The Day After

It was November 9th. I came into my office at 6:30 a.m., turned on the lights and the computer, and sat down at my desk. The red light on the phone was blinking. I listened to the message: “Hello, Dr. Gabbard. This is Julie. For the first time you were dead wrong. He DID win. I can’t bear it. See you at 2.”

I was stunned. I didn’t know what I was going to say at 2.

Two Weeks Earlier

Julie had come to her session in considerable distress. She covered her eyes and said, “I cannot believe this guy is running for president. He thinks it’s OK to be a pussy-grabber because he’s famous. He walks in on Miss Teenage America contestants in the dressing room and ogles them. He’s like a pedophile! It’s triggering me. He reminds me so much of men I worked with in the past who undressed me with their eyes in the workplace, touched me when I didn’t want to be touched, and tried to prolong hallway discussions with me for no reason.

I had to leave work early today. The guys I work with now are pretty decent, but I’m having something like a mini-PTSD reaction. All of this stuff I thought was behind me is roaring back into my mind. Why isn’t there an outcry for him to step out of the race? Why would anyone support him?”

I didn’t know how to respond. I was as flabbergasted as she was. I sat for a moment, and I told her, “I have no idea. At least he won’t win. Nate Silver and the other pollsters are clear about that.”

Now it was the day after the election, and Julie reentered my office that afternoon. She sat down and said, “Did you listen to my voice mail?”

I nodded.

“I’m sorry I blasted you for being wrong. I just couldn’t believe this was happening. I keep thinking I’ll wake up from a nightmare. Nate Silver was wrong, too! I don’t get it. Why would anyone vote for a guy who thinks it’s fine to sexually assault women?”

I had no answer for her question. I didn’t get it, either. I still don’t get it. In my role as a psychoanalyst, how could I possibly be helpful in this situation? The tools o