Last-minute tips for coping with election stress and anxiety, according to experts

Most Americans they say they feel overwhelmed by the presidential election, and emotions and conflicts are increasing last reading to Election Day.

“Like everybody, there’s shock and anger,” California congresswoman Kay Hanley told CBS News.

“Democrats and Republicans are telling us that they feel that democracy is at risk. So everything, at least, is setting a high standard in this election,” CBS News Director of Elections and Surveys Anthony Salvanto said, noting that people are feeling pressure. . regardless of their political party.

So, how can we manage stress and anxiety? Here’s what experts around the country recommend:

Exercise: Although it may be the last thing on your mind, joining an organization or other activities that you enjoy can help reduce stress.

For example, don’t ignore the “common self-care routines we all have that include exercising; doing fun things; making sure that conversations we have with friends or family members don’t they are not really about the topics that are present,” Dr. Emanuel Maidenberg, professor of psychiatry and biobehavioral sciences at UCLA, said CBS News Minnesota.

Try to set some limits for your comfort.

“We have a natural tendency to want to feel in control, and choices can destroy that sense of control,” psychologist Dr. Susan Albers of the Cleveland Clinic first. said CBS Pittsburgh. “… We need to focus on what we can control rather than what we can’t, whether it’s your daily routine, exercise and self-care.”

Avoid or minimize social interaction media: “Use it to get information, not to confirm,” stress management expert Jon Gordon told CBS News. “Don’t attach your identity or your mental health to what you watch.”

To fall into “Doomscrolling,” or spending too much time reading content that offends you, can affect you in a negative way.

“Being exposed to a lot of content that’s not always fun or exciting or uplifting, it creates a lot of anxiety,” Maidenberg said.

Psychiatrist Dr. Sue Varma recently told CBS News that she suggests setting time limits on social media tools to reduce disruption and limit phone conversations.

“It’s really important to have and carve out sacred spaces throughout your day where you don’t have frequent notifications,” he said. “(For) a lot of people – when you’re having a conversation, at the dinner table – that the phone is constantly telling you, every now and then, what’s happening in the news, and it’s hard to pay attention to it, to be productive , being able to connect with family members.”

Avoid talking about politics: Make your voice heard at the ballot box, rather than in heated debates, experts say.

“For election-related stress, getting involved in the political process is an important way to manage our stress,” American Psychological Association CEO Arthur C. Evans said.

Voting pressure on children

It’s not just adults who have election-related anxiety. Even those too young to vote can feel stressed during the election, especially if they see how their parents react to their feelings.

Dr. Matt Edelstein, a clinical psychologist at the Kennedy Krieger Institute, he told CBS Baltimore news for parents to talk to their children about election season.

“Thank their pressure,” Edelstein said. “It validates their feelings and helps them connect what they’re hearing with what’s really happening in the world.”

Edelstein also suggests managing media exposure.

“The important thing is that we explain our feelings to our children and set an example of how we can have feelings and still be controlled and rational,” he said.