Let it go

Sally Jackson has lived through 13 presidents. The Spokane Valley resident has even run for — and lost — three legislative races. But this presidential campaign has taken its toll on the 72-year-old Democratic political activist.

“I’ve got real high anxiety,” Jackson says. “I’ve got that kind of lump in your stomach. … I feel anger at the negative campaigning. I feel anger at the distortions. I feel anger at the lies. … My language makes the truck drivers blush, every time I see that little weasel on TV.”

That “little weasel” would be President George W. Bush. And don’t think Jackson’s alone in her passion. Plenty of Republicans feel that same ulcer-producing, acid-rising dislike for Bush’s opponent, John Kerry. Given the closeness of the polls, about half the country will likely experience some shade of anger tonight, or whenever election results become known.

But be careful. Carrying around that kind of anger can be bad for your health.

Anger, along with stress, can produce spasms in the coronary arteries that lead to chest pain, says Dr. Romeo Pavlic, who founded Inland Cardiology Associates almost 25 years ago. Blood pressure shoots up, stress hormones surge, the body’s demand for oxygen soars.

“Some people, they go into such severe spasm of the artery, the artery is completely blocked,” Pavlic says. “A blood clot can form.”

And that, clearly, is not a good thing. So, how can you keep your anger — whether it’s over politics, work, rude drivers, losing sports teams or anything else — from becoming all-consuming?

First, take some steps to prevent the anger from building, says Rev. John P. Mossi, S.J., an associate professor of religious studies at Gonzaga University.

“Exercise daily or regularly,” Mossi says, “especially if it’s something like running on a treadmill or swimming, where you have a chance to work on the rhythm of breathing.”

Mossi tries to swim a mile each day.

“It cleans out the system,” he says. “Whatever’s negative, leave it in the pool.”

Next — and here’s a tough one — hang up your cell phone (unless you really, really need to use it), he says.

“We need private time,” Mossi says. “We need down time and peace and quiet. … I can see where it has its benefits. … But I don’t need to know you’re shopping on the third aisle of Safeway looking for Kleenex.”

It’s also important to find time to pray or meditate each day, he says, and also to find time for celebrations — both big and small.

“Celebrate the triumphs, breakthroughs, friendships,” Mossi says. “Go to a movie. Go out to dinner.”

All of these steps help to reduce stress which, in turn, will cool off anger, he says.

Over the years, Spokane Mayor Jim West has had several well-publicized angry outbursts, most notably when he left a threatening message on a lobbyist’s answering machine. But West has learned to keep his anger in check, he says.

“Take a deep breath,” West says.

And even though he has fought many political battles, West says losing an election has never made him see red. “There’s never any anger involved,” he says. “Maybe some frustration, but no anger. I have complete faith and trust in the voters. … In this country, we overthrow our government every two years and we do it without guns. We have a peaceful transition of power. … The people speak and life goes on.”

Life may go on, but it’s not necessarily rosy.

Ron Eastman, a Spokane licensed mental health counselor, says he’s increasingly seeing couples wrestling not just over the usual culprits like money and sex; but they’re also fighting over politics.

“It’s OK to state your case,” Eastman says. “Sometimes it crosses over when you’re attacking the other person, putting them down because they have their beliefs, getting angry because someone doesn’t agree with your take.”

Often, people are the angriest when they feel like they have no control over a situation, says Tom Schmidt, a psychotherapist and marriage and family counselor at Spokane’s St. Joseph Family Center.

“The answer is not to try to change the anger,” Schmidt says, “but to use the anger to motivate us to do something positive.”

Schmidt, for his part, spent time in the South during the civil rights movement of the 1960s, fighting for fair voting practices and other issues.

“Get involved,” he says. “Protest. Get involved in political activities. Write your representatives.”

It’s clear that your anger has gotten out of control when either of two things happens: You either withdraw or you completely abandon civility.

“Back up, take some time out and plan,” Schmidt says. “Ask yourself what you really want, what type of life you really want to live.”

And, most importantly, try to keep your sense of humor.

“We’re all Americans,” he says. “We’re all in it together. We’re all humans on a small planet.”

Learning to communicate with those who make us angry can go a long way toward lessening those negative feelings, Pavlic, the cardiologist, says.

“Ultimately, anger is a choice,” he says. “You just have to have time to talk it over with the people who are making you angry. You just have to do it. You have to learn the technique.”

An ardent Republican, Kathy Sims admits she can get into some pretty heated political discussions.

Sims, who lives in Coeur d’Alene, used to be the chairwoman of the Kootenai County Republicans and still volunteers for the group.

The negative campaigning made her angry at times, and Election Day makes her nervous, she says. But finding distractions helps her cope.

After voting, she planned to spend part of her day shopping for a new Thanksgiving tablecloth.

“Go shopping,” Sims says. “Find something to do just to fill your day. Have lunch with a friend. Plan Thanksgiving dinner. Just do something that interests you. Don’t sit and stare at that TV.”