I Suffer From Campaign Withdrawal
After the election, I knew I should be happy. Not only did my side win, but a year's worth of CNN-fueled dread and anxiety had come to a final end, and I had more free time to enjoy pastimes like eating, sleeping, and watching Food Network. So why did I feel so empty?
I tried to tell myself that what I was feeling was residual disappointment. After all, not every candidate I supported saw a victory party. The CNN gee-whiz holograms were hardly ready for prime time. And gays and lesbians, hopeful that they too could surf the big wave of change, were left on the shore saying, "No, we still can't."
But it felt more depressing than simple disappointment. It felt like the day after a birthday, the circus leaving town, the lights coming up in a movie theater, or the beginning of an episode of How I Met Your Mother when you're just too tired to change the channel. It felt like loss, with even more gloominess ahead.
Then, while reading a local newspaper, I recognized my symptoms in an article about "Campaign Withdrawal."
* Feeling letdown? Check.
* Not knowing what to watch on TV? Check.
* Sensing my life is missing something? Check.
* Seeing Wolf Blitzer in the face of every bearded passerby? Well, that may be more related to something from my childhood.
In the article, Dr. Petros Levounis, Director of the Addiction Institute of New York's St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital -- a man who probably doesn't take his coffee black -- said our obsessions stimulate "pleasure-reward pathways in the brain." He said that following political campaigns can become an addiction, with its own kind of withdrawal.
It's true. I miss Candidate Obama and Candidate McCain. I miss the debate and primary nights. I miss the moronic focus groups and their silly reaction meters. I want David Gergen to be my grandfather.
Dr. Levounis said he'd seen similar reactions in people at the end of American Idol. That would make John McCain the David Archuleta of political fascination, the only association those two can and ever will have.
But at least I know now what I'm suffering from, and that the emptiness will eventually be filled by something else, whether I earn $250,000 a year or not.
Goodbye mavericks, William Ayers, socialist redistributionists, magic maps, and Joe the Plumber.
Hello again, my same old life, this time in a brand new world.
Follow Joel Schwartzberg on Twitter: www.twitter.com/joeljest
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I too thought I was suffering from "electile disfunction" after the Obama win. Especially as it went so quickly back to the usual partisan sniping, and unrealistic calls for Obama to "DO something now". (seriously..he's not the president YET)
But then I realized what it really was.
It's powerlessness creeping back into our collective lives.
For 21 months WE could make a real difference. WE had a concrete way to make that difference in our country, in our world. Obama became a focus for those of us with community service buried in our souls. I mean, a real desire to do something, anything, to make a positive difference in our lives . It was that sparkling fervor that got us labled as "kool-aid drinkers" and people in search of a "Messiah".
And now...WE are all a little lost. WE did it. WE won.
And most of us are sitting back and asking "What now?"
We have found our own power to affect our world. And we are VERY reluctant to let go of it. GOOD FOR US.
It's just a bit harder to find that diamond bright focus to work towards. I'd love to see Obama just giving out a concrete idea to work on, but again, he's not the President YET. And maybe, just maybe, WE need to learn how to inspire and motivate ourselves.
If on the other hand, say Huffington post, were to come up with a list.....
Have a favorite pet peeve or project that you feel must be addressed or something you feel MUST change? Then do what I did, put it altogether and go to change.gov and submit it to Obama. They're wanting ideas from the electorate. They still want to hear our voices, so take the opportunity to let them know what changes you'd like to see made. If enough of us have the same issue, then there might be a good possibility to get it done. And this can include what you want to see done better.
Yeah, but what a relief it's over and it went our way!!!!!
Joel, I relate to what you are saying. But let us enjoy this place in the arc of this country's spiritual life, because hope, courage, gratititude and a sense of well being are spiritual achievements.
This is what I discovered on Sunday as the people of my church prayed for Barack and his family and celebrated the miracle of this new administration: I no longer have a knot in my heart when I think about America. It had been there since Martin was killed, since the depicable slaughters in Viet Nam and the economic injustice of the 1970's and 1980's. This missing knot is something I can definitely get used to, enjoy and celebrate. I am feeling confident, hopeful and optimistic. That is the zeitgeist right now. I am in love with the world, and I am going to enjoy it.
I too, felt a strange emptiness and wistful melancholy the day after election results.
As we all sat there, huddled around our tvs, tentatively awaiting the results -within only a few tension-filled moments- all the hope (and trepidation) I have felt over the growing months, came to a resounding climax.
Yes, the results were everything (and more) I was hoping for. So…why the heavy heart?
Perhaps because: even though we finally have a great, ethical leader at the helm, there still remains the undeniable reality that the storms are severe and the challenges daunting.
And...the undeniable reality is: One person cannot do it alone! The party's over. Now we all must get to work to heal our global wounds!
Yet, because this great man of integrity is now championing for us, I do believe it will be easier to enthusiastically rally together behind him -doing for ourselves...so that we may do for the world!
Being inspired by a great leader can have a powerful rippling affect. I was so inspired by Barack Obama, I wrote this song/video, in support of our children -our future generations! It is my gift of love to the planet. I hope it touches and inspires all who watch it -just as Barack Obama has inspired me! Here is a youtube link to share as you feel moved: -Lynn Zanetta http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gi3VNLhHq4
I thought I was in withdrawal too, but the real work begins
November 5th. It's easier to passively or actively root for 'our team'
but it's harder to help our elected officials get legislation through
that is game changing. That's what is needed from all of the Yes - we - can
team now. We have to stay on top of the issues from here on out or
nothing gets done. The Joe The Plumber / Welfare recipient crowd will
be slamming Obama via Rush and Sean every step of the way, we have
to stay engaged and make a difference. Obama gave us the gift of engagement
in politics, but now we have to support him to as he begins to 'drain the cesspool'.
I am going to watch less TV, Tatertots. I recommend it. There are a lot of great books out there waiting to be read, and the quiet is very peaceful. There are a lot of amusing people out there whom I want to enjoy. Life is good.
I agree. And I mean to get there, but the addiction is still too strong. You can tell because I am still here scrolling through all the articles and comments in my PJ's. Help, is there a rehab with good books and nice people???
I started having that feeling since Nov 5 and I still feel the same way. I am very happy of the outcome. That's exactly what I wanted for me and America. I jumped up and down for God knows how long while screaming. The next day, I could not explain why I felt sad and empty. I feel that my life needs a new course. I went on change.com but somehow it did not feel the same. Suddenly, the Barack that I cared so much about on a personal level, the Barack that I worked so hard for as if he were my Barack, has become the Barack of everybody. I wanted everybody to want him as President. I got mad when people said negative things about him. Now tha he is President, I couldn't be happier for him and America but I feel sad for me. Someone, please get me out of my funk.
Go out and do something for someone else--volunteer in your community--always uplifting.
God !, I'm so glad to know other people are feeling the same way - it's adrenoline withdrawal -
Somehow local politics feels so drab & dull -
I got adddicted to being involved & I want to know where I can be useful to keep the cause alive -
I'm going to look into working with dividedwefail.org or the ACLU or somethin' -
I think being wrapped up in the campaign, the fight and the outcome let you ignore your everyday life. Which for most people, is a sad existence of the constant grind of work, paying bills and mediocrity. Real life is not glamorous and exciting for most people. I knew it would be close to a landslide victory so I never really got too hyped about it. Just keep up with politics, voice your dismay or joy and live your life. It may not be exciting, but at least you are here to experience this wonderment.
The fact that he is the first black president made me happy for those who witnessed first hand the injustice of segregation and overtly offensive discrimination of the time before the civil rights era. I know they were and are still happy to see the first black president. Obama is as much a symbol of freedom as he is a truly capable leader. For that I am happy.
I, for one, am relieved it's over! With visions of McCain or Palin with his or her fingers on the "nukular" (yes, I do know how to spell it and pronounce the word but I'm not sure they do!) button, and the prospect of four more years of (Mc)Bush, I can only breathe more easily.
I can also get back to my musical work which I couldn't concentrate on while this insanity was happening.
And I can stop blogging on this subject, at least for a while.
I want to live election day all over again, with the same results of course but I am having definite withdrawal. I don't know what I used to do before this campaign leading up to this election. I think I used to have a life but I don't remember. Television is useless to me now and I have to actually look through channels to find something to watch instead of going straight to MSNBC everyday, all day, until I went to sleep. Well, it couldn't have turned out better but I will miss the excitement that maybe "hope" really could win and that we "may" be able to pull this thing through. I'll miss "YES WE CAN". But, I'll have to replace it with the excitement of "YES WE DID". Not so bad.
As a public service, I'd like to help the millions of Obama volunteers make it through this difficult transition back to their normal lives with this handy 10-point guide. Mental health professionals always say the first step on the road to recovery is realizing you have a problem. With that in mind:
Top Ten Signs You're Suffering Obama Withdrawal:
10. You start driving your car, end up at your local Obama office and don’t know how you got there.
9. You urgently warn your friends, neighbors, barista and the Safeway clerk that the midterms are only 101 weeks away.
8. You start a phone bank to promote the poodle as First Puppy.
7. Someone asks, “Could you send this memo to accounting?’ and you say, “Yes We Can!”
6. You have children, not for German engineering, but to name them Barack, Michelle, Malia and Sasha.
5. Obama wins by 364-174 electoral votes and you beat yourself up: “Dammit, I could have done MORE!”
4. Someone asks, “Could you pass the salt?” and you say, “Yes We Can!”
3. You skip work to watch SNL election skits online.
2. You only now realize just how dirty your home is.
And the Number One Sign You’re Suffering Obama Withdrawal:
1. You’re wearing your Obama buttons in the shower.
--Robert Mullins, Santa Clara, Calif.
I know this is a joke. However, #2 is accurate for me. I spent way to much time cleaning yesterday.
That was fabuluos. Very creative, and true. What do we do for the withdrawal symptoms?
I also miss debate nights and want David Gergen to be my grandfather. The thing that is bolstering me however....is the we get to keep him....we get to have Barack as our leader. I grew to love him and his family and am so happy that we get to have him at the helm and look to him and his gorgeous ladies to represent US to the world.
If that had not happened, that would have been real depression.
It just seems so unreal....I have never known the words Respect and Hope to apply to the office of the presidency for me.
Withdrawal? Nah. Although I'm going to miss the Obama signs all over my town...
I'm just overwhelmingly grateful this hasn't turned out like 2004. Or December 2000. Talk about seriously depressing. I literally couldn't do anything for 2 days. What a contrast it was this year! I sat up till 3 am grading papers and writing a lecture, but I was so happy.
I for one am glad I don't have to see any more annoying campaign ads for four more years, or have my phone ringing constantly with recorded messages. I'm not a campaign junkies, I guess.
I have to laugh at the content of the comments.
This is me also.... one thing we still are doing is posting comments.
It was not just a grueling 2 year journey, we were still suffering the blistering
effects of the past eight years which included 2 stolen elections.,
WE MADE IT THIS TIME!!!!!
HUGS>>> HOORAY>>>>BIG RELIEF
I think this condition is affecting lots of people!!
Qucik now--we need money to fund both studying and trying to find a cure for this serious conditon!!!!
Here's something funny to cheer you up. Of course it might depress you further because you realize that its not only funny but its also true
http://www.theonion.com/content/video/obama_win_causes_obsessive
Carol
I saw this yesterday. Funny and true =)
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