THE BATTERED REPUBLICAN SYNDROME, by Art Smukler, author & psychiatrist

The “Battered Wife Syndrome” is a term exemplifying how women are afraid to stand up to their bullying, battering husbands. It is another form of PTSD that is exemplified by the abuser having complete control over the “helpless” woman. Then, the remarkable happens. The pathetic, weak woman turns the tables and doesn’t allow herself to be abused anymore. Finally, the abuser is exposed as the pathetic, weak manipulator he always was.

Why do so many Republicans keep supporting Trump? They say they believe in his politics, his stance on Israel, his immigration policies, free market strategy, the great way the stock market is doing, how he speaks his mind etc. All may or may not be true, but one thing is absolutely very true. THE ONLY THING TRUMP CARES ABOUT IS TRUMP! HE IS THE LEAST PRESIDENTIAL MAN EVER TO HAVE HELD THIS OFFICE. When he is compared to Hitler, it resonates.

Like the battered wife, Republicans fear Trump will retaliate. He’ll take away your votes, your support, call you names, and devalue you.  Like the battered wife, you believe you need him and have kowtowed to him. You let him lie to all of us. You let him devalue our allies. You even let him kiss Putin’s ring. Some independent thinkers call Trump’s behavior treasonous. What do you call a man who attacks his own country and supports a Russian leader who attacks our elections, poisons former Russian spies, and supports despots like Assad? Shouldn’t you call this man a treasonous man? Isn’t this man fully deserving of Impeachment?

Republicans are battered and traumatized. They have allowed lies to permeate the fabric of America. Now is the time to stand up and support our country. You don’t need a bully to support you. You need the courage to support your own values, AND lawfully protect us all from the man who is threatening our very existence.

If you enjoyed reading, Inside the Mind of a Psychiatrist, you might also enjoy Dr. Smukler’s novels, Chasing Backwards, a psychological murder mystery, Skin Dance, a mystery, and The Man with a Microphone in his Ear. All are available as paperbacks and eBooks.

STICKS & STONES CAN BREAK MY BONES BUT NAMES CAN NEVER HURT ME…NOT! by Art Smukler

Remember the old cliche’ used by parents and teachers to “train” a child to control his anger? “Sticks and stones can break my bones but names can never hurt me.”

Well, the theory goes that name calling can’t physically hurt you. But is that really true? Ask Jeb Bush if being called “low energy” by Trump doesn’t make him feel physically ill. I heard Jeb speak a year before the Republican primary, and thought he’d make a great president. I wish he’d appropriately retaliated to Trump’s obnoxious words and didn’t let him get away with it. I assume that the entire Bush family will never forgive Trump. I wouldn’t.

How about John McCain? Trump, who never served in the military, likes people who weren’t captured, negating all that McCain suffered and gave to our country. Do you think that the anger inside McCain doesn’t still hurt? Here’s another family who will probably never forgive Trump.

Name calling and devaluing trigger our autonomic nervous system, the place in the brain where Fight or Flight is regulated. Think of the times you were enraged — the burning in your stomach, jaw clenching, sweating, trouble catching your breath… All physical symptoms.

I could go on and on, but let’s consider what this man is now doing to ALL OF US! He names the Russia investigation, Spygate and a Witch Hunt. He’s a genius at name-calling.

What he is not a genius at is being a good human being. If someone disagrees with him, he attacks. He calls himself a counter puncher. I call him a brilliant name caller who hurts a lot of people and is hurting our country.

What is also OBNOXIOUS is that Republicans are afraid. Some heroes scale walls, like in France, to save a child, others can stand up and call Trump out. That hero can save our country.

If you enjoyed reading, Inside the Mind of a Psychiatrist, you might also enjoy Dr. Smukler’s novels, Chasing Backwards, a psychological murder mystery, Skin Dance, a mystery, and The Man with a Microphone in his Ear. All are available as paperbacks and eBooks.