Election Stress

Election Stress

More than 69% of Americans report being stressed out about the current political climate in the United States according to "American Psychological Association”. There will be election stress even after the election, many of us are worried about post-election stress. For many, 2024 has been a rough year and it seems like the last few months will just add more stress due to the election on top of the norm of holiday stress and winter blues.

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5 Ways to deal with Election Stress

1.????Watch your social media intake- social media can be a very overwhelming place that can cause us to feel FOMO (fear of missing out) compare ourselves to others and addiction issues. It is also adding to the stress of the election. Social media has become a very cruel place and can trigger many of us to feel stress, anger, and fear. When you go on social media sites, be mindful of how it makes you feel. Do you become more stressed? Does your body tense up? Do you notice you are getting triggered? Anxious? Fearful? If you are, limit your social media intake or take some time to do a digital detox. ??

2.????Read the news – when we watch the news, we can get triggered by the news persons tone of voice, facial expressions, and body language. No need to add extra stress or fear instead read the facts.

3.????Vote – this is the one area you have control in. Most people feel better when they vote. It also gives them an action to take which gives them a sense of control. Do the research, get the latest facts on each candidate then vote. Knowledge is the enemy of fear.

4.????Set Boundaries – Its ok to tell someone you do not want to discuss politics or the election. If you feel that a political conversation will turn into a heated argument or cause conflict, it’s best to stay away from the conversation totally. Remember boundaries during holiday dinners.

5.?????Self-Care – make sure to take care of yourself. This is an incredibly stressful time, and we need to make sure we have healthy ways of coping. I suggest doing one mindfulness activity a day. This will give you some time to refresh and pause from the stressors of the world. It could be a daily walk, deep breathing, sitting in nature, journal writing, meditation, yoga, etc.??

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