Controlling Political Rage

With November being an election month, we figured now would be an opportune time to discuss the very real anger issues that emerge concerning politics. Whichever way you lean, there are bound to be measures (and figureheads) who upset you. Seeing how we are also approaching the holidays, there may be points of sensitivity around this topic that could easily erupt over a family dinner. So what is the best way to cope? You can try by following the some of the steps below…

The Tab.com did a nice job of breaking out coping mechanisms when it comes to political rage. Speaking with anger management expert Mike Fisher, the site outlines simple tricks to diffuse a tense situations (no matter which party you side with).

Tip #1: Look At The Big Picture

Though causes and ideologies are most certainly important, it is helpful to take a step back and ponder whether a political argument is really worth your time. Just like any rage coping skill, Fisher recommends taking deep breaths. Know that the person you are disagreeing with may be set in their ways and (as long as their stance isn’t hateful or violent), it may be best not to add fuel to the fire.

Tip #2: Let People Finish Their Thoughts

Arguments can quickly ensue when interruptions begin or a sense of “disrespect” emerges while someone is expressing their opinions. If the person speaking is saying something you disagree with, let them at least finish their statement before offering a counterpoint. By cutting them off or speaking over them, you may be setting yourself for an unnecessary fit of rage.

Tip #3: Agree To Disagree

Let’s face it; there are moments when you simply cannot change a person’s political views. Though you may feel you have all of the facts and are justified in your argument, it is important, at times, to just let things go. Coping mechanisms here can include simply shifting the conversation to a more neutral topic or walking away. “At the end of the day, all opinions are exactly that,” Fisher explains in the article. “They’re not facts or gospels, they’re human, subjective views.”

Though we know political discussions don’t always lend themselves to these easy resolutions, trying (whenever possible) to escape angry conversations is always the best bet. We have many more coping mechanisms when it comes to rage and political discourse and would be happy to share them before any explosive situations occur.

White House Aims To Help Addicted Mothers

A while back, we discussed some alarming new stats concerning babies born to addicted mothers. Well after enough headlines, it looks the White House is finally taking notice. This month, President Donald Trump announced that his administration will begin a program to help pregnant women and new moms dealing with dependencies.

Titled “The M.O.M. Model” (which stands for Maternal Opioid Misuse), the program will partner with local Medicaid agencies to implement several services for mothers caught up in these situations. It will also offer assistance for women who are suffering from postpartum depression, in the months after giving birth.

Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar held a press conference about the topic last week. He made a point to touch upon America’s opioid crisis and the damage it is continuing to cause to new families.

“Too many barriers impede the delivery of well-coordinated, high-quality care to pregnant and postpartum women struggling with opioid misuse, including lack of access to treatment and a shortage of providers in rural areas, where the opioid crisis is especially destructive,” Azar explained. “The MOM model will support state Medicaid agencies, front-line providers and healthcare systems to help ensure that mothers and infants afflicted by the opioid epidemic get the care they need.”

12 different states will be participating in the M.O.M. Model over the next five years and more could be added based on the success of the program. It is expected that those regions hit hardest by the crisis will receive the most attention.

This is certainly an important initiative and one that can save lives. Over the past several years, babies born with opioid dependencies have increased dramatically. Being exposed in the womb has been shown to lead to birth defects, lifelong developmental delays and premature death.

Azar made a point to call out the president’s sympathy for this issue. Towards the end of his press conference, the Secretary emphasized that Donald Trump is aware of the devastation the opioid epidemic is causing and that de-stigmatizing addiction needs to be part of the bigger conversation.

“We [the Trump administration] believe in evidence-based treatment,” Azar concluded. “We also believe in a public-health approach to this epidemic, and we believe in approaching addiction as a disease, never a moral failing,”

Let’s hope the White House holds true to those words. You can find out more about the M.O.M. Model by clicking here.