Happy election season! Going out on a limb, here, but I would venture to guess that you are feeling a just a smidge of election anxiety. I am. My clients are, its coming up in sessions. My friends and family are. It’s in the air…and the stakes are HIGH this year. It truly feels as though not just the next four years on the line, but democracy as we know it. There was a violent insurrection following the last election. It’s dividing families and ruining friendships because of the intense polarity in beliefs right now. We are all on high alert.
There seems to be two major groups of folks that I see during election seasons: the ones who “aren’t political”, and the ones who doom scroll constantly. Neither avoiding nor obsessing is productive here, and neither feel good. So, the question becomes, how do we remain engaged, informed voters while also preserving our mental health?
Here are a few things that will help you have a healthier election season this year:
1 – Set boundaries with how you consume information. (This is your permission slip to not read and react to every insane thing that comes out of Trump’s mouth). Pick a couple sources you trust, and check in on them at an interval and time that feels good to you (daily, every few days, etc). Only consume that information for an amount of time that you can do so and maintain your mood; if you feel as though it ruined your day, that means you did not have the capacity to manage it right then, or you consumed too much. Remember, the news cycle is SET UP to increase your nervous system arousal and keep you coming back for more. Getting an alert on your phone everytime something political hits the news or your social media feed is going to increase your anxiety for sure. You only need enough information to make an informed decision when you vote.
2 – Find something productive to do! Write letters, volunteer for a candidate you believe in, support organizations that help marginalized folks get to the polls. Having an outlet for your angst is SO helpful!
3 – Seek out interactions with people with whom you can have supportive conversations about politics and your experience this season. This also means practicing setting boundaries with people who just want to argue rather than be open to new viewpoints – arguing with your older relatives who have been lost to Fox News for years is not likely to be productive (I have heard not one story of this being successful, and more than I can count of this breaking hearts). Having a place to process how you are feeling is important, and different than just sharing the facts of the issues/candidates or persuading someone to vote like you.
4 – Do other things too! Make sure you are caring for yourself, spending time with people who make your nervous system feel good, and doing some activities that you love. This election is important, but you will still be you on the other side of it, so don’t forget yourself!
No matter which of these you try and how well it works for you, the most important thing is to show up for yourself with compassion. Election season is intense, and staying engaged without drowning in anxiety and worry is no easy feat. Therapy, of course can be a good place to process some of this; don’t hesitate to reach out if you need a little extra support to get through November.
See you at the polls!