Voting - and other anxiety relievers

I’m usually very self-protective about what electronic media I consume, but lately, I’ve been checking the news on the radio and on my phone. I talk with my friends about the election and have noticed that my anxiety levels are going up. As the election gets closer, it seems that we are all a little more on edge. The stakes are so high, and the polls are so close.

I talk to clients who are about to tell their spouses that they want a divorce, or who, later in the process, anticipate telling their children that they will live in separate households. And I sense the same kind of heightened anxiety. They take shorter breaths. They sense danger everywhere. It can be hard for them to think clearly.

How do we take care of ourselves when anxiety seems to take over? How can we ensure we act out of love rather than fear?

I offer two resources today. One is from Sen. Cory Booker about compassion. The other is a Ted Talk by Neuroscientist Wendy Suzuki about how to address your anxiety (without anyone having to know!)

Oh – and one more thing — you still have one more day to register to vote in New York. You can do it online by clicking on the link above. Early in-person voting starts tomorrow – it runs from Oct 26 to Nov 3. But it might not be in your regular polling place. You can find out where to vote (and see a sample ballot) by clicking here.