A YouTube interview (Oct 29, 2020) in which Dr. Calm and an interviewer discuss coined terms like 'Trump retention'/'trumpertention' and the concept of 'electile dysfunction' — election-related stress. Dr. Calm gives a clinical anecdote of a patient whose blood pressure spiked (~200/100+) after watching TV coverage of Trump, frames much political stress as movable by focusing on personal control, and previews guidance from his book on reducing media exposure and using calming practices amid concurrent COVID-19 and financial stressors.
Questions this video answers
October 29, 2020
About 200 systolic, over 100 diastolic.
Chapters
The new phrase in this book that I've never heard of before, trumpertention. Is that right? What's trumpertention?
Well, Trump retention. Well, it is nothing derogatory. Okay? I don't want anyone to get hurt just thinking about the term Trump retention. If you like Trump, you wouldn't be so stressed out. If you do not like him, then you get stressed out. I saw a lot of people getting Trump. There is a patient who came to me and was treating him for his blood pressure. The nurse gave him all his medications and still his blood pressure is like 200 systolic, over 100 diastolic. And the nurse called me saying that this patient, his blood pressure is so high, I don't know what's going on. My blood pressure keeps shooting up. Tell me a little bit. Have you been watching a lot of tv? Ask him. And he said, yeah, you know, every time I turn on the tv, all they talk about is Trump. That makes me really tense and anxious and worried and my blood pressure, you know, goes up.
So no TV in his patient room.
I hope that was one of my prescriptions for him that, you know, you need to cut down the amount of TV that you watch. So that is how the Trump retention came in. People do not have to think anything bad about that word. It's simply that something to add humor to the crazy stuff that we are seeing. I thought it was a fun way to put it.
Doctor Dentiala, I'm so glad to talk to you about the elections. In your book on the subject matter, I heard you say what matters in politics doesn't really matter at the end of the day.
It may not change your life too much. Unless. Well, look, if you are a person who is working in Washington, D.C. you know, if you're a politician, if you're a news reporter and who are constantly associated with all these politicians, Yes, I think it's going to change your life in certain ways. But for vast majority of America, 90%, probably even more number of people, it may not matter too much. What I mean to say is what happens in your house is more important than what happens in the lighthouse.
Thank goodness.
Yes. Because it is what happens in your house you have control over, isn't it? I mean, it is an illusion of control. Neither of them are anywhere near Washington, D.C. they are somewhere in Wisconsin. But for a lot of people who are nowhere near the White House, it doesn't make sense. So what I say is focus on your life, take things into your control, whatever you can, your destiny and Keep moving forward. Yeah. If your candidate wins, that's amazing. If your candidate doesn't win, that's not the end of the world. And people need to realize that in.
Talking about advice and treatment. What's the advice in this book for people who are caught up in the election?
You know what? This year people have already gone through a lot. The coronavirus related stress, the financial stress because of the health problems.
The last thing we need is an election.
The last thing we need is an election.
But we need an election.
But we need an election because, you know, it's about that time. We may not be able to avoid the election, but I think we can avoid the election stress. That's the point. You know, we could avoid the electile dysfunction.
How do we avoid it?
People need to realize, no matter who your president is, your destiny really depends on your own thoughts, your deeds that you carry out every single day in your life. You have that in your control. No matter what is happening out there, people need to focus on that. And when people understand this and take their destiny into their hands, I think that is number one thing that is going to help them. They understand that they have some control, right? And they can control their destiny, their lives. Presidents change, you know, someone new comes in, you know, it changes our lives to some extent, but not drastically. That is my observation at least. Whether it is a Republican president, whether it is a Democrat president, whoever it is in office, we need to realize that they have a job to do, they will do what they have to do, and it is totally out of your control. And you have a job to do, and you continue doing that job. Be a good person, be a good human being. Learn how to calm yourself no matter what the situation is, whether it is election stress, whether it is Covid stress, personal stress, financial stress, you can learn certain basic things to stay calm. And this book discusses how to stay calm.
Doctor Nimbiala. So let's talk to you about the election in your book on the subject matter. Tell me more about Dr. Calm, the physician, the author, and how you got here.
More than a decade ago. When I first started teaching these principles and techniques, it started out with a small talk. My director was very kind to allow me to share with those people what I thought is important. And I was no. 1. I'm just like any other regular physician. And he doesn't know too much about these stress management presentations or anything, but he had confidence in me and he said, welcome, you know, feel free if you're ready to help. And I got great feedback from my colleagues. They really liked it and they found some humor in me and also some insights that were powerful for them and said, I think you should do more of this. That's the beginning of my journey. And then, you know, small talks became big talks and big seminars. You know, I really started enjoying it because I find that people love it, I find that it changes their lives. And that is very gratifying. As a physician. When I see happiness in my client's eyes, in my patient's eyes, in my audience's eyes, that makes me feel very. It's a good feeling, you know, gratification. The reason why I became a doctor. My goal is to help as many people as possible and transform the organizations, not just in the United States, but around the globe. Create stress free organizations, stress free communities, and stress free families. And I know it is possible. My request for you all is take your destiny into your hands. Do not let the elections decide who you are, what you become in life. Yes, those things are in the periphery, but at the center it is you. What you think every day, what you do every day, and how do you help other people. Focus on that and I'm sure you will find that peace, joy, and all the good things that you are looking for in your life. Sam.
