's enough to create trauma reactions like panic attacks, flashbacks, insomnia, hypervigilance, and generalized increased stress and anxiety as cortisol and adrenaline surge through their systems.

What I recommend for my clients and other survivors is to shut off the TV. Be selective with what you expose yourself to on social media, TV, radio. Go on a News Diet. Vote. Go to Therapy. Get Pete Walker's book : Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving  and Bessel van der Kolk's The Body Keeps the Score: The Brain, Body and Mind in Healing Trauma. See a trauma-informed therapist who is versed in psychological abuse/ narcissistic abuse.  Connect with mindfulness practices such as meditation, yoga, and hiking. Deepen your circle of authentic support. Know that with support, you will heal. And in time, the election season will be over with. Nourish your mind/body/spirit with a complete break from the toxicity of what has become a disillusioning and sad commentary on the state of our American political system and the people who follow blindly abusive, megalomaniacs.  Take action. Speak up. Abuse is Not Okay. Not by ANYONE, and ESPECIALLY NOT BY THE FUTURE LEADER OF THE FREE WORLD.

National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800−799−7233  


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    Andrea Schneider, MSW, LCSW

    Psychotherapist

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