Managing election anxiety
With the election less than a week away, many are holding both the anxiety about the future of this country, with constant media coverage, uncertainty, and a heated and volatile election. A study from the American Psychological Association and Harris Poll found that 68% of U.S. adults report the upcoming presidential election is causing major stress in their lives. But even after the election, many are concerned about the large divide in our society that continues to widen and threaten the basic security of many.
The pandemic, protests, and now politics have now chronically stressed our lives, chipping away at our natural ways of coping and removing both external (depleted finances, jobs, normal ways of coping) and internal (hope, optimism, pride) resources. This is additional stress to the norm now, of working from home with children at home, dealing with grief and loneliness.
We all have different responses to such overwhelm - some seek reassurance, scouring social media for clues that we are headed in a hopeful direction. Others ruminate and worry excessively, perhaps thinking if they worry enough, it could change the outcomes. With the social distancing regulations due to the pandemic, most are at home, without in-person connections to ward off the magnet to the internet.
Here are some ways to manage anxiety related to elections:
Pause before opening social media and ask yourself why you are going there.
Are you wanting more information? Wanting to feel happier? Wanting to escape? All of those are fine - but the more mindful you can be, the more intentional you can be. If you’re wanting to feel happier, only go to Welcome to Nature, or the San Diego Zoo Live cam, or any other site that has lighthearted boosts of oxytocin (the cuddle hormone).
Move from avoidant coping to active coping.
It’s easy to want to snuggle under the covers with a bag of oreos and Netflix. That’s fine if needed sometimes. But if you’re finding yourself doing this repeatedly without positive outcome, it may be time to move to more active coping. Think about what you can control. This is a time where your values are being challenged. Ask yourself “what values are being challenged? What is important to me right now?” Then find just one or two ways to embody that value in action.
Prepare yourself with realistic outcomes.
There will most likely be a delay in election results. Plan for something you can do when you do find the results - either in your favor or not. General planning can help to offset uncertainty.
Manage boundaries - radically accept what you cannot control, and take action on what you can
We can all do something - no matter how small. Sometimes that means creating personal boundaries to make sure you have the space to have your needs met. For example, if your partner is constantly talking about the election, accept that you can’t control that person, but take action in creating the boundary to have your need for safety and peace met. Ask them to minimize their discussion about the election, and if they choose not to, find ways to tune them out or physically remove yourself.
Feel free to sign up for my newsletter and read more at my mental health section for resources on how to improve your quality of life and how to thrive in the face of adversity. Here’s more on creating boundaries if helpful.