Election Anxiety

“We’ve never done this before. These are unchartered waters.”

-Chloe Brodner, LCPC, The Josselyn Center.

We’ve never had an election of this magnitude during a global pandemic with the country so divided, and it’s creating widespread stress and anxiety. In fact, a recent survey from the American Psychological Association reported nearly 70% of respondents say that the 2020 U.S. presidential election is a significant source of stress.

What can you do about all the uncertainty and overwhelming feelings of worry and fear? CATCH: Community Action Together for Children's Health reached out to the The Josselyn Center in Northfield and spoke with Chloe Brodner, LCPC who provided strategies for adults and children to manage the coming days.

Focus on What’s in Your Control

“Make sure you vote, talk to friends and family about voting, get your ballot in, and make sure it’s correct. At the same time, talk to your kids about the candidates and how voting works,” Brodner said, explaining that focusing on what is in your control is key to managing strong emotions. It goes hand-in-hand with radical acceptance, which is identifying and accepting what is in your control and what is not. Ultimately, it allows you to tolerate discomfort.

Prioritize Self-Care

Most of the time, we have control over taking care of ourselves; meeting our basic needs is important. Make sure you sleep enough consistently; stick to healthy, balanced meals; drink plenty of water and limit caffeine; exercise regularly; and connect with others. All of this will be especially helpful on election day. “Stay busy, exercise and connect with people you feel safe enough to talk to about the election,” said Brodner, adding, “If you are feeling worked up, turn off your phone and take a walk.”

Remember Self-Compassion & Grace

When your emotions are particularly intense, give yourself grace and compassion by allowing yourself to experience the feelings. Avoid the judgement that comes with telling yourself how you should and shouldn’t be feeling. “Shoulds” can lead to shame and self-doubt. Rather, Brodner said, surrender to the anxiety by accepting all of your emotions. “If you push them down, they come out in other ways like anger. We really encourage people to ride the wave of anxiety,” she said.

Similarly, Emily and Amelia Nagoski, sisters and authors of Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle, remind us that getting all the way through strong emotions is critical to our well being. They write: "To be well is not to live in a state of perpetual safety and calm but to move fluidly from a state of adversity, risk, adventure or excitement back to safety and calm and out again. Stress is not bad for you… being "stuck" is bad for you. " You can hear more from them in this podcast with Brené Brown.

Set Boundaries & Limits

Exposure to social media and news reports can be extremely anxiety provoking. Shutting it down completely may be unrealistic, so Brodner suggests setting time limits and turning off notifications.

Likewise, interacting with people who have different views than yours may be difficult at this moment, so establish boundaries. Brodner offered specific language to manage these situations such as:

• I’m not in the headspace to have this conversation right now.
• We clearly have different views, and I would like to take a break from interacting for a few weeks.
• We are seeing things differently. It would be better for me to reconnect at another time.

Seek Gratitude

Practicing gratitude is especially helpful in alleviating anxiety and depression, and focusing on the most basic and simple things in life can make a difference. “Feeling grateful for your health, your family’s health, the food on your table and the roof over your head can bring relief,” said Brodner, “This is a big, scary time, so focus on the little things that are going to bring joy.”

About The Josselyn Center

Demand for mental health services at The Josselyn Center has jumped a whopping 40% since the pandemic hit. In addition to responding to the growing needs for support for children, adolescents and adults, Josselyn is offering free counseling sessions to first responders and hospital staff until this COVID-19 crisis is over.

Josselyn provides psychiatric and supportive services under Medicaid and Medicare, offers a sliding fee, and accepts several insurance programs. It’s able to set fees based on a client’s income, thanks to grants, partnerships, and the generous support of individuals in our community.