Avoid Fixatingon the Election to Ease Your Stress

It’s hard to avoid the constant onslaught of election news. Even months before President Biden’s departure from the race and before either convention or a single debate, the American public was so stressed out about the election that more than a third of those asked in a Myriad Genetics survey reported that it was taking a toll on their mental health.
Luckily, there are ways you can alleviate that stress so that you can cope with the other pressures in your life. Here are six strategies to consider:
Lessen the intake. Consider a gentle stream rather a firehose of information. Set a timer before you begin to take in election news if necessary. Determine whether certain forms of media are especially stressful for you. For example, if the television news programs or social media news outlets are getting to you, consider reading newspaper articles instead. You don’t have to bombard yourself to stay informed.
Avoid the topic with contentious relatives. You may love Uncle John, but if his politics raise your blood pressure, stick to safer subjects with him, add a buffer relative during your time with him or invite him to loud concerts instead of a meal out at a restaurant until the middle of November.
Try out yoga, meditation or breathing exercises. The Cleveland Clinic gives a detailed description of 4-7-8 breathing exercises, explaining that the method is good for easing stress and training your body to cope with new anxieties.
Embrace your own power. You live in a country where you have the power to take part in free elections. You can campaign and get out the vote or drive people to the polls. You can join causes you love. You can canvass in a local campaign. If the frustration of the election is what’s causing your unease, take action.
Limit screen time. You may be already doing so for your children if you’re a parent. Give yourself the same gift. Consider a 2022 review of multiple studies in Cureus, which identified too much screen time as leading to “declining physical, psychological health, and sleep patterns.”
Hike or walk on a trail with friends. Social connections are good for your health. Exercising relaxes you. Nature eases stress. And if you laugh? According to the Mayo Clinic, laughing can lower your stress level, bolster your immune system and even reduce pain. In other words, with one walk, you can put a dent in your election anxiety and aid your health in four different ways — while enjoying yourself.
For help dealing with stress, consider scheduling an appointment with the Sandra Eskenazi Mental Health Center at 317-880-8491. You can also reach out to your primary care provider with questions about it. For immediate mental health help, dial 9-8-8 (the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline) or the Sandra Eskenazi Mental Health Center emergency number at 317-880-8485.
Broderick Rhyant, M.D., chief physician executive with Eskenazi Health Center Grande