Election Year Mental Health Tips To Survive

Nahi Rai, MS, LPC, ACS on July 1, 2024

Election Year Mental Health Tips

Election Stress Is Normal

Election Stress and fatigue is normal and can affect anyone, regardless of their political affiliation or beliefs.

A recent survey indicated that 76% of Americans cited uncertainty about the future of our country as a significant source of stress, while 66% admitted feeling stressed by our current political climate.

Here are some common symptoms of heightened stress, especially related to politics, to be on the lookout for:

  • Prolonged feelings of moderate to intense anxiety
  • Emotional avoidance
  • Mood swings or irritability
  • Increased feelings of hostility or aggression
  • Obsessive or compulsive consumption of political news
  • Detaching from normal human interactions in favor of hyper-engagement in online political debate or discourse

What To Do

It’s important to stay informed, but overexposure to political turmoil and fear-based news content can send your stress levels skyrocketing.
 
  • Manage your news consumption, Consider setting specific times of day for news consumption and sticking to them.
  • Be mindful of where you’re getting your news from.
  • Managing your consumption to avoid news feeds and alerts to induce your engagement throughout the day, and try to diversify your news sources so that you are getting a balanced perspective.
  • Only choose sources that provide you with information that is helpful and informative.
  • Pay attention to your emotional state after interacting with your chosen news source and exercise the freedom to make adjustments, keeping your own emotional health in mind.
  • Keep complete control over the social media content you consume, both in terms of news and social media posts, unfollowing accounts that stress you out.

Support Is Available

 
If the election stress starts to feel like too much, don’t hesitate to reach out for support. Let’s prioritize our mental well-being and approach political discourse with empathy, understanding, and respect for opinions that differ from our own.
 
By taking care of ourselves and demonstrating basic respect for each other, we can do our part to navigate this season in a healthier manner. 
 
 

Posted by Nahi Rai, MS, LPC, ACS

I earned my BS in Psychology in 2013 and my MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Capella University, CACREP approved in 2018. I’ve been in the mental health field for nearly 10 years while completing my Professional Counselors Licensure. My coursework and experiences have prepared to work with a wide-range of clients of any age. I make every effort to create a stress free, non-judgmental, and positive environment for all clients. I work towards building a trusting and respectful relationship where clients feel comfortable to share their feelings and stories.

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