Election stress? You will find help here

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Change can be stressful under any circumstances, but a change in who controls the government can be especially tense – especially in a place as politically divided as the United States

Groups that include a crisis hotline where people can text their problems and connect with trained volunteers are beefing up their services as the election approaches. They rely on what they observed on election night in 2016, when 30% of texts were about election anxiety, and in 2020, when it was 40% of texts.

“We are preparing for what we believe will be a surge,” says Dr. Shairi Turner, chief health officer at Crisis Text Line. “Everyone is aware of what an unprecedented time this is, where we’ve seen really big changes in policy at the national and state level, and that’s causing stress.”

Officials at the national 988 suicide and crisis hotline have been bracing for a surge in calls since September, following an increase in calls around Election Day during the previous two elections. “We know that call volume will increase the day before and on Election Day, with people coming to us with anxiety, depression and fear for the future,” says Tia Dole, director of 988 suicide and crisis services. Dole says advisors there are ready to respond to the increase in call volume. “We hope that by planning so far in advance we won’t have to wait any longer.”

Why elections cause so much stress

Recent questionnaire conducted by the American Psychological Association (APA) confirms the growing anxiety people feel as Election Day approaches. About 69% of respondents said the presidential election was a significant source of stress in their lives. “People are very concerned about the future of the nation,” says Arthur Evans, APA chief executive. “And that’s consistent regardless of political affiliation – whether it’s Republican, Democrat or independent.”

While election stress levels are about the same as 2020, according to APA, this year’s political anxiety has some unique features. About 72% of people expressed concern about the election results, fearing the outcome could lead to violence, and more than half believed the results could mean “the end of democracy in the US.” These concerns run deep enough that about 40% said they are considering moving to another country or state because of the current political climate.

“Americans see elections as much more important than in the past and pay more attention to the outcome of the election, so the consequences of what happens if their side wins or loses will be much greater,” Evans says. “People are internalizing the message that every election now poses an existential threat to our way of life and the country as we know it.”

Let’s call it a national case of doomscrolling. “There is a sense that if the other side wins, my lifestyle, freedoms and everything that people consider important to them will change dramatically,” says Evans, given the threats to reproductive rights and LGBTQIA+ groups, people of color and immigrants .

Based on data from past election cycles, Turner says these worries typically take the form of conflicts with friends and family with opposing political views, anxiety, disillusionment with political leaders and despair about the future. “We see people overwhelmed by the news and the state of the world,” he says.

How crisis centers respond to election stress

The Crisis text line has created a special keyword – “elections” or “elecciones” in Spanish – that users can text to indicate they are particularly concerned or stressed about the election. This alerts advisors manning the lines that the writer’s concerns are about the election. Counselors are provided with tip sheets designed to help callers connect to helpful resources, whether that’s a local mental health professional or unbiased information that can address their concerns about specific election uncertainties. “Everyone realizes what an unprecedented time this is,” Turner says. “Our training is a continuous, iterative process, so as we see emerging trends, we can update and revise our cue sheets.”

Counselors are trained in active listening, which helps people in crisis know they are heard and taken seriously, and counselors strive to work with people to find previous effective coping strategies and past experiences that texters can draw on , to alleviate some of the election-related issues. related anxiety. Before Election Day, the Crisis Text Line will hire additional supervisors: trained mental health professionals who will supervise counselors.

This type of support is crucial for those who may feel they have no one to turn to if their political views differ from those of their friends and loved ones, Evans says. In the APA survey, one-third of people said politics had led to strained relationships with loved ones, and one-third said they actually spent less time with family because of conflicting political ideologies.

“It’s also important to provide support to advisors responding to requests,” Dole says, because they’re likely experiencing the same election-related stress. “Sometimes they want to sympathize and say, ‘I’m scared too,’ but they have to stay neutral and help the callers,” Dole says. “So we’re giving them language to help support them, working on self-care and talking to them about limiting their exposure to social media. Some people find comfort in action and others in self-centeredness, and both paths are valid. Because the primary function of the 988 call is to relieve anxiety and stress and connect people with helpful local resources, counselors can, in most cases, listen and acknowledge feelings, uncertainties or worries.

For example, counselors can help people find comfort in routines, which can reduce their anxiety, and provide them with a social network or community of like-minded people. Writing a stress management plan can help people follow through with it. “Stress can snowball,” Dole says. “988 is all about prevention.”

How to overcome pre-election anxiety

There are ways to deal with election stress, Evans says, and that stress doesn’t have to lead to negative consequences. Despite reporting election anxiety, about 77% of people said they planned to vote, and half said they felt more motivated to volunteer or support causes they believe in – an increase from 45% of people who reported such feelings in the previous year’s selection. “Psychological research shows that one way to reduce anxiety and stress about a situation is to feel more in control, get involved, and work to change the situation,” says Evans. “It’s a good sign that people still feel motivated enough to engage in political activity.”

Read more: : Why zero stress shouldn’t be your goal

Encouragingly, over 80% of people said they thought it was important to listen to and understand people with different points of view, even if they disagreed with them. “The way to have these conversations is not to try to convince the other person to adopt your worldview,” Evans says, “but to explain why I support my person and hear why the other person supports them. This way, people who disagree can still have a civil conversation and perhaps not cause concern.”

The survey also found that despite the stress, people remain optimistic about the change the election could bring. About two-thirds said they believed the election would lead to a more inclusive society — and this included even Latinx and LGBTQIA+ people who are stressed about their safety.

“People being motivated to engage in the voting process, and continuing to be willing to hear the other side, are good signs that the situation is not as bad as it might seem based on other election stress trends,” Evans says.

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