blood pressure

Shortly after the election, I felt seriously ill. Weak and a bit like my head was going to explode apart... It finally dawned on me to check my blood pressure and it was 143 over 96. This distracted me from news and I stopped drinking coffee and restricted salt and fat for a few days and my blood pressure went down to close to 120 over 80 after a few days.

Then, I started reading about voter fraud and I started feeling sick again. So, I noticed that all I have to do is pay attention to the news and my blood pressure sky rockets. Stop thinking about it and I'm okay again...

So, my question is, how do you get yourself to be calm and feel good about yourself, while also paying attention to politics?

Detach yourself from reality. Then, try to think of a solution to it all

First of all, NO visual news media for me. This means I NEVER watch the news on TV or any kind of news program. It's the fastest way to stress and high blood pressure. They are talking, spewing shit, but you can't talk back. Talk about frustrating.

That helped TREMENDOUSLY. I get my news from the Latest Breaking News forum here on DU (referred to as LBN). I follow links off of LBN posts to mainstream publications on the internet.

I have found it also helps to cut out commercials, too. Since I cut back on news watching, I also cut back on total TV watching and DAMN I feel better.

It goes without saying not to listen to the mental midgets of AM radio.

Think about it: what is added to your understanding of an issue by listening to the inane Yappity-Yaps on TV chatter about it? Nothing, right? Same thing I found. And the stuff that passes for straight news stories nowdays is a joke.

Check out the BBC website if you want and scan their headlines. I honestly don't trust much mainstream American media anymore.

Take occasional breaks even from the internet if you feel you are getting stressed out again.