by: Joel E. Miller
Past Chair and Board Member
National Coalition on Mental Health & Aging
A new mental health issue is afflicting the vast majority of adults in the U.S.: Election Anxiety.
No official diagnosis, CPT code, or resource-based relative value can be applied for this stress-related phenomenon. But there is no question that the upcoming election is causing a lot of distress among us Americans. And although it is not a diagnosable condition, political stress has several definable features such as negative feelings that impede daily function, lost sleep, exhaustion, shortened tempers, obsessive thoughts, and feeling overwhelmed.
Election anxiety and political stress also has caused some distressing personal relations and outcomes: family feuds, broken friendships, office squabbles, and lack of any interaction with neighbors – all of which breaks down critical social and community bonds.
So what can you do to stay healthy during this time where emotions have gotten the best of us?
In a recent article on “Don’t Let Election Anxiety Get You Down” the writer, reaching out to mental health experts, identified nine ways to cope with election anxiety that we can all apply for our mental well-being:
- Limit one’s time on social media, television, and only check the news during a set time each day. Unplug a little.
- Limit social media time substantially will likely help lower the anxiety temperature and improve one’s sleep patterns.
- Avoid stressful conversations on politics with family, co-workers, neighbors, and blocking certain accounts on social media.
- You have control. The election will result in changes, but you can manage your daily life.
- Remember self-care. Exercise, work on hobbies, go to a movie, get rest.
- Take regular walks, or lift weights, or yoga – whatever you are comfortable doing.
- Volunteer or learn or begin a new skill.
- Be kind to yourself.
- Keep these 8 actions in mind if you are feeling election anxiety encroaching.
You can remedy your own election anxiety, simply by being mindful when anxiety sets in and practicing these techniques on a daily basis!
Reference: https://www.cnet.com/health/mental/dont-let-election-anxiety-get-you-down-9-expert-approved-ways-to-cope/