‘Like, OMG’: Election-Induced Anxiety

ABC News On Campus reporter Chelsey Delaney blogs:

Radio-television-film major Alan Palomo said that his current feelings consist of, "Like, OMG."

Palomo has kept himself glued to screens — television and computer and phone — to get any and all updates he can on the status of the election. Meanwhile, he has to finish two papers for school.

Palomo suffers from what I call "the greatest political anxiety of all time."

There are many like him. I see them sitting in the lobbies of cold academic buildings, not sure about consuming caffeine because sleep might not be an option. They are literally wearing their political opinions on their sleeves — no longer appropriately labeled "propaganda."

"I haven’t eaten today, and I won’t eat tomorrow," government senior Jess Faerman said Monday.

Faerman says she is more concerned with local elections than the presidential election; however, she doesn’t count on sleeping, even though she feels confident about her presidential choice. As an intern at the Texas Capitol, reminders of Election Day and its consequences surround her.

University of Texas grad Aimee Arrambide has spent the election season in New York working with the American Civil Liberties Union. She has no idea what she is going to do when it’s over, and it’s all she can think about.

"I don’t know what I’m going to do with myself," Arrambide said. "It [the election] has been easier to focus on than the actual state of our country."

Above all, everyone is tired.

"I am tired of political pundits. I am tired of listening to politicians not answer questions," Arrambide said.

Palomo has not slept since Saturday. Both of his papers for class are on the topic of the election. He was actually too anxious to give me a comment until he finished.

Faerman, as a Capitol intern, has too much to do.

"I’m so tired. I have so much to do before tomorrow, I don’t know if I can make it," Faerman said Monday.

Faerman planned to skip classes Tuesday. “Why would I go?" Faerman said.

Palomo is only going to rid himself of the term papers that have held him captive.

Good question, why go? The greatest political anxiety of all time may win this bout, but juxtaposed with election post-partum depression, it’s hard to say when any of us saying "OMG" will lose our minds first.