"How to Handle Election Stress: Tips for a Balanced Mindset"

 4 Tips for Dealing with Election Stress 

It's a typical Tuesday morning. You're enjoying your first cup of coffee and checking the news when suddenly, a wave of dread hits you. Your normal routine is disrupted and you find yourself caught up in a terrifying "what if" scenario. 

If this scenario sounds familiar, you're not alone. Many Americans are feeling  the weight of the presidential election as it approaches. "Every presidential election comes with a lot of stress for a variety of reasons, especially the fear of the unknown," says Brown Tuller, MD, psychiatric physician assistant at Huntsman Mental Health Institute, PA, in California, Mississippi.   

While you can't completely eliminate anxiety, you can take steps to avoid stressful situations and control your reactions.  

1. Set some ground rules 

For many of us, social situations can become very tense when the conversation turns to politics. If you anticipate an uncomfortable meeting with a friend or colleague,

 communicate your boundaries in advance. "If you're having a party, make sure you set ground rules around political discussion so that everyone has the same expectations about topics and conversation," says Tueller.

Keep in mind that boundaries aren't foolproof, so it's best to be prepared if someone crosses them. 

 "Remember, this is not an environment to have a debate and change people's opinions," says Tueller. 

2. Get on a News Diet 

In this modern age of constant news, it's very easy to fall into the trap of doom scrolling. This harmful habit can distort your perception of reality as fear-inducing media  compete for  clicks. 

These tips can help you navigate the relentless news cycle and regain your peace of mind: 

• Schedule your news consumption: Instead of constantly checking your news feed, schedule a "news moment" for a specific time of day and keep it short. 

 

• Expand your sources: Find multiple trusted news outlets that can give you a broader worldview. Otherwise,  reading the same stories from  one or two news sources can increase your anxiety. 

 

• Curate your feed: Don't stick to  the same algorithmically created news choices. Establish control by clicking "not interested" in your news feed, unfollowing channels that trigger you, and following  pages that entertain you. 

 

3. Prepare for Election Day 

 

Election Day can be exciting and stressful, causing our nervous systems to overreact. If you experience physical symptoms of anxiety during  stressful moments, it's time to take a break.  some tips can help: 

• Follow the results and political commentary without being glued to your screen. Remember,  constant attention won't change the outcome. 
• If you feel the urge to look at a screen, take a walk outside or call  a friend instead. 
• Practice a guided meditation or relaxation exercise, many of which are available for free online. 
• Keep your mind busy with games, puzzles, chores, or other projects. 
• Use breathing exercises to relax your body. This increases the flow of oxygen to your brain and does wonders for your nervous system. 

4. Put your mental health first 

If the anxiety you're feeling doesn't go away or gets worse,  seek professional help. Hiding these feelings won't help you in the long run. In the meantime, try to focus on the bigger picture. “We've had terrible presidents and great presidents and we've survived them all..  . History shows us that we can get through this and move on."