Resources for managing election stress
Updated October 30, 2024.
Do you feel anxious as we approach the election? I do. And I’m not alone.
The American Psychological Association reports:
“Ahead of the most divisive election in decades, more than two-thirds of U.S. adults (68%) say that the 2020 U.S. presidential election is a significant source of stress in their life, a large increase from the 2016 presidential election when 52% said the same, according to a new survey conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of the American Psychological Association.”
In 2024, The American Psychological Association’s Stress in America survey found “77% of U.S. adults said the future of our nation was a significant source of stress in their lives.”
Resources for managing stress
In 2024, the American Psychological Association suggests ways to deal with election stress while staying informed and politically engaged:
Allow our emotions of stress, frustration, and fear to exist. It is okay for events to feel upsetting. Pay attention to what you’re learning from them. Brett Q. Ford, PhD points out that the world can be both scary and beautiful at the same time.
Pay attention to the positive emotions that come from being politically and socially engaged, for example, compassion, gratitude, pride, admiration, inspiration. These emotions drive political engagement just as much as anger and fear; plus, the positive emotions keep us motivated.
Seek connection and avoid isolation.
Limit exposure to social media and binge-watching the news. Read rather than watch news broadcasts because reading engages fewer of the senses and gives more control over how and when we consume news. Block time for the news rather than constantly having it playing; think of it like returning to the days of reading the newspaper in the morning and tuning in to the national news at a set time in the evening. Limit news consumed from social media.
Understand how our government functions. Studies have shown that the more people understand institutions of government and the political process, the better they can weather stressors and take the edge off anxiety.
American Psychological Association offers further advice on how to handle election stress: https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2020/10/election-stress
Managing stress during Covid-19: https://www.peacehealth.org/healthy-you/managing-stress-during-covid-19
Resources for navigating stressful situations
“Talking with Relatives Across the Political Divide” (includes unlearning racism): https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/13/well/family/talking-with-relatives-across-the-political-divide.html
“Health experts’ Thanksgiving advice in the time of Covid”: https://www.statnews.com/2020/10/16/health-experts-thanksgiving-advice-in-the-time-of-covid-plan-plan-plan/
A step-by-step action plan for becoming a more informed and engaged citizen: https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/a32794029/civic-engagement-guide/
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