Almost 70% of Americans say they're stressed about the upcoming presidential election, a new survey found

5 Therapists Share How They Plan to Manage Election Day Stress and Anxiety Mental health experts share the things they'll be doing on election night to manage their own anxiety

Almost 70% of Americans say they're stressed about the upcoming presidential election, a new survey found

• Nearly 70% of Americans say they’re stressed about the presidential election, according to a recent survey.
• Mental health experts are stressed, too, and are planning on employing different strategies to manage the uncertainty and anxiety that can come with Election Day.
• Therapists say they'll be staying off limiting news consumption, staying busy, and leaning on others to cope, among other strategies.

With the U.S. presidential election fast approaching, anxiety is reaching a fever pitch for many Americans.

In fact, nearly 70% of Americans say they’re stressed about the election, and 77% say they’re stressed about the future of the nation, according to a new poll from the American Psychological Association.

Candidates and their campaigns are flooding social media and TV with ads, texting would-be supporters, and hanging posters on every corner—it can be tough to think about anything but the upcoming election as a result. And mental health experts are right there with the rest of us.

“If you’re a human in America, you’re probably concerned about the election,” Thea Gallagher, PsyD, podcast host and clinical associate professor at NYU Langone Health, told Health.

But since therapists are trained to help people navigate stress, they have their own hacks for handling anxiety in pressure-cooker situations like these. With that in mind, here’s what four psychologists and one psychiatrist had to say about how they’re coping with Election Day stress.

‘I’ll Ask Myself What I Can and Can’t Control’

The last few election cycles have felt “emotionally exhausting” for Gallagher, and this year is no different. “I have concerns this time around, and I’m worried about how people will react to either outcome,” she said.

But on Election Day, Gallagher said, “I’ll ask myself what I can and can’t control.”

To that end, Gallagher knows she’ll need to be present for her kids and for her patients on Election Day and is planning on doing a full day of work. However, she’s also giving herself some grace in advance if it’s “one of those days” where emotions do bubble up.

But Gallagher said she also expects to have to sit with uncertainty for a while. “We didn’t know the outcome for several days with the last election cycle,” she said. “I’m metering my expectations that we won’t know the outcome on Tuesday night.”

Gallagher said she plans to watch the news Tuesday night but will cut herself off by her usual bedtime.

“You have to still be aware of other responsibilities in your life,” she said. “There is parenting, relationships, and work—it’s important to have healthy boundaries between the news cycle and your personal life.”

‘I Want to Worry Less About the Speculation’

Projected outcomes are a huge part of news coverage during an election, but Hillary Ammon, PsyD, assistant professor of clinical psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, told Health that she wants to pay them less attention.

“In both 2016 and 2020, I admit that I was glued to the TV, just waiting and watching each state be called,” she said. “I was worried throughout the day, and throughout the following days.”

Now, Ammon said, “I want to worry less about the speculation and projections.”

So, she is planning to avoid social media and the news until the polls close. “Prior to the polls closing, it is often just speculation on news channels. And, as we have learned in the past, speculation can amp up anxiety, and ultimately, be incorrect,” she said.

Even after the polls close, Ammon said she’s going to choose just one news source to follow, and will continue to stay off social media.

“Whether I am watching the news or not, I will likely feel discomfort related to the uncertainty,” she said. “During that time, I would prefer to be doing more meaningful activities that may help me stay calm, like going for a walk, watching a comfort TV show, or spending time with my family.”

Like Gallagher, she’s also sticking with her usual bedtime.

“I plan to disconnect from all reporting prior to bed, and engage in my normal bedtime routine to reduce anxiety during the nighttime hours,” said Ammon.

‘I Will Be Coping By Helping Others Cope’

John Mayer, PhD, clinical psychologist and author based in Chicago, told Health that he feels “worried” and “concerned” about the upcoming elections, but he’s trying to do what he can to set himself up for success on Election Day.

One step he has taken is putting things in context. “I realized there have been bitter, contentious times during elections before and we have survived, even thrived,” he said.

He has also spoken with people on both sides of the aisle to get a better sense of the political landscape overall. “Being a provider that treats people across the country and from every walk of life has given me a great purview into both sides of the election,” he said.

On Election Day itself, Mayer said he plans to stay focused on work.

“I have a full schedule of therapy sessions from early morning to 1 a.m. Tuesday night, so I will be coping by helping others cope,” he said. “It’s my honor and duty.”

‘Engaging and Processing with Other People Is Important’

“Stressed and tired and anxious” is how Jonathan Metzl, MD, PhD, professor of sociology and psychiatry and director of the Department of Medicine, Health, and Society at Vanderbilt University, is feeling in the lead-up to the election.

“Every day there is some new crisis story, some new development that seems primed to increase that anxiety,” he told Health.

On Election Day, Metzl said he plans to focus on work, interacting with his students and talking about what the implications might be for the election results. “Hopefully, I’m giving back to the next generation,” he said.

Taking the time to discuss how you’re feeling about the election with a group of people can be helpful, Metzel added, given that “there is so much group anxiety right now.”

“Being around other people is important, just to stress that people are not alone,” he said. “In terms of my own emotions, I feel that engaging and processing with other people is important.”

‘I Will Engage in Non-Election Related Behaviors’

The possibility of violence in the wake of the election is a worry for Jaime Zuckerman, PhD, a licensed clinical psychologist based in Pennsylvania.

“There is such a significant divide fueled by intense feelings, especially anger and frustration,” she told Health. “I am concerned that regardless of outcome, we will see a rise in non-peaceful protests and anger and rage-filled social media posts, ultimately creating even more of a divide.”

So Zuckerman plans to stay busy. “I will engage in non-election related behaviors” that day, she said. For her, that means doing things such as working, taking a walk, cleaning the house, and playing tennis.

She’s also setting rules for herself about the information she’ll consume on Election Day.

She said she plans to pick two credible news sources—one local and one national—to follow. “I’ll make a conscious effort to check these sources only a couple times during the day—once in the morning and once in the evening,” she explained.

Ultimately, Zuckerman said she wants to focus on the things that are within her control.

“Other than voting and making an effort to get others to vote, I have little control over the outcome of Election Day,” she said. “It is important to look at what I can control, which is engage in activities and behaviors that I enjoy and value.”

This story originally appeared on: Health News - Author:Korin Miller