With just months to go until the US presidential election, a new poll from the American Psychiatric Association found that 73% of respondents feel anxious about the election.
Elijah Nouberge/AFP via Getty Images
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Elijah Nouberge/AFP via Getty Images
The presidential election is having a negative impact on Americans’ mental health, according to a new survey. in front There has been an assassination attempt on one candidate and widespread calls for another to withdraw from the election.
Nearly three-quarters (73%) of respondents to a poll by the American Psychiatric Association said they were feeling anxious about the election. Another poll by Myriad Genetics found that about 40% said they were feeling anxious or depressed about election season, and a similar proportion said they were “tired” of the amount of news and social media attention given to politics and the upcoming election.
Psychologists say it’s normal for people to experience increased negative emotions during this time.
“The emotions people are experiencing in this period leading up to the election range from fear to anger to stress to extreme sadness to anxiety about the future,” says psychologist Crystal Lewis of the National Institute of Mental Health. “All of these emotions are valid and it’s okay to feel them.”
And it’s important to pay attention to those emotions, especially stress, says psychologist Lynn Bufka, vice president for professional affairs at the American Psychological Association.
“Maybe it’s just a message to pay some attention to what’s going on in the world and be prepared to act. in a way that is consistent with our beliefs and values,” she says.
Lewis says it’s a good idea to channel your stress and anxiety into ways to make a difference. That might be getting more information about certain candidates and the policies they support. Here, he stresses relying on “fact-based or verified news sources and websites” rather than relying on what others think or say.
“Figure out how to use your voice,” she says. “They use that energy to volunteer with organizations, share information with others, and essentially exercise their right to vote.”
That said, it’s also important to be mindful of whether these feelings of stress and anxiety are becoming overwhelming or interfering with your daily life.
“When stress becomes more intense or lasts longer and symptoms such as prolonged sadness, worry, hopelessness, physical tension or physical signs of anxiety or stress appear, that may be a point to intervene,” Lewis says.
In other words, if you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s important to find ways to manage them.
People who already suffer from anxiety or depression may be more likely to experience these symptoms during times of social uncertainty and upheaval, she added.
If you’re looking to deal with stress and anxiety right now, here are some strategies from Lewis and Bufka:
1. The first thing to do is understand what is causing the symptoms. It’s an uncertainty.
“Uncertainty breeds anxiety and fear,” Lewis said.
“We want to know what’s going to happen,” Bufka adds. “We want to predict, so when uncertainty hits, many people start imagining worst-case scenarios,” but that’s not helpful, she says. “So the key strategy is to break that habit — to think about what the worst thing is going to happen, and not to expect everything to fall apart if X happens or Y happens.”
Instead, she suggests asking yourself questions like: “How likely is the worst-case scenario? Can I handle it? What might I have some control over again to handle that situation?”
These specific questions and their answers can help people feel a sense of control. “Focusing on what you can control is a great way to help manage stress and anxiety,” says Bufka.
2. Another way to exercise control is to limit the amount of news you consume.
Lewis suggests knowing when to step away and take a break: “That means turning off the TV, the news channels, all the places where you get your news,” he says.
That includes social media: “You have your phone in your pocket, you don’t have to scroll because it’s convenient and it’s right in front of you,” Bufka said.
3. Do something that is meaningful to you.
That could be connecting with others around issues you care about and working for a cause, Bufka says. Or it could be “making sure your elderly parents have a good meal tonight because they don’t feel like cooking for themselves,” or “picking up trash in your neighborhood to make it a better place,” she says.
Research shows that engaging in meaningful activities improves people’s overall well-being, especially during stressful times, Bufka says.
4. Find other healthy ways to cope.
Lewis says this includes doing things that bring you joy and help you focus on the present moment, rather than worrying about what may or may not happen in the future.
“this is, Outside, [spend] Spending time in nature, doing fun things with my family, and finding joy in everyday activities.”
And don’t forget to move your body, Bufka says. “When you’re stressed and overwhelmed, your body stores excess energy, so being active can help you release that stress,” she says. “Going for a walk, weeding the garden, playing soccer with a friend, or playing tag with your kids can all help you release energy and feel more present.”
5. Stay socially connected.
As multiple studies have shown, social isolation has a negative impact on mental and physical health, and it’s especially harmful if your mental health is already weak. “Staying socially connected with friends, family, and peers, having support and people you can turn to when you’re feeling overwhelmed, can make a big difference in how you deal with stress,” Bufka says.
But, she warns, “you need to be careful not to get caught up in a stress spiral with other people.”
And be careful not to isolate yourself from people who have different political views than you, she added.
“We don’t need to have political conversations with everyone we meet,” she says, “but we can connect with people who may actually have different perspectives than we do.” [and] Knowing our shared humanity can help ease tensions about the outcomes we fear.”
