What generates our hyper-vigilance and reactive emotional responses to the actions, words and deeds of President Trump? Is it our concern with the country's body politic or is it akin to an addiction to pornography?

 As a psychologist, many of my sessions with patients contain a great deal of anxiety, anger and fear often fueled by the consequences of Trump’s actions and distortions. For example, people looking for emotional safety and trust negatively respond to the lack of consistency with COVID-19 policies. Trump’s divisive tweets and his shaming of those who oppose or criticize him are like passing a car wreck that you don’t want to see but you can’t help slowing down to look.

President Trump has become an unexpected trigger to the arousal system within our brains regardless of our particular political affiliation.  For many, this generates feelings of threat while others feel safe and protected with Trump at our nation’s helm.

Likewise, pornography is designed to stimulate arousal and since pornography generates around 15 billion dollars in annual revenue, one can safely conclude that it works. Many men and women find pornography to be a welcomed source of erotic stimulation while others believe that it’s demeaning and disgusting. But in both cases, the brain is aroused.

Not unlike pornography, the persona of President Trump is unpredictable, edgy, slippery and pushes the limits of ordinary expectations. Porn and President Trump make what is normal seem boring, the comfort of predictability unwanted, and the joy of intimacy unattractive. Make America Great Again is related to, I want my own satisfaction more than yours. Over time and exposure to the endless media accounts about President Trump, we can become hooked on a hyper-arousal state that generates the need to seek it out.

Back In 1964, the United States Supreme Court tackled the issue of obscenity. In his written opinion, Justice Stewart found it difficult to define obscene material or “hard-core-pornography” and made the famous comment, “but I know it when I see it”  (https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/378/184/. Not unlike when the Supreme Court faced the question of “hard-core” pornography, many Trump supporters and non-supporters know something is not healthy about many of President Trump’s words, actions and omissions. Yet it’s difficult to explain. But you know it when you hear or watch him attack the character of those he deems disloyal, mocks the disabled, refuses to wear a mask to prevent spreading disease, generates racial tensions and on and on.

What are the psychological consequences of being over focused on President Trump’s behavior? Eventually, any mention of him is paired with arousal. And this reinforces the incessant need to feel aroused. But it hurts us. It takes away interest in other important news or even distracts us from our personal relationships and responsibilities. We are prone to make reflexive binary judgments, replace reason with emotion and fail to maintain a question thinking mind. Watching porn as with an over focus on President Trump creates unrealistic expectations of others. Righteousness and self-satisfaction blocks curiosity and the impulse to ease suffering in one’s self and others. Time is wasted thinking, watching, and listening to the relentless critiques of every one of President Trump’s actions. President Trump and the media understand the attraction to sensational images and work hard to deliver the goods.  But if we don’t understand how our own brains work, we will have less control over the impulse to seek arousal.

 Addiction always wants more of what it craves. And confronting someone about their addiction is often met with anger, denial, and divisiveness. This may be the case with someone reading this article. But think about it. Can you turn off the news? Can you stop checking what President Trump did today? Can you be mentally flexible with your political opinions? Has intolerance and anger fractured any relationships? Do you feel physically and emotionally safe? Have you been hijacked by President Trump’s need to be the star in his own porn show?

 If any of the above behaviors belong to you, then there is a need to get back in control.  First admit that an addiction to seek hyper-arousal is real. Second, regulate the media you listen to, watch, and read. Third, go beyond yourself and pay attention to the needs of others with empathy and rational thinking. Finally, be creative in work, love and play and refuse to have anyone hinder or distract you from being compassionately connected to all of life.

 I can assure you that these suggestions can help. They worked for me.