Older woman looking worried and stressed while sitting on her couch.

6 Ways to Deal With Election Stress

Do you notice your shoulders tightening or your pulse quickening when you turn on the news? Do you toss and turn at night, unable to stop ruminating over hot-button issues? Have you found yourself becoming irritable with friends and loved ones after reading a triggering article? You could be experiencing election stress disorder, and you aren’t alone.

Election stress disorder isn’t a scientific diagnosis, but it’s a real phenomenon that mental health professionals use to describe the overwhelming anxiety that some people experience in relation to presidential elections.

PR Newswire reports that 68% of adults attributed a rise in anxiety to the 2020 election, significantly up from the 41% who said the election caused them anxiety in 2016. Furthermore, election anxiety is worse for minority and marginalized communities, with the percentage of Black adults reporting election stress jumping from 46% in 2016 to 71% in 2020.

Election stress can happen to people on both sides of the political aisle, and it can manifest in many ways:

  • Body tension
  • Upset stomach
  • Headaches
  • Insomnia
  • Hypervigilance over the news
  • Irritability
  • Strained relationships
  • Problems at work
  • Clinical depression or anxiety

Do you feel like you could be suffering from election anxiety? With the 2024 presidential election just around the corner, here are six ways to help you deal with election stress.

  1. Limit Your Election Media Consumption

You have unlimited 24/7 news coverage at your fingertips, but that doesn’t mean you should constantly be consuming it. Stop doomscrolling and step away from election media to help protect your mental health. If it’s difficult for you to stop checking the news, deactivate your alerts, schedule screen downtime on your phone, or set time limits for apps that you use for political news.

  1. Know & Avoid Your Triggers

Is there a certain talking head or news show that just gets your blood boiling? Avoid exposing yourself to things that you know trigger your election anxiety.

  1. Disengage From Political Arguments

When someone has differing views than you, it’s tempting to want to change their mind or let them know why they’re wrong. However, political debates can quickly turn into heated arguments. Instead, practice tolerance, respect and listening, and step away if you feel yourself getting irritated.

  1. Practice Self-Care

Self-care is always important, but especially when there’s a stressor in your life. Eat a healthy diet, and get enough sleep and exercise. Enjoy your favorite hobbies, practice meditation or prayer, spend time in nature, listen to music, read a good nonpolitical book, and watch your favorite comfort show.

  1. Talk to Your Mental Health Care Team

If you have a therapist or other mental health clinician, talk with them about strategies for managing your election stress and anxiety. Extra therapy sessions or an adjusted medication dosage could help you be prepared to better cope during election season.

  1. Don’t Let Election Stress Drive Financial Decisions

Are you worried about how the election will impact your investments? Although the S&P 500’s past performance during U.S. presidential election years suggests investors could see lackluster returns in 2024, remember that the stock market historically yields a positive result over time. Don’t let your emotions drive your financial decisions and avoid pulling out of the stock market during volatile political periods. Instead, focus on the long game, ride out the year, and talk to a financial professional so you can feel grounded in your financial decisions.

Want more? Check out our blog, Prioritizing Investments in the Face of Economic Uncertainty and Inflation.

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