Obsessive Compulsive Election Disorder Takes Its Toll

I'm coining a new acronym. You read it here FIRST!

OCED: Obsessive Compulsive Election Disorder.

In this particular psychological response to variables, the person is unable or unwilling to tear themselves away from media coverage of the upcoming election.

Reports are flooding in from every corner of the country, red, blue, purple and green states alike. Ordinary people with no previous history of repetitive behaviors are suddenly checking polling websites every 1/2 hour. The words Zogby, Gallup, Fivethirtyeight, Rasmussen are now sprinkled in to conversations at playgrounds, coffee shops, parties and after the workout at the Y.

Others find themselves unable to relinquish the remote as they leap-frog between CNN, MSNBC, FOX, CBS, PBS & ABC, looking for the pundits, experts and talking heads with the latest updates on undecided voters from battleground states.

The symptoms of an informed electorate.

More informed electorate for sure, and for some, it's extreme, thus the name OCED, Obsessive Compuslive Election Disorder. Here's some signs that you might be afflicted:

* You check and re-check your favorite post more than twice a day hoping for an update
* You have commented on articles and blog posts using a clever pseudonym
* You can't sleep, worried about the how voters in West Virginia are going to decide
* You've watched Tina Fey more this week than in the past few years on 30 Rock
* You find yourself forwarding emails to every casual acquaintance who expresses even a mild like-minded opinion on the issues
* For the first time ever you understand the term Margin of Error
* You bounce between Huffington, National Review, The Atlantic & DrudgeReport

The side effects:

1. Nausea as events beyond your control unfold before your eyes
2. Headache as you try to understand Confidence intervals and Margin of error statistics
3. Upset stomach from too many Advil and Tylenol swallowed for #1 & #2 above
4. Putting off work related projects to check latest polling numbers from Missouri

Treatment:

* Besides Electric Shock Therapy, most people have found that the best thing to do is to shut down the computer and hide the remote.
* Get out of the house and go for a walk.
* Avoid counting and comparing the number of political yard signs.
* Research shows that when people with OCED volunteer for their candidate, get involved and direct that energy outward instead of inward, they sleep better at night without medication or alcohol
* Optimal treatment is, drumroll here , please: Vote.

***

Are you suffering from Election Anxiety? How has the election impacted your life? Tell HuffPost, and we may just quote you! Tell us your stories using this Survey Monkey form.

Related:

Larry David: Waiting For Nov. 4th
Presidential Depression: Dealing With Post-Election Blues
Election Anxiety: The One Thing Republicans and Democrats Can Agree On

For more posts on Election Anxiety, click here.

Comments

[holland05]

All I have to say is, "WOW, is a nurse really making fun of a mental illness?"


To Cloudy: I'm sorry for the suffering you've endured the last 13 years.

[DuQuoi]

So what is it called when I have the OPPOSITE of your OCED?

I go out of my way to NOT pay any attention to all the bru-ha-ha, will wake up on Nov 4th and see who is left standing with the least muddiest hands and the least amount of bullshit spewing from their mouth! works for me!

[mldeandean]

I actually spent time with my shrink about this. But she didn't have such a clever name for it! Her advice: absolutely no campaign coverage allowed after 5pm. No Daily Show. No Cobert. It was too much.

[ohiostate]

Well now that I know what is wrong with me. What scares me more is the withdrawl that will occur after the election. Sure there will be all the "recap" coverage, but it won't be to the same level.

How will I get my fix.....

[klo]

Finally!!! It has a name. Thank you. :-)

[Thinkingclearly]

I've had it since March!!

And what if this ends in a 269-269 TIE!! And it goes on until JANUARY 6? And there's fight between if the House which only gets 1 vote per state--and a state goes for McCain, but the Dems control the caucus? What if they're pressured into voting for McCain? And then the Senate votes for Biden--because no one could vote for Palin?

The tie situation is pretty easy to see--if NV and NH goes for McCain. And Diebold gets Florida and Ohio to go McCain's way.

[sandrarita]

LOL. Right on. I'm waiting for the election to be over (with our new President Obama), so that I can get a good night's sleep and take a short vacation from being an 'informed citizen'. When Obama wins, I will very proud of my fellow Americans who saw through the fear and smear tactics and crap of the McPalin camp. Whether I will get my OCED treated is another matter.

[childrenfirst]

I too have it. OMG! I've never had an OCD problem in my life. I used to make fun of those who spent hours on the computer or in front of the tube. Now I'm there. It does make me feel better to have a diagnosis - the first step to a cure is to admit you have a problem. Thank God, I'm not alone. Anyone want to start a group? (in person, not onthe computer) What will we do when the election is over?

[Mauimom]

***they leap-frog between CNN, MSNBC, FOX, CBS, PBS & ABC, looking for the pundits, experts and talking heads ***

Well, step one is to eliminate Fox, CBS, PBS and ABC from your searching list. CNN is pretty much of a waste too.

Now, much simpler. Just keep the tv dial @ MSNBC, of course only while Keith and Rachel are on. Much of the rest is pretty worthless.

You're at least one step closer to a cure.

[Leebot]

I came across this nugget by Howard Zinn. It seems relevant:

"One semester, when I was teaching, I learned that there were several classical musicians signed up in my course. For the last class of the semester I stood aside while they sat in chairs up front and played a Mozart quartet. Not a customary finale to a class in political theory, but I wanted the class to understand that politics is pointless if it does nothing to enhance the beauty of our lives. Political discussion can sour you. We needed some music."

[ladydriver]

Hi, my name is ladydriver, and I'm an Obama campaignaholic. It's nice to know that I'm not alone in my affliction and that there is an actual name for it now. ;) I was thinking of starting a 12-step program for it, but I think I'll just go to the local campaign organization meeting tonight instead.

Thanks for a great post. Love it!

OBAMA/BIDEN LANDSLIDE '08!

[terragazelle60]

OMG! I have it...OCED...I do. What am I to do...? I open my eyes in the morning and click on CSpan, Cspan 2,MSNBC, CNN...I lay there as my enabling husband brings me coffee. I cuss out Joe in the Moaning and want to Biotch slap Mika...I wait to hear what Chucky T has to say...then it enters my crazed mind that maybe there is a change in the polls...so I get up and head to the combuter. I check Fivethirtyeight, Realclearpolitics, pollster...then on to DailyKos to check their polls. Then it is back to MSNBC, Cspan, CSpan 2, CNN...just incase anything has happened that got past me. Please I need help!!!

Well have to get ready for the Debate party....arrrggggggg...I...must....check...polls.....help meeeee.....

[obmark]

That reminds me: time to check the polls on realclearpolitics.com.

[wandering girl]

omg - this is me to the max. no wonder my husband is making noises about sending me on a cruise the week of the election. (like we could even afford one with the economy the way it is right now!)

I will say this, though: because of my obsession with all things political this year, I have learned more about economics than I ever did in graduate school. : )

[dzymzlzy]

I've got it big time and I'm driving my friends and family crazy!

[terragazelle60]

My best friend refuses to sit down in my house...so that if I start on politics he can make a quick get away. He tells me I am obcessed....oh really?