2008 Woodie Awards
Election pains some
Doctors help with treatment
Stefanie Quashnick
Issue date: 12/10/04 Section: No Limits
- Page 1 of 1
An epidemic has hit the United States, leaving countless Americans no one to turn to, except for their psychologists. The name of this thing inflicting the U.S. is called Post Election Selection Trauma (PEST) or Post Election Stress Syndrome (PESS). Citizens that have the most problem with this disability are Democrats, due to the fact that John Kerry lost the presidential election. The Democrats are stressing themselves out at the thought of having George W. Bush as president for another term. With PEST popping up from place to place, so are help groups for their needs.
Doctors have begun treating these patients using anti-depressants. Palm Beach, Florida trauma specialist Douglas Schooler has already treated 15 clients and friends who have the syndrome. "I had one friend tell me he's never been so depressed and angry in his life," Schooler said. "I observed patients threatening to leave the country or staring listlessly into space. They were emotionally paralyzed, shocked and devastated," he told the daily. "It's like post-traumatic stress syndrome, but it's a short-term shock rather than a childhood trauma," he said.
The numbers are in the thousands of Americans who have been diagnosed with this disorder and many of the people with PEST have had it seen the election back in 2000. There are even websites available to send a person to any country they wish for free, but the catch is people wanting to leave have to sign a contract saying they forfeit their citizenship as an American and they can never return to the United States. For more information on PESS, go online and check out www.alternet.org/election04/20444.
Doctors have begun treating these patients using anti-depressants. Palm Beach, Florida trauma specialist Douglas Schooler has already treated 15 clients and friends who have the syndrome. "I had one friend tell me he's never been so depressed and angry in his life," Schooler said. "I observed patients threatening to leave the country or staring listlessly into space. They were emotionally paralyzed, shocked and devastated," he told the daily. "It's like post-traumatic stress syndrome, but it's a short-term shock rather than a childhood trauma," he said.
The numbers are in the thousands of Americans who have been diagnosed with this disorder and many of the people with PEST have had it seen the election back in 2000. There are even websites available to send a person to any country they wish for free, but the catch is people wanting to leave have to sign a contract saying they forfeit their citizenship as an American and they can never return to the United States. For more information on PESS, go online and check out www.alternet.org/election04/20444.