How to Cope with Election Related Stress

Did you know that Election Stress Disorder is a real thing, and many of us have been struggling with it as we get closer to November 3? According to a poll conducted for the American Psychological Association, 68% of Americans reported experiencing election-related stress, up from 52% in 2016. Stress was also high regardless of party affiliation.

If you find yourself coping with anxiety and stress related symptoms such as difficulty sleeping, poor concentration, or overwhelming worry, here are some tips for coping:

·        Limit watching the news. The news and many political commercials are designed to trigger a fear and stress response in you to keep you watching. If you must watch the news, limit the time to 15-20 minutes and mute commercials, then do something calming.

·        Limit social media. Stay off social media, or even delete the apps from your phone if you find yourself unable to stop scrolling through feeds. Posts and ads on social media are also designed to trigger a response to keep you engaged, so avoid the trigger.

·        Get outside. Spending time in nature is a great grounding technique to reconnect you with the world around you. Take a walk, sit in the sunlight, or look at the stars.

·        Prioritize self-care.  Stress is draining on both the mind and body, so making sure to care for yourself when feeling emotionally or mentally drained is just as important as getting sleep when you are physically tired.

·        Connect with others. If you have people in your life who you can connect with outside of political or stressful conversations, try to spend time connecting.

·        Plan for election day and the days after. It is possible that we will not have election results on November 3, which can extend the stress and worry. Have a plan for taking care of yourself if the process takes longer than expected.