Three Tips for Coping With Stress and Political Anxiety: How to deal with political stress
It's February, and the election is over. But for many people, the emotional hangover still lingers. Regardless of where you stand on the ideological spectrum, regime shifts create a lot of change economically and politically, and one thing we know is that change often leads to stress.
Here are 3 tips to help you navigate uncertainty and deal with political anxiety in 2025.
Tip 1: Brace for Impact
One thing you can count on is constant change. While many changes this year are unprecedented, it is wise to expect and prepare emotionally for more change.
If you are suffering from political anxiety and find yourself worried about the next change that you can’t control, choose instead to expect change and prepare emotionally for it.
Tip 2: Focus on What You Can Control
When the world constantly changes, your life may feel out of control. You can not control the decisions of lawmakers, but you can control how you spend your time, what you read, what you watch, and the tons of other choices you make each day.
Positive and practical choices you can make that will help you feel better are:
Sleep: Make sure that you get plenty of sleep every night. Research shows that sleep hygiene impacts our mood and overall health. (Source: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8280471/#:~:text=Multivariate%20Analysis:%20Binary%20Logistic%20Regression,anxiety%20status%20(Table%202)
Morning “Me” Time: Give yourself time at the beginning of each day to prepare emotionally for what is ahead. You will not be able to predict what may happen that day. So avoid walking into it emotionally raw. During your morning “me” time, you can meditate, pray, cry, or do anything you want. The goal is to process your feelings and wash off the emotional residue of the previous day so that you can start your day fresh.
Take a Break from Screens: Television and social media can be great entertainment, but they also can increase anxiety. Turn the TV off. Taking more time away from your screen can help you feel more peace. Recent studies have shown a connection between social media usage and anxiety/depression. (Source: https://health.ucdavis.edu/blog/cultivating-health/social-medias-impact-our-mental-health-and-tips-to-use-it-safely/2024/05#:~:text=Mental%20health%20impacts,chemical%22%20linked%20to%20pleasurable%20activities)
Do What Makes You Happiest: This is a great time to get a hobby and lean into what truly makes you happy. Social media and the world around you may not be able to give you the dopamine hits that you are looking for. So find ways to give yourself those hits in different ways. Some ways to get those emotional boosts include watching a funny movie, taking a walk, working out, spending time with friends or family, and learning a new hobby or skill.
Tip 3: Get Help
The best way to prepare for a bumpy emotional ride is to seek help. Reach out to your network of friends and safe individuals so that you have people to talk to about your feelings. Holding on to the fear or trying to ignore it will not work in the long run.
If talking to your friends and family is not possible (or not helping) you should reach out to a licensed therapist or counselor for support. Talking to an impartial professional who is trained to help you navigate your emotions may be the missing piece in your mental health journey.
Conclusion:
There is no way to predict or control the future. Political change highlights that fact and can expose latent stress and anxiety. By choosing to focus on what you can control, seek help, and brace for impact, you can equip yourself to make it through challenging times and thrive - not just survive.