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Writer's pictureNeil Parekh

Ep. 19 Shawna Vercher | Shining Light on Shadows: Post-Election Despair, Anxiety and Fear

Updated: Nov 14

If you experienced strong emotions this week because of the election results (e.g. despair, anxiety, fear or related concerns), we welcome and encourage you to join us.



The next episode of “Shining Light on Shadows” will be dedicated to creating a space where our hosts, guest and viewers can find community and share how they feel about the election results. Shawna Vercher, a political and media consultant and mental health advocate – she has written about her own struggles with post-traumatic stress – will be our guest..


Like many of you, Dawn and I have had a difficult week. We want you to know you’re not alone and that we can find support in one another. Please join us Thursday November 14 at 7 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. CT / 4 p.m. PT. If you can’t watch the live show feel free to watch the recording.

 

You can watch the recording on this website

or watch and comment on social media:

*We will post the video to Instagram shortly.

 

The title of Dawn Helmrich Neuburg’s blog post is, “Waking up to the Election Nightmare; Thinking About What the Future Holds.”


In her post, she writes about her experience watching the election results come in and how her heart was heavy, her head was sad and that she felt like a zombie on Wednesday.


In my post, “From Excitement and Optimism in July to Despair on Election Night,” I write about how invested I was in the idea of Kamala Devi Harris winning the race and how devastated I was on Election Night.

Here is a post I shared on social media the day after the election.


For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die.

Like most people on my feed, and slightly less than half of the people who voted, I'm still trying to make sense of what happened yesterday. I went through a range of emotions: disbelief, anger, sadness, frustration, despair. We all need time to process the election results. I am inspired by people who are focusing on the work ahead. I'll get there. For now, these words are aspirational. I'm not sure my mind is there quite yet. My heart definitely isn't. But this is where I want to be.


“For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die.”

Dawn posted this quote from Nelson Mandela on Facebook (almost at the same time I shared my post), “I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. I felt fear myself more times than I can remember, but I hid it behind a mask of boldness. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”

“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. I felt fear myself more times than I can remember, but I hid it behind a mask of boldness. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”

Dawn and I launched this twice a month show (the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month) in order to help reduce the stigma associated with mental health. Thank you for being part of our community.


We hope you can watch the show and share your own thoughts in the comments.


“Shining Light on Shadows: A Candid Conversation About Mental Health” is produced by Digimentors on a pro bono basis.

 

Resources / Relevant Links


National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Helpline 800-950-6264 Or text "HelpLine" to 6264; nami.org

Mental Health America Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org; mhanational.org Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) National Sexual Assault Hotline 800-656-HOPE (4673); rainn.org

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