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rjohnson@thefencepost.com
I am an avid reader of advice columns. I don’t read the responses, but I do like to read about other people’s issues maybe because it makes me feel better about my own situation. Lately many of the people who are writing to advice columnists are complaining about the political views of their friends and family. Often, because of their differences, people choose to end these relationships. This makes me sad because family and friendships are important and they shouldn’t be thrown away because of political differences.
As many of you know I am a political junkie, but I would never allow politics to come between me and my friends and family. Many of my friends and family members have different political views than I have so we just choose not to discuss these views. There are plenty of other more pleasant topics to discuss.
The problem is that even though I enjoy a lively political discussion now and then, today’s politics have gotten totally out of hand.
So much so that I’ve switched from listening to news and commentary while I am working to tuning into music instead. And I try not to scroll on Facebook as much as I used to because that place is full of political discourse and much of it is vile.
Sometimes we all have to step back from the political abyss and come up for air. I know that is difficult, especially when we have this thing called the 24 hour news cycle, but it’s important for our mental health.
According to NueroLaunch, a website dedicated to psychology and brain science, there is such a thing as political obsession disorder. “Political obsession disorder is not an official psychiatric diagnosis, but it describes something very real: a pattern of compulsive political engagement that generates chronic anxiety, corrodes relationships, and hijacks daily functioning. The problem isn’t caring about politics. It’s when the news feed becomes a compulsion, disagreement becomes a threat, and the election results feel more consequential than your own life,” according to the website.
I don’t know about you, but I know some people who would fit this description.
Like other psychological disorders, political obsession disorder can affect a person’s physical and mental health and well-being, relationships and social life.
I would urge anyone who knows someone like this to seek professional help before they go too far down the rabbit hole.
The warning signs, according to NeuroLaunch are:
Functional impairment — Political preoccupation consistently interferes with work, family, or self-care
Compulsive checking — You feel genuinely unable to stop monitoring news or political content
Relationship collapse — Multiple significant relationships have ended over political differences
Physical symptoms — Chronic anxiety, insomnia, headaches, or physical tension linked to political content
Identity fusion — Your sense of self-worth rises and falls entirely with political outcomes
Intrusive thoughts — Unwanted, distressing political thoughts you cannot control or dismiss
This is a real thing and I hope this information helps.
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