Episode 195: Politics and Mental Health | Haunting & Healing of a Nation

This week we talk about the aftermath of the national Presidential Election, about our country trying to heal from a period that has been collectively and personally traumatic. Jackie describes our nation as a dysfunctional family with so many of us opposed and protesting the other. 

Much of what we consume on politics is through the lens of political history and culture. Jackie offers a different lens to see these issues, a professional mental health viewpoint, as someone who sees particular behavioral patterns: 

Jackie talks about how it’s common for people to go through life with blindspots. Therapists will often see clients come into their offices asking for help but ask that they not discuss specific topics. This tendency to avoid painful issues is common and affects our ability to think accurately about ourselves and the world around us. Jackie relates our political thinking to Johari Window, a psychological method for better understanding ourselves

In the wake of such a divisive political season, we should take the time to assess our blind spots, taking time to set more healthy patterns of self-discovery and healing.

TRANSCRIPT: Politics and Mental Health | Haunting & Healing of a Nation

Hi everyone, welcome to Thanks for Sharing. I’m your host, Jackie Pack. So it’s been a couple of weeks since the United States held their presidential election, and I’ve had some thoughts. I talk about politics on my podcast. When I was recording the last podcast with Michelle Mays, after we finished recording, we were just chatting, talking to each other, and she said, “I’ve been listening to your podcast episodes that are political.” And I said, “Oh yeah?” And she’s like, “You’re a brave woman. That’s all I can say. I am not tackling politics.”