Managing Stress Around Election Day
It’s that time. Regardless of your personal beliefs and who you vote for, this time of year can be really stressful. I see the impacts of the upcoming election on individuals, families, and couples who come into my office, especially as election day gets closer. So, let’s talk about how we can make it through the next few days and weeks.
Take a Break
Give yourself permission to take a break. Ad campaigns clogging up your feed? Campaign texts coming through your phone 5 times a day? Your family bugging you to find out your voting plans? When it all feels like too much, you can take a break. A break from your phone, the family conversation, the TV, your colleagues group chat at lunch or wherever these conversations are happening and feeling too stressful. This might look something like saying, “Hey, this is a really important topic, but I don’t have the capacity to talk about it right now. Can we come back to it at a different time?”
Get to Know Your Stress Responses
Get to know how you are responding to the election and what your body needs around it. Humans respond to stress in many ways, but two of the most common strategies I see in response to the election are: 1) attempt to do everything (hyperactive, hypervigilant, anxiety, etc.) which might look like staying up to date on the most recent polls, “future tripping” about one outcome or another, striving to address something that has not occurred yet, and so on. 2) The second strategy I see a lot of is to feel resigned and decide to not do anything (depress, numb, ignore, disconnect, etc). This might look like opting out of voting or participation around the election. Whatever way you respond to stress is totally valid and is there for a good reason. Identify what you notice yourself doing in response and get curious about what you’d like for yourself around that response.
Reduce Incoming Stress
Minimize the news. On your way to work, choose a funny podcast or your favorite songs instead this week. You can always go back to the serious stuff after Nov. 5th.
Control What you Can
Feeling a lack of control? Control what you can (your actions, your thoughts, your words, your lawn signage, etc.) and let go of what you can’t. You can’t control the outcome, although you can contribute to it so focus on your contribution.
Choose How to Respond
In sessions and in my personal life, this time of year brings with it a feeling of extreme uncertainty. Regardless of what happens, here is something I am certain about: There will be a November 6th and there will be the day after that and the day after that. And in those days after, we can choose how to respond. We can choose to take care of ourselves and each other. If you’d like support, this week or any time, find me using the link below. See you on the couch <3
Find Support in Therapy
If you or a loved one need extra support and tools to manage stressful life situations, the therapists at Wasatch Family Therapy are ready to assist you on your journey. Schedule your initial appointment by texting or calling 801.944.4555 or filling out this form here.
