The American Psychiatric Association’s annual mental health poll shows that 43% of adults feel more anxious than they did last year. Of those adults, 73% say they feel anxious about the 2024 U.S. election. We did our own research, and we found that most of the political ads are negative here in Michigan, and this is impacting some people’s mental health. People say that the election is a trigger for anxiety and stress.
Here are some tips to take care of your mental health during election season.
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1) Know your limits
It’s important to stay in the know when it comes to politics, but it’s also important to know your own personal limits. There is no right or wrong level of exposure, it’s all about making limits and setting boundaries that work for you. You are the only person that can decide how much is too much. Once you know your limit, it’s important to stick to it.
2) Practice self-care
We’re all so busy nowadays, but it’s important to prioritize taking care of yourself. Focus on finding time to relax, whatever that means for you personally. It is easy to let self-care slip when you are overwhelmed and anxious, but anxiety can get even worse if you don’t set aside time for yourself. Try setting aside time to do something you enjoy and make you feel happy. You could do this by enjoying your favorite hobby or something even as simple as taking a deep breath.
3) Focus on what you can control
It’s easy to be swept into the whirlwind of it all but take a deep breath and remember what you can control.
Here is some things you can remind yourself you are in control of:
- Your words
- Your actions
- How you talk to yourself
- How you talk to others
- Your attitude
- Your priorities
Another thing you can remind yourself is that you are in control of your personal vote. Your vote is your voice.