Navigating Election Stress and Anxiety

A conversation with Bryant Park Therapist, Genny Finkel, LCSW. Hear her tips and thoughts for recognizing and managing anxiety surrounding the election.

As a therapist, have you seen more stress and anxiety around this election compared to others?

Yes, I am seeing increased stress and anxiety, which is not surprising given the collective trauma we have faced this year due to the pandemic, police brutality and the systemic racism in our society.

Elevated baseline stress coupled with an election that feels so important in American history is only pushing people further. I think in past elections it has been hard to fully understand how the federal government impacts us as individuals.

What is normal to be feeling leading up to the election?

I think it’s normal to feel stressed and overwhelmed by it. However, it’s an issue when it becomes paralyzing. Are you able to engage with activities or hobbies outside of politics? If not, then your anxiety might not be in check and it might be helpful to speak to a professional or try mindfulness techniques to clear out the noise.

What are things we can do to help navigate the anxiety or stress that many of us are feeling?

First, it is important to realize that so many people are feeling the same.

One concrete way to help is to limit your media intake or pick your sources carefully. We are inundated by clickbait, and most of it is not helpful. So much of it is designed to insight outrage, which will increase stress and anxiety. Limit your time engaging with the news.

I also often recommend choosing your conversations wisely. During these times, it’s easy for every conversation to drive towards political issues. Ensure you engage intentionally when you want to, and avoid a conversation that you know will increase your anxiety.

For others, increased dialogue and increased participation is sometimes the answer. Look for ways to get involved and volunteer, as active participation can help with feelings of helplessness.

Finally, practice mindfulness. Explore how to stay present in our day to day lives and acknowledge the stable things around you. Thanking the earth for letting us walk on it, thanking the air for letting us breathe, and finding ways to honor it can help ground us in what we have.

How do you recommend talking to family or friends who may have different political views?

I think we are conditioned to assume people are trying to fight with us if they have different political beliefs. For the loved ones in your life, I think the best way to talk about opposing views is to learn more about their beliefs, and allow the space for them to be heard. I also encourage everyone to stay inquisitive, for this will help prevent the combative nature that can arise in these conversations.

Do you have any other thoughts you’d like to add?

We talk about election anxiety and stress, but I think that there is also a collective grief around the election. We are living through a pandemic, we’re grieving the world around us, losing friends and family, losing our favorite activities, and the sense of our cities. If we start to see it as grief, we can actually start the process of grieving the world around us by not shutting down the sadness but working through it.