Born on this day!! Actor Paul Hogan is 81. Singer Fred Cash of The Impressions is 80. Actor-comedian Chevy Chase is 77. Author R.L. Stine (“Goosebumps”) is 77. Country singer Susan Raye is 76. TV personality Sarah Purcell (“Real People”) is 72. Singer Airrion Love of The Stylistics is 71. Actor Sigourney Weaver is 71. Singer Robert “Kool” Bell of Kool and the Gang is 70. Singer-guitarist Ricky Lee Phelps (Brothers Phelps, Kentucky Headhunters) is 67. Actor Michael Dudikoff is 66. Comedian Darrell Hammond (“Saturday Night Live”) is 65. Actor Stephanie Zimbalist is 64. Actor Kim Wayans (“In The House,” ″In Living Color”) is 59. Singer Steve Perry of Cherry Poppin’ Daddies is 57. Actor Ian Hart (TV’s “Dirt”) is 56. Singer CeCe Winans is 56. Bassist C.J. Ramone of The Ramones is 55. Actor Karyn Parsons (“The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”) is 54. Singer Teddy Riley is 54. Actor Emily Procter (“CSI: Miami”) is 52. Actor Dylan Neal (“Blood Ties,” ″Sabrina, The Teenage Witch”) is 51. Actor-screenwriter Matt Damon is 50. Actor Martin Henderson (“Grey’s Anatomy”) is 46. Singer Byron Reeder of Mista is 41. Singer Noelle Scaggs of Fitz and the Tantrums is 41. Actor Nick Cannon is 40. Actor J.R. Ramirez (TV’s “Manifest”) is 40. Singer-songwriter Bruno Mars is 35. Actor Angus T. Jones (“Two and a Half Men”) is 27. Actor Molly Quinn (“Castle”) is 27. Actor Bella Thorne (TV’s “Shake It Up,” film “Midnight Sun”) is 23.
THIS DAY IN GENIUS HISTORY
1871 – The Great Fire of Chicago started. That same day in Peshtigo, Wis., the worst forest fire in U.S. history also began.
1869 – The 14th president of the United States, Franklin Pierce, died in Concord, N.H.
1934 – Bruno Hauptmannn was indicted for the murder of Charles Lindbergh’s baby.
1945 – President Harry Truman announced the U.S. would share the secret of the atomic bomb only with Great Britain and Canada.
1956 – Don Larsen of the New York Yankees pitched the first and only perfect game in a World Series.
2004 – Martha Stewart began her prison sentence at Alderson Federal Prison Camp.
2005 – A 7.6 magnitude earthquake centered in the Pakistani-controlled part of the Kashmir region killed more than 80,000 and injured 65,000.
Today Is:Alvin C. York Day, National Depression Screening Day, National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day, National Pierogy Day, National Salmon Day, World Octopus Day, World Sight Day
TODAY ON TV!
Primetime TV (All Times Eastern)
CBS – 8:00 – Big Brother / 9:00 – Young Sheldon / 9:30 – Mom / 10:00 – Star Trek: Discovery
NBC – 8:00 – Connecting / 9:30 – Closer Look Thursday / 10:00 – Dateline NBC
ABC – 8:00 – Celebrity Family Feud / 9:00 – Press Your Luck / 10:00 – Match Game
FOX – 8:00 – TBA
CW – 8:00 – Supernatural / 9:00 – The Outpost
TV Talk Shows
Jimmy Fallon: Eddie Redmayne, Guy Raz, Lele Pons x Guaynaa
Stephen Colbert: Mindy Kaling, John Brennan
Seth Meyers: Jim Parsons, Amber Ruffin, Yaa Gyasi
James Corden: Armie Hammer, Surfaces
Daily Show: The Daily Social Distancing Show
Conan: Judd Apatow (R 9/8/20)
Watch What Happens Live: Mariah Carey
The Talk: Taraji P. Henson, Jay Shetty
Live with Kelly and Ryan: Uma Thurman, JP Saxe
Ellen DeGeneres: Jeff Foxworthy
Wendy Williams: Billy Bush
The Real: Mary J. Blige
Kelly Clarkson: Michael Strahan, Haley Lu Richardson, John Kanell, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Sabrina Carpenter, Zara Larsson
Tamron Hall: Jeannie Mai
Drew Barrymore: Kathie Lee Gifford, Eva Chen, Nadia Caterina
WHAT ARE YOU TALKIN’ ABOUT? Here are today’s PPM-Friendly Topics!
QUESTION: Ever wonder whether someone is WATCHING or LISTENING to you on your iPhone?? Apple sez, “Look for THIS green dot!! That’s the tell!!”
QUESTION: Have we found a NEW USE FOR BOTOX?? This woman couldn’t fit in her boots.. botox made her legs SKINNIER and helps her “walk for miles!!”
QUESTION: Are they making CONVERTIBLE TESLAS?? No.. but this one LOST ITS ROOF on a California freeway!!!! And someone took a video!! Check it out!!!!!
QUESTION: Looking for something in a nice T REX SKELETON to decorate your home?? It’ll cost ya!! This one just sold for $31 MILLION at a New York auction!!
QUESTION: How did THIS happen??? Trump fans come out of the California closet and cause havoc with this sign by the freeway!! Did anyone have a breakdown???
Van Halen’s Widow Opens Up
Eddie Van Halen’s widow has spoken out following his death from throat cancer Tuesday. Janie Liszewski posted a moving Instagram tribute to her late husband Wednesday: “My heart and soul have been shattered into a million pieces,” she wrote. “I never knew it was possible to cry so many tears or feel such incredible sadness. Our journey together has not always been an easy one but in the end and always we have a connection and love that will always be. Saying goodbye is the hardest thing I have ever had to do so instead I say so long, I will see you again soon in a place with no pain or sorrow.” Liszewski, a stuntwoman-turned-publicist, married Van Halen in 2009. Her heartfelt note comes amid an outpouring of online support following her husband’s untimely passing. One of the tributes was posted by his ex-wife, Valerie Bertinelli, who was married to Eddie from 1981 to 2007. She shared a family photo on Instagram, captioned “40 years ago my life changed forever when I met you.” Van Halen bandmates David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar — who replaced singer Roth in Van Halen in 1985 — also took to Twitter to celebrate their late colleague’s legendary life and career.
*********She was almost overlooked as everyone gave their condolences to Valerie!!
******Being a stuntwoman was good training for being married to Eddie!!
Sister Act 3 In The Works
Whoopi Goldberg was a guest on The Late Late Show with James Corden and discussed the possibility of a third Sister Act film. “For a long time they kept saying no one wanted to see it and then quite recently it turns out that may not be true, people might want to see it,” Goldberg said on Tuesday after Corden asked why Sister Act 3 has never happened. “So we’re working diligently to try to figure out how to get the gang together and come back,” she continued. Goldberg was the lead star in 1992’s Sister Act and it’s sequel, 1993’s Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit. “It’s a really fun movie. It’s fun and it feels good and you know, nobody’s mad. It’s just like listen, bad singing, great singing, okay singing and then nuns. What’s better than that?” Goldberg said.
******The new title: “Sister Act 3: You Aint Gettin’ Nun!!”
******Joy Behar will costar as Satan!!
SNL Paid Their Audience To Stay Safe
Each audience member for Saturday Night Live’s season premiere walked out with a surprise $150 check. A live audience of about 100 people attended the NBC sketch comedy show’s debut of its 46th season on Saturday live from Studio 8H in New York City’s Rockefeller Center. New York’s COVID-19 guidelines prohibit live audiences at “media production activities,” including shows like SNL unless the audience is made up of paid cast, crew or employees. Audience members requested free tickets through a third-party website earlier in the week. Sean Ludwig, a freelance writer from Brooklyn, who attended Saturday’s live show said he and his fellow audience members were surprised by the $150 checks being handed out as they walked out the door. SNL distributed the free tickets through the casting agency 1iota, but 1iota’s website did not mention compensation for audience members, prompting the state to issue a public warning Thursday, but NBC maintained that it had followed all the state guidelines and protocols. Some of the free tickets were reserved for healthcare workers, who received a shout-out at the start of the show. NBC was able to count the audience members as employees by paying them, which put the show in compliance with the state’s COVID-19 restrictions, according to the state Department of Health.
********Besides, they were trashing Trump, which exempts them from all other laws!!
******We think every show should pay its audience, even the ones sitting at home!!
******If they had known they were getting paid, they would negotiated a higher salary!!
Meghan Will Never Come Back To The Royal Family
Meghan Markle won’t be returning as a senior member of the British royal family. The claim was made by royal expert/author Penny Juror, who observed that she has been more vocal in recent weeks concerning the 2020 U.S. presidential election. “I can’t see Meghan ever wanting a way back,” Juror told U.K.’s Mirror on Wednesday about the Duchess. “What she discovered in her brief spell as a working member, is the British royal family is no place for someone with political ambition. This centuries-old institution provides an unparalleled platform for charitable work — to change and improve people’s lives — but it is not the springboard for changing the world — however the burning and evident the need.” However, Juror pointed out that she doesn’t see Harry sharing the same political ambitions while living in the U.S. with her. “His passion is — or certainly was — for helping people who were disadvantaged in one way or another, especially children,” she said. “And that was where he was so very talented. Because he had such a difficult childhood, he could empathize with others in a similar boat. He may have lived in grand houses and palaces and been the queen’s grandson, but loss is no less painful because you have Rembrandts on the wall and your granny wears a crown.” Juror claimed it’s Harry’s HRH title that “was the key to moving mountains” in the public eye.
*******Meghan is using that title to further her own ambitions!!
*****Meghan is thinking of running for President in 2024!! (true) So she’d be “President Meghan Windsor-Mountbatten. Duchess of Sussex!!” It has a nice ring!!
*****Speaking of rings, she has a nice one in Harry’s nose!!
****Meghan has offered to come back to England, but only if they make her Queen!!!
Suzanne Somers Has Neck Surgery
While still recovering from a fractured hip, Suzanne Somers recently took a spill down the stairs at home, and she successfully underwent neck surgery. Somers’ message to her fans says: “Thank you so much for all of your concern while Alan and I took a break from our normal schedule. As most of you know, I have been struggling for the better part of the year with a fractured hip, and then Alan and I took an unfortunate fall while coming down the stairs at our home.” She further reveals that, “I had an intense amount of pain after the fall that was not resolving – even after having tequila! After several scans, it was determined I had two vertebrae out of place which was causing pressure on nerves and creating that tremendous pain.” But, “The good news is that I had neck surgery to correct these issues and now I am on the mend! I need a bit more time to recover before I can join you again at the bar for our virtual cocktail parties.”
*******Sounds like those cocktails are dangerous!! Were they drinking before they walked down the stairs??
Crew Defends Tyra Banks
Tyra Banks received praise from the executive producer of “Dancing with the Stars” following Monday’s elimination snafu. Speaking Tuesday to “Entertainment Tonight,” executive producer Andrew Llinares said the show’s new host “dealt” with the on-air drama “amazingly” after she announced the wrong contestants in danger of going home. “I just want to be really clear, this was not Tyra’s fault. It was a behind-the-scenes issue,” Llinares said. Earlier in the week, Banks mistakenly announced the wrong celebrity-professional pair up for elimination on the ABC competition series. She host initially said that NFL star Vernon Davis and dancer Peta Murgatroyd were in the bottom two, but “Cheer’s” Monica Aldama and partner Val Chmerkovskiy were actually in danger of being sent home. Anne Heche and Keo Motsepe were also in the bottom two and were ultimately sent packing, with the 51-year-old actress storming off the set as a result. Banks, who stood up to her critics last month in a TikTok video, also addressed Monday’s blunder on Twitter. “Wowzers. Live TV. Wrong name on cards. So challenging to deal with moments like these. But we power through,” she tweeted.
********When someone in Hollywood says they want to be “really clear,” it means they’re hiding something!!
Ripping The Tabloids (Throughout the week, we’ll give you the stories from that weeks tabs!)
**Please Credit Publication!
John Legend Needs Coach For Marriage-(National Enquirer)
Singer John Legend revealed couples therapy helps strengthen his seven-year marriage to Chrissy Teigen, who’s expecting their third child. “The Voice” coach, 41, and model, 34, are parents of daughter Luna, 4, and son Miles, 2-and John said they keep their romance going strong by “communicating, being considerate, listening.” But he also admitted they reach out for advice. “We go to therapy sometimes,” the crooner confessed. “Every couple who has been together for a long time could use time to talk to a third party to help with whatever concerns they have.”
Spat Sank “Elf” Sequel!-(Globe)
You’d think filming “Elf”-about Santa’s helper-would have been a ho-ho-ho time, but bad blood between star Will Ferrell and writer-director Jon Favreau killed plans for a sequel, James Caan squeals. Caan, who played Elf Will’s biological dad, says he thought the 2003 Christmas classic-that cost $33 million, but grossed a whopping $220 million-was sure to spawn money-making sequels. But “tension” on the set between Will and Jon was bad and their contracts mandated any spinoffs include both, notes Caan. “Will wanted to do it [a sequel],” he says, but “he didn’t want the director.”
Julianne & Brooks: Together Again-(Us Weekly)
Julianne Hough and Brooks Laich called it quits on their two-year marriage in May, but it seems they’ve had a change of heart. Hough, 32, and Laich, 37, “are giving things another shot,” a source says of the pair, who hinted at a reunion on Sept. 26, when Hough shared a shot of herself with Laich’s dog on Instagram. “They’ve both done a ton of soul searching and concluded that there’s too much love there to let it go. The spark between them never went away.”
Vanessa’s $500 Million Battle-(Star)
Family feud! Vanessa Bryant and her mom Sofia Laine, have very different ideas of how to spend the $500 million fortune left by the late basketball great Kobe Bryant. In a TV interview, Sofia cried poor, claiming that her daughter had booted her out of her home and taken back her car. Vanessa fired back with a scathing Sept. 22 statement, accusing her mom of freeloading while failing to be “present or emotionally supportive” in the wake of the January helicopter crash that also took the life of Vanessa’s 13-year-old daughter Gianna. “I see what is most important to my mom and it is beyond hurtful,” she said, noting that Sofia had taken off her diamond jewelry to look less flush for the cameras. Now, a source says, the rift may be permanent. “It makes Vanessa sick that her mom would pull a move like this,” says the insider. “She won’t be used like an ATM and is outraged that her own mom would drag the family name through the mud.” Vanessa adds: “My husband and I supported her for the past 20 years and continue to do so.”
Christina & Ant: Split Turns Nasty-(Life & Style)
There’s no renovating this relationship! Christina and Ant Anstead’s shocking separation has taken a turn for the worse, a source says, after the British TV personality, 41, signed up to shoot a new show inhis native U.K. The couple share a child, 1-year-old Hudson, and while “Ant has promised to fly back and forth from California to see their son,” the source notes, “it won’t be easy with all the traveling restrictions due to the pandemic.” Although a rep for the Flip or Flop star, 37, insists the pair are still on good terms, “deep down, Christina is devastated,” the source confesses. “She thought she’d be spending the rest of her life with Ant, and now he’s leaving!”
One Last thing: Gina Rodriguez-(People)
The actress, 36, stars in the new crime comedy Kajillionaire.
Last time I watched the sunset-
Last night Joe [LaCicero, her husband] and I took a walk and saw it. We’ll do a 10-second video with our eyes; then you can go back in your mind anytime.
Last irrational fear-
We stayed in this Airbnb, and I heard noises coming from the basement, so I was too scared to go down there. When we did, it had a big TV and gym!
Last time I felt like a kid-
Every day. I like to live in that playful space where I’m always curious. I tell my husband, “I’m keeping us young.”
Why Demi Dumped Max-(In Touch)
When Max Ehrich proposed on a Malibu beach on July 22, Demi Lovato immediately said yes. “I knew I loved you the moment I met you,” she told the Young and the Restless actor in her engagement announcement. Max gushed right back, “You are every love song, every film every lyric, every poem, everything I could ever dream of and then some in a partner in life.” The reason they broke up? “Demi sabotaged the relationship,” a source says. “She craves happiness, finally finds it with Max, then burns it all to the ground. She couldn’t handle the relationship.” Another source says she even changed the locks on her home, “and Max is heartbroken.”
STUPID NEWS
Coin Eating Alligator
A Missouri zoo said a Chinese alligator being scanned for possible pregnancy turned out to have something other than eggs inside her body — a large coin. Chris Hanley, assistant director of animal health at the St. Louis Zoo, said in a post on the zoo’s official Facebook page that officials decided to give veterinary examinations to both of the facility’s Chinese alligators when one of them, the female, appeared to have grown and might be preparing to lay eggs. The X-ray of the female gator revealed she did not have any eggs, but did have “follicles” in her ovaries that could become eggs in the future. The zoo said the X-ray also revealed something more surprising, an “opaque circular object” officials suspect to be a coin. The zoo said the object will be “removed gastroscopically at a later date under general anesthesia.”
********Good idea!! You probably want the gator to be unconscious when you start operating on her!!
******How did they know she was female?? The lipstick!!
******Does a female alligator carry an alligator purse??Or is that too creepy??
*****She had coin in her.. so she was obviously going through her change!!
Bear Breaks Into Lodge
An employee at a Colorado lodge captured video of an unusual guest — a black bear — that wandered through the lobby and hallways. Anna Williams, who works at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, said she was working late when she heard a crashing sound in the lobby about 2 a.m. Williams discovered a bear had wandered into the building and now was wandering the hallways. Williams posted video to Facebook of the bear walking around the hallway before she retreated into a room when the animal appeared to become aggressive. “A little while later I heard security come in and chase it out,” Williams wrote. See the video HERE.
********The bear’s room wasn’t ready???
******The lodge has special “hibernation rates!!!”
Longest Legs
A 17-year-old Texas girl earned two Guinness World Records, thanks to her legs, which each measure more than 4 feet long. Maci Currin, 17, of Cedar Park, was certified by Guinness as having the world’s longest legs (female), as well as the longest legs on a teenager. Currin’s left leg measures 4 feet, 5.25 inches long, while her right leg measures 4 feet, 4.87 inches long. The girl said she comes from a tall family, but none of her relatives match her 6-foot, 10-inch stature. Currin said she hopes to someday set the Guinness record for the world’s tallest professional model. See the video HERE.
*******Take me to your ladder.. I’ll meet your leader later!!
******She needs a telescope to see her pedicure!!
******She has legs for days… because her feet are in a different time zone!!
Burpees Record
A Minnesota woman broke a Guinness World Record by completing 716 chest-to-floor burpees in one hour. Stephanie Tennessen of Edina said her inspiration to attempt the record began with a book by David Goggins, who broke the world record for most burpees in 24 hours, and that led to her watching videos of the exercise online Tennessen said she decided to take on the world record for the chest-to-floor variation of the exercise after finding out it stood at 709 in one hour, set by Australian Louise Robertson in 2018. “My boyfriend and I were looking at it, and he was like, you can totally do this Stephanie. I started training, and that’s where the idea came from,” she told KARE-TV. Tennessen said she trained for 10 months before attempting the record Sept. 11, in front of a crowd of onlookers and a panel of official judges.
*********She finished by bench-pressing her boyfriend!!
STUFF THAT’S COOL AND VIRAL
VIDEO: EDDIE VAN HALEN LIVE GUITAR SOLO “ERUPTION”
VIDEO: EDDIE VAN HALEN SITS IN ON DAVID LETTERMAN’S BAND!
A LIST FOR THURSDAY
15 Things Therapists Do When They’re Anxious Watching The Debates
Huffington Post
Practice radical acceptance
It’s easy to become numb while witnessing stressful situations, like the last debate, said Brooke Huminksi, a psychotherapist based in New England. Radical acceptance, a skill from dialectical behavioral therapy, means acknowledging reality, even if it is challenging.
“When certain topics were discussed during the debate, especially those that felt antithetical to my personal and professional values, I radically accepted my thoughts and feelings. This helped me understand and focus on my emotional response,” Huminski said.
Acknowledge your feelings
“I allow myself to fully feel my emotions, but do not let myself be consumed by them,” said Divya Chhabra, a fellow in child and adolescent psychiatry at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. “I understand it is normal to feel anxious and angry, and I am open to other feelings that may arise while watching the debate.”
She practices a technique from acceptance and commitment therapy to accept and embrace her emotions instead of feeling guilty for having them.
“When I find myself heating up during a debate, I check in with the feeling ― as if it is a cloud floating by in the sky ― acknowledge it’s there, and continue on with my day,” she said.
Reach out to your support system
Kristin Meekhof, a therapist and author of ”A Widow’s Guide to Healing,” said she texts a couple of close friends who have the same political views. “It is a way to express my feelings in real time and receive immediate social support,” she explained.
“I was a part of a group chat with 12 family members during the debate,” added Rebecca Leslie, a psychologist based in Atlanta. She found that communicating with loved ones during a tumultuous time not only gave her space to vent, but also helped her feel calm and safe.
Focus on a task that you can control
Given the uncertainty and fear around what the future holds, it is normal to get hung up thinking about the direction of political affairs, said Aimee Martinez, a clinical psychologist based in Los Angeles explained.
“When I feel anxious about the future, I recenter myself in the present and try focusing on what is within my control,” Martinez said. “While watching the debate, I often found myself getting up from the couch and doing small things to organize my living space. This helped me reorganize my mind in response to the chaos unfolding on my television.”
Try the “TIPP” method
“I like to use a technique from dialectic behavioral therapy called ‘TIPP’ skills,’ said Jack Turban, a fellow in child and adolescent psychiatry at Stanford University School of Medicine. The technique represents the following sequence: T for temperature, I for intense exercise, P for paced breathing and P for paired muscle relaxation. The series of actions helps with regulating emotions and cultivating a sense of calmness.
“When I experience intense emotions during the debate, I will take some time to do the following steps: putting my face in ice water for 60 seconds, rapidly spinning on my stationary bike, taking paced breaths, and relaxing and tensing my muscles. After engaging in these activities, my emotions become less intense,” Turban said.
Take deep breaths or smell something pleasant
Research shows that this coping mechanism can quickly reduce anxiety and stress. Jessica Gold, an assistant professor in the department of psychiatry at the Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, is a big fan of this exercise.
“If I get particularly activated with intense emotions while watching the debate, I take some deep breaths with a longer exhale. This helps me stay grounded and concentrate on my breath,” she explained.
She also keeps something strong nearby — like lavender and mint — to engage her sense of smell. This act of mindfulness cultivates a sense of calmness and relaxation.
Go for a walk
“I acknowledge that I cannot control what is going to be said during the debates and survey without judgement as much as I can. But when I hear something disturbing, I take a step back and go for a walk,” said Chase Anderson, a fellow in child and adolescent psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco.
Anderson puts on his headphones and heads outside to embrace the outdoors for a bit. “Because sometimes, knowing when to step away is just as important as knowing when to stay,” he said.
Journal your feelings
“I keep a pen and notepad handy while I watch the debate to write down whatever emotions and negative thoughts I am feeling,” said Babita Spinelli, a psychotherapist and founder of Opening the Doors Psychotherapy.
Taking notes about her feelings allows her to not only understand them, but also document her perspective. “I am a big proponent of using expressive writing to help reduce my anxiety,” she said.
Watch smaller clips
Riana Elyse Anderson, a psychologist and assistant professor at the school of public health at the University of Michigan, does not watch the debate live, but finds it helpful to watch small highlights of commentary afterwards.
“Too much of the content at once will drive an anxiety- and stress-filled evening,” she said. In the days following the debate, she chooses segments to view, which enhances her efficacy and sense of control.
Carve out time for a positive activity where anxiety can’t creep in
“I look forward to engaging in a positive activity after the debate is over, like reading or listening to music,” said Nekeisha Hammond, a psychologist, author and speaker based in Brandon, Florida. This act of self-care distracts her from her negative emotions and shifts her mindset into a relaxed state of mind, she explained.
Alyssa Mancao, the founder of Alyssa Marie Wellness in Sherman Oaks, California, uses a coping skill called cognitive refocusing to bring her attention from negativity to something positive. “When I notice myself feeling overwhelmed or frustrated, I take a break to focus on something positive to ground myself in a semblance of hope.”
During breaks and after the debate, Mancao finds herself doing things that will elicit feelings of joy or calm, such as listening to a guided meditation or watching an episode of her favorite Netflix show.
Use that mute button
Social media can be overwhelming during and after the debate, said A. Chandan Khandai, a consultation-liaison psychiatrist at the University of Illinois-Chicago.
“When watching the debates, and in general during this election season, I’ve been very conscious of whom I follow or don’t follow on social media,” he said. “I go ahead and mute my friends who are super provocative on my feed as I do not need that noise in my life right now.”
Moreover, instead of focusing on the strong opinions expressed in his social media feed, which can be intense, he takes a look at the Twitter trends so he’s aware of what’s going on, he explained.
Do not hesitate to turn off the TV
“I was on the fence about whether to watch the debate, but ultimately I decided to tune in with the plan to shut it off if and when I start feeling aggravated,” said Sherry Pagoto, a clinical psychologist and professor of allied health sciences at the University of Connecticut. Having this boundary upfront helped her control her emotions so it didn’t disrupt her mood, she added.
“About 40 minutes into the debate, I turned off the TV and switched to a more pleasant and relaxing activity so that the aggravation I had felt didn’t interfere with my sleep,” she said.
Vote
Deepika Chopra, a mental health coach, visualizes that she is voting whenever she feels anxious or hopeless during the debate. This coping mechanism cultivates optimism and gives her a sense of ownership in driving forth change, she explained.
“I hold the belief that something good can come out of the action to cast my ballot. By focusing on this optimistic action, I empower myself and inspire others in my network to vote,” she said.
(If you have not already, here’s how you can register to vote or check where your polling place is located.)
Channel your energy into activism
“I’ve been spending time on Get Out The Vote activities, specifically phone banking with voters in the battleground states. These simple activities help me feel in control of what’s going on,” said Nina Vasan, a professor of psychiatry at Stanford University and chief medical officer of Real, an on-demand therapy platform.
After debates, Vasan funnels her intense emotions into civic action to engage with other voters, such as discussing the various options they have to cast their ballot.
“I’ve found that taking action makes me feel connected to others, and builds a sense of togetherness and community that is important for getting through these hard times,” she said.
Limit the amount of political news you consume
In this turbulent political environment, it is important to stay informed but stay sane, said Gregory Brown, a psychiatrist based in Austin, Texas. After debates, he limits the amount of political news he consumes online to avoid feeling overwhelmed.
He takes in information little by little and then pays attention to how he is feeling throughout the process.
“I find the political process both fascinating and stressful, so I listen to my body and mind when it is time to take a step back and walk away,” he said.
The preceding material was compiled and edited by Brandon Castillo. The Editor-In-Chief is Gary Bryan. The Radio Genius Show Prep Service is licensed for use on-air only by subscribing radio stations. Other means of redistribution is forbidden.
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