Coping With Election And Political Anxiety

Ensure your organization’s have the tools needed to deal with anxiety and stress.

“Elections, and the politics that come with them, have historically been a source of stress in our lives.

In recent years, however, our stress and anxiety about elections and the political climate have surged.

For example, a 2024 survey from the American Psychiatric Association, revealed that 73 percent of U.S. adults are feeling especially anxious about the 2024 election.

Rising political stress is also a global concern, affecting individuals across the world.

Election and political anxiety is triggered by worries and unknowns about political processes, policies, or leaders.

We can’t fully influence political results that can deeply impact our lives and communities.

Therefore, feeling threatened by or helpless about elections makes sense. We might also feel:

Overwhelmed

Worried or afraid

Angry or irritable

Bitter or resentful

Numb or indifferent

In addition, election and political anxiety can disrupt our daily lives, leading to troubles with focus, sleep, relaxation, and relationships.

Coping strategies can help us manage political uncertainty with greater balance, lowering our distress and keeping us engaged in our own way.

First, it can help to better understand election and political anxiety.


Unpacking election and political anxiety.

When elections or political events threaten our sense of stability and safety, our body’s “fight-or-flight” response kicks in.

When this happens, our bodies are flooded with hormones that prepare us to either confront or run from the threat.

As a result, many of us respond to election anxiety by either deeply investing energy into what’s happening, or completely avoiding election news and discussions.

To maintain our well-being over time, our bodies need to come down from the fight-or-flight response when we’re no longer facing a threat.

Unfortunately, election and political anxiety can keep our bodies in fight-or-flight mode for extended periods due to:

Prolonged election campaigns

The 24/7 news cycle

Social media posts and discussions

Relationships with people who hold opposing views

The impact of political outcomes on our lives and society.”