Half of our nation is in shock about the results of the election. If you are happy with the chosen candidate, then I am happy that it worked out as you wished. For those of you who are struggling, you are not alone. However, many people are feeling shock, disbelief and grief. Grief is not just about the loss of a loved one, but also about a loss of expectations, values or hope. Perhaps it is the fear of the future and what will happen to our country. Grief is a process and here are some things that can help you.

  1. Acknowledge and honor your grief. Your gut is telling you something is not right, so don’t ignore or stuff down your feelings. Allow yourself to grieve; cry, talk or journal, whatever is helpful for you. Recognize that grief is a process and will take some time to move on.
  2. You don’t have to go through this alone. I’m guessing you know other people who are also disappointed. It helps to share your grief or difficult feelings with those who have similar beliefs. Reaching out to others and spending time with them is something known to ease some of the pain.
  3. If you don’t feel you can talk to any friends or family about your feelings, reach out to a therapist or religious figure. You need someone who can listen to and not judge your feelings. Often times, just talking about them helps to make sense of them.
  4. Don’t feel that you have to rush through the process. People grieve at different rates. Just because your partner or friend has moved on, does not mean you should judge yourself for feeling down.
  5. Find someone who you like that voted for the candidate and try to understand their point of view, as many people feel the same way. Perhaps question your belief system and see if perhaps you could have been missing some information.
  6. When you are at a place of acceptance, you are able to realize that the unexpected did happen, and that it is out of your control. It is now up to you to decide how you will respond to the news.
  7. Practice self-care. Perhaps you like to do yoga, meditate, exercise, and spend time in nature, time with friends, get a manicure or pedicure. Whatever works for you, enjoy it. Avoid using drugs or alcohol to deal with your pain.

Hopefully some of these tips might help you to move through your struggle. Just remember there are many people suffering with you. If I can help in any way, give me a call at 713-304-6554.

Take care,

Debbie Grammas, Ph.D.