Political Anxiety: 7 Ways to Improve Your Mental Health During Election Season

Election season is officially here. While staying informed is important, seeing countless yard signs, commercials, social media commentary, and news interviews can quickly become overwhelming. 

There’s no denying that the upcoming presidential election has created tension across the country. People are very passionate on both sides of the aisle, creating confusion, contention, and conflicts. 

Unfortunately, it can also create a lot of anxiety. 

If you’ve been struggling with political anxiety and need some help managing your mental health during election season, there are a few things you can do to improve your well-being.

1. Limit Your Exposure

Again, staying informed is important. You want to be able to go to the polls feeling confident about your choice. But, in today’s fast-paced world, it’s far too easy to get information thrown at you nearly every second of the day. 

Sometimes, it’s hard to know what’s real and what’s not. Fear-mongering is alive and well, especially on social media. 

So, limit your exposure to political media. Stay educated, but don’t allow yourself to doom-scroll online or spend hours watching the news each day.

2. Focus On the Things You Can Control

Anxiety is fueled by the unknown. Unfortunately, it can feel like there are so many “unknowns” in an election year and so many things that can feel out of your control. 

Instead of letting those things overwhelm you, focus on the things within your control. You can control who you’re voting for. You can control how much you listen to the media or other people. Most importantly, you can control many things in your life that have nothing to do with the election. Establishing that sense of control can help to reduce your stress. 

3. Take Action

Anxiety is often a sign that we need to take action. Anxiety builds up a lot of energy within our bodies, and if we don’t find an appropriate outlet for that energy, we can start to feel really awful. Feelings of dread and panic are not uncommon when we are experiencing anxiety and can’t figure out what to do with all of that energy.

In a situation like the upcoming election, it can be hard to identify what actions will actually make a difference, besides casting our own vote. Doomscrolling is not taking action. Listening to the constant media drone is not taking action. Instead, if you can spare the time, find a local organization that aligns with your values and volunteer for a few hours.

4. Be prepared

Researching your down-ballot vote so you are prepared at the polls is also another great way to increase your impact on election day. Local elections DO matter. Also, we suggest you make a plan for HOW you will cast your ballot now: Make sure you are registered, and look into early voting options in your area. This can help you avoid long lines, chaos, and other anxiety triggers on election day.

5. Find Your Support System

There are plenty of other people dealing with political anxiety right now. While you might be hesitant to bring up politics to anyone, seeking out like-minded individuals is okay.

Having a support system is hugely important. It will help validate your feelings, allow you to express yourself, and remind you that you’re not alone. Reaching out to others with similar ideals can especially be helpful if you feel like you can’t discuss anything political with family members or friends.

6. Stick to Your Values

You’ll find it’s much easier to feel a sense of peace about the state of politics when you remind yourself of your core values. 

Chances are, your vote will be a reflection of who you are and what you believe. People might try to convince you that a different candidate is better. Some might even criticize you for your decision. You might feel a sense of dread watching the news and what they say about your candidate’s plan. 

But, when you go back to your values and take a stand for what you believe in, you’ll feel more confident, secure, and sure. That can help to reduce stress and give you a sense of peace before you go to the polls. 

7. Practice Self-Care

There’s no denying election season is stressful. So, in addition to finding ways to manage your anxiety throughout this time, make sure you’re practicing self-care on a daily basis. 

Self-care doesn’t have to be anything elaborate or expensive. It could be something as simple as getting enough sleep each night, exercising each day, or spending time with people you love. 

If you want to reduce stress, try journaling, meditating, or practicing mindfulness. By incorporating self-care into your daily routine, you’ll improve your mental health and be able to fight back against anxiety.

You don’t have to deal with the effects of political anxiety on your own. If you’re struggling with your mental well-being this election season, feel free to contact me to set up an appointment for anxiety counseling. Together, we’ll talk about where that anxiety might be coming from and more strategies you can use to improve your mental health.