Mentally drained

hawley

Was involved with campaigning for the Repeal, mainly handing out leaflets to passersby. Honestly, I didn't realize how hard this campaign would be and how it would affect my mental health. I had to put up with a lot of negative commentary on Twitter; am on a massive high after the result, but it literally drained everything out of me, especially the vile campaign from the No side. I honestly feel like I need counseling but just can't afford it right now.

TomOnBoard

hawley wrote: »

Was involved with campaigning for the Repeal, mainly handing out leaflets to passersby. Honestly, I didn't realize how hard this campaign would be and how it would affect my mental health. I had to put up with a lot of negative commentary on Twitter; am on a massive high after the result, but it literally drained everything out of me, especially the vile campaign from the No side. I honestly feel like I need counseling but just can't afford it right now.

I suspect that your post- referendum experience is due to a release from the pressure of the campaign and is being felt by others also. Perhaps the campaign organisers should be asked to consider holding debriefing sessions for volunteers.

Bigbagofcans

Firstly, thank you for your hard work campaigning for the Yes side. You should be proud of yourself.

Perhaps it would be a good idea to take a few days' social media detox. I had to do the same as I was getting awful comments from the No side after the win.

Keep yourself busy. You have worked hard throughout the campaign so now's the time to unwind and get out for walks in this lovely weather, read books, etc.

seamus

I wasn't campaigning but I have also found myself somewhat fatigued by social media.

Make a concerted effort for a week or two to try and stay away, at least not logging in every half an hour.

Find that book you've been meaning to read and bring it around with you. All of the usual trigger points for lifting your phone - meals, toilet, public transport, bed - open the book instead.

hawley

hawley wrote: »

Was involved with campaigning for the Repeal, mainly handing out leaflets to passersby. Honestly, I didn't realize how hard this campaign would be and how it would affect my mental health. I had to put up with a lot of negative commentary on Twitter; am on a massive high after the result, but it literally drained everything out of me, especially the vile campaign from the No side. I honestly feel like I need counseling but just can't afford it right now.

No you didn't. You could have logged out at any time.

Give it a while and for most people the referendum will be a distant memory, like the marriage equality referendum (sure, great it passed, cared that it passed, don't think about it now).

If you let the opinions of others/external factors control your mental health you need to work on ways to focus on your own internal sources of mental health.

Berserker

I have to say that I found myself fatigued by the media coverage of the referendum. I watched a small portion of two of the debates and switched them off. The radio stations are still trying to milk the last drops out of it as we speak. In agreement with another poster, I'd recommend that you take some time away from social media. Finally, I 'd also suggest that you think twice about taking an active part in referenda to come. Your own health, mental and physical, is far more important than any referendum.

lulu1

If it was getting to you that much you should have walked away. For all the work you put in who is there for you now when it's all over and you find yourself in need off help. everyone has probably dissapeared.

you will find everyone is your friend when they want something

god will help you

Lollipops23

lulu1 wrote: »

If it was getting to you that much you should have walked away. For all the work you put in who is there for you now when it's all over and you find yourself in need off help. everyone has probably dissapeared.

you will find everyone is your friend when they want something

For those of us involved in the campaign "walking away" was not an option.

OP, I was also involved and have been feeling very low. It seems that sooner were the results announced than everyone started shouting for more. I honestly don't have the energy; I've stepped right back from it all for my own wellbeing now.

I suggest you do the same; start planning things that have nothing to do with the campaign or even politics. You need headspace, we all do.

eviltwin

The IFPA are offering free counselling at the moment for people struggling. Might be worth having a session or two.

CaoimheSquee

Lollipops23 wrote: »

For those of us involved in the campaign "walking away" was not an option.

Totally agreed. Walking away was never an option. I have fought for this for many years and my mental health, and the past severity of my mental illness was a big cause of why I kept campaigning (not to mention all the women who had suffered so much too).

OP, this week is very strange and hard but please do not feel alone. We did it. The outcome was very overwhelming and hard to process. The past and the suffering is still there in our consciousness but we need to now let go of it and look to the future.

I would ask that you now stay away from the continued negativity online. Legislating will be a slow process which will require more of our endeavours (exclusion zones, our neighbours in NI etc..) but for now please just take time for yourself without feeling bad.

Last night I read a book and am switching off the phone in the evenings. Immerse yourself back again bit by bit into life again. Regardless the outcome it would have still gone on and we would have still done our best. Plus remember now you probably have much more time on your hands. I was canvassing, fundraising, event planning, leafleting and a constant go to for friends and family for help with queries and questions. Now I have all this time and a little at a loss to know what to do with it! But priority is rest and getting back to myself again with work and college etc...

Psychologists for Choice also have some really helpful information on all this too. But for now just try and get back to normal as much as you can and regroup when feeling back to yourself.

And thank you!!!

Rekop dog

You're actually not alone in feeling this way. The blindboy podcast released today is about this exact issue so id recommend a listen.

kunst nugget

I cut out all my main social media recently. I only use What's App and I can use Messenger while keeping my main account deactivated to keep in contact with immediate family and friends. The difference it makes is immense. No mindlessly scrolling through nonsense or getting annoyed by the ramblings of trolls. I still log on to boards but even that's getting to a point where I'll severely cut down or stop using it shortly. Get your head out of your phone, shut your Twitter account and get back to enjoying the real world.

FizzleSticks

This post has been deleted.

hawley

Took the last week off from Twitter and logged out of my FB account, also make a conscious decision to take it easier in work. Genuinely felt a lot better until today when I checked my accounts and saw so much negativity and bitterness from the no side. Had an impact on my mental health and am back to square one. Part of me wants to stay logged out but I feel a personal responsibility to stand up to those bullies

Berserker

hawley wrote: »

Took the last week off from Twitter and logged out of my FB account, also make a conscious decision to take it easier in work. Genuinely felt a lot better until today when I checked my accounts and saw so much negativity and bitterness from the no side. Had an impact on my mental health and am back to square one. Part of me wants to stay logged out but I feel a personal responsibility to stand up to those bullies

Probably a good idea to delete all your message for the last week so. Not sure where all the negativity and bitterness is coming from. The referendum is old news for a heavy majority of us now. Most of the media have moved on also. They are focusing on the adoption issue or the murders that have occurred over the past few weeks.

Canard

hawley wrote: »

Took the last week off from Twitter and logged out of my FB account, also make a conscious decision to take it easier in work. Genuinely felt a lot better until today when I checked my accounts and saw so much negativity and bitterness from the no side. Had an impact on my mental health and am back to square one. Part of me wants to stay logged out but I feel a personal responsibility to stand up to those bullies

But why? I see where you're coming from to an extent, I was very personally invested in the SSM referendum and constantly debating with people from the opposing side, hoping to win a few people over and, as you say, stand up to the bullies, but then it passed and life moved on. I felt like a weight was lifted from my shoulders, it was finally over. I've seen barely anything on Twitter about the No side since the results came out, so I'd suggest unfollowing whatever accounts are putting it into your feed. As a poster said above, it's done, you did your part, the hard work paid off -- who cares what the other side think, we'll hardly be calling a referendum on whether or not to reinstate the 8th.

Perhaps you weren't very sure it would pass and it just hasn't sunk in yet? In any case, I think your need to stand up to the bullies is misplaced now. Before, yes, it was important to make sure they didn't lie to people on the fence, but now they have no power at all and it's just harming you. Not standing up to the bullies no longer means anything bad will happen, so let them at it.

Ursus Horribilis

You also have a personal responsibility to look after your mental health. If that means closing your Twitter account cutting back on your usage of it or blocking people, so be it.

Engaging with these horrible people is a fool's errand. For starters, you're never going to change their opinion on the 8th and abortion. Secondly, by engaging with them you're giving them exactly what they want. Attention and proof that they're getting under your skin.

I prefer to think of the referendum result as the ultimate two fingers to these sorts of people. From what I've read post-referendum, the harsh and abrasive attitude of the No activists did them no favours. They can be as obnoxious as they want online but it's not going to make one iota of a difference. The people have spoken and they paid no heed to them. Let that be the bitter pill they have to swallow.