Dealing With Political Anxiety in an Election Year

Are you experiencing political anxiety? The current political climate continues to operate on very divisive terms, with parties appearing to be out to get each other. Each year, it feels like it’s becoming more intense and stressful rather than improving.

Pretty much wherever you look nowadays, you’ll see something political: celebrities on social media, your uncle at the next family get-together, any channel on TV, or a flag on the neighbor’s house. It’s become hard to avoid. Many people have strong opinions on political issues, the candidates, and the direction they feel the country should go.

No matter what your political views are, you may find yourself experiencing political anxiety due to the current state of affairs. With everything political swirling around you, you might be wondering how to find an escape from it. Here are some helpful tips:

Understand Your Feelings with Political Content

It might be helpful to ask yourself why you engage with political content in the first place. What is your goal? Is it to help make a decision on your voting selections? Is it to keep up to date with how changes will affect you? Do you want to be able to engage in conversation more effectively?

Uncovering the reason why can help you connect more with your feelings and identify what might be triggering you. You should never feel guilty for admitting that you have anxious feelings surrounding an election year.

Limit Social Media

Keeping yourself informed is important for staying current on affairs and making intelligent decisions at the polls. However, it can be easy to become bombarded with misinformation, information overload, and a constant 24-hour reel of political talk.

Not knowing what to believe or where to stop can fuel political stress and anxiety. There is a healthy way to consume news without avoiding it altogether. Social media platforms are one of the main culprits for stress and misinformation.

Giving yourself a break from scrolling may be easier said than done, but it can be well worth it for your mental health and well-being.

Practice Self-Care to Reduce Political Anxiety

When your mind feels frazzled and your nerves feel shot from the uneasiness and uncertainty around politics, taking care of your basic needs becomes even more important. During this time, make a daily habit of practicing some form of self-care.

Allow yourself to get the appropriate amount of sleep in a comfortable environment conducive to quality sleep. Make good food and drink choices to fuel your body with healthy nutrients. Exercise frequently to reduce stress and give yourself a natural mood boost. Schedule time for pampering yourself or spending quiet time with a good book. Make sure you’re doing things that fuel your soul to counterbalance the negativity that follows politics.

Practice Mindfulness

Mindfulness exercises are one of the best ways to reduce anxiety. Try out different options and see what works best for you. When political talk is taking over your mind, one of these might help.

Walking and yoga are great physical activities that can help you recenter and refocus on the here and now. Breathing exercises and guided meditations can help calm your breathing and bring you some relief. If your anxiety feels pent up inside, try journaling to release those inner thoughts.

Talk to a Professional to Reduce Political Anxiety

When you’re dealing with political anxiety, these self-help tips may not be enough. You may need to get to the root of the problem to move forward. Working with a therapist is a great tool to help you do that.

If your political anxiety is getting worse instead of better, check out our therapists or contact us today to learn how we can help you.