by Katheryn Lopez-Chavez
Blog post represents opinions of the author.
Is it the election anxiety, pandemic anxiety or regular anxiety that has me feeling defeated today? The answer is all of the above. The current social climate of the United States has citizens feeling overwhelmed and helpless as they also continue to navigate the unique circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Many Americans say they experience a dilemma of wanting to stay informed on the latest political news but feel anxious doing so. The divisive atmosphere among the Democratic and Republican parties also makes it difficult for voters to discuss politics with friends or family members.
Statistics show 68% of adults reported feeling a significant amount of stress from the 2020 election, according to the American Psychological Association.
Steven Stosny, a couples’ counselor based in Gaithersburg, Maryland, coined the term “election stress disorder” to describe this phenomenon.
Stosny illustrates how the disputes between presidential candidates trigger this disorder in voters.
“That kind of negative emotion being displayed by public figures gets very contagious,” Stosny said. Mental health therapists are seeing an increased need for psychological health services.
Eva Escobedo, a therapist specialized in relationship issues in Austin, Texas, describes the high tensions voters face when they discuss politics with others as a stressor to their mental wellbeing. “I think that people are way more polarized even within their families and essential groups than they ever have been before,” Escobedo said.
Prolonged anxiety can have detrimental effects on one’s overall wellbeing. Ms. Escobedo suggests voters slow down to take a moment to breathe and check in with themselves before engaging in potentially confrontational political conversations.
We need to remain compassionate towards yourself and others when discussing political issues. Although stakes are high in this election, that does not mean that these conversations need to be heated. Several mental health experts recommend taking a more candid approach instead, disclosing how certain social issues or policies make you feel and why.
We cannot put too much weight on one election and expect to resolve the existing political and social divides in the U.S. overnight. It is a process that requires us to build a bridge through communication between opposing viewpoints to find common ground.
