Managing ELECTION STRESS
It has been an interesting week in politics between the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump and the lingering doubts around President Joe Biden’s reelection.
Americans have been under stress over the presidential election for months; in a May survey, 40% of individuals said they were concerned or depressed about the results.
There is a wide range of emotions that people experience during this time leading up to elections, from fear to anger to feeling stressed out to feeling extremely sad and fearful of the future, according to psychologist Krystal Lewis of the National Institute of Mental Health, who spoke with NPR this week.
Lewis argues that these intense feelings are legitimate and normal. However, if the emotions are excessively strong or persistent, it could be time to get support.
She issues a warning, saying that people who already suffer from anxiety or depression are more likely to experience them during turbulent times.
Stress, according to American Psychological Association deputy chief of professional practice Lynn Bufka, “probably tells us to pay attention to what’s happening in the world so that we can be prepared to act in ways that are consistent with our beliefs and our values.”
In a time of global troubles, Lewis and Bufka offer a number of techniques for individuals looking for inner peace and tranquility in the midst of upheaval.
Anxiety frequently stems from uncertainty. According to Bufka’s explanation to NPR, “We want to know what will happen. Our objective is to forecast. Therefore, many people begin to picture the worst-case situations when uncertainty occurs. It should come as no surprise that having a pessimistic outlook harms our mental health.
According to Bufka, we can break the loop by asking ourselves, “How likely is that worst-case scenario? Will I be able to handle that? What are the kinds of things that I could maybe control once more in order to attempt to handle a scenario like that?
Stress management requires finding the answers to these questions and turning our attention to the things we can control. Our general well-being is significantly enhanced when we participate in meaningful activities, especially during stressful times. Bufka advocates making connections with people, advancing a cause, or making even seemingly tiny contributions to the greater good.
In order to improve the community, she suggests, for instance, “making sure that your older parents have a good meal tonight because they don’t feel up to cooking themselves or picking up the trash in your neighborhood.”
Loneliness has been deemed a “pressing health threat” by the World Health Organization due to the detrimental effects social isolation can have on both our mental and physical health. It is critical to maintain relationships with friends and family because this threat is heightened when we are experiencing anxiety or depression.
Bufka argues that despite the increasing polarization of political discourse and the growing gap between political parties, it is important to maintain relationships with individuals who have opposing opinions.
