Another election has come and gone. You may have spent the last few months in a constant state of anxiety, nerves, and stress. When you woke up the morning the election results were posted, those feelings may have worsened.
No matter how you voted or who you wanted to win, we'll officially have a new president in January. With a new person taking over, change is inevitable.
If you're still struggling with the election results and are uncertain about what's to come, you're definitely not alone. Many Americans all across the United States share that same sentiment. While we may not be able to change the results of the election or fast forward four more years, you can control the ways you cope with this news. This is how you can cope with political anxiety.
Limit Your Media Consumption
A lot of people tend to gravitate towards their devices when they're feeling bored or are trying to relax and unwind after a long day. It's important to be mindful of what you're reading or scrolling through. If you find yourself on news sites or reading people's views on social media, these types of interactions may have the opposite effect for you. After mindlessly scrolling, you may even find yourself in a worse state of mind. You can prevent this from happening by limiting your media consumption. You don't have to completely go cold turkey, but giving yourself a certain timeframe during the day to read news or catch up on social media can help you not get sucked down a rabbit hole of doomscrolling.
Practice Mindfulness
After the election, you may find yourself living in the past or even the future. With Trump winning the election, you may feel transported back to 2017-2021 during his first term. You also may be thinking about all the changes that may be made during his next term. It's important to remember that you can't change the past, and worrying about the future won't do you any good. What you can do instead is to try to keep yourself grounded and live in the present moment again. You can do this with the help of mindfulness. Activities like deep breathing, yoga, or meditation can help calm your mind and shift your focus back to the present moment.
Get Involved
Conversations about politics can be anxiety-provoking. You may be hesitant to express your views due to uncertainty about how the other person may respond. While this is totally fair and valid, you also don't want to hold all of that inside of you. During this time, try to lean on your loved ones who share similar beliefs so that you can work through your emotions together. You can also find a support group or club with like-minded individuals so you have an outlet. This is a great way to get yourself out there, be social, and also actively work to support causes and views that you believe in.
Seek Additional Support
If you find yourself struggling to adjust to the results or the changes that may take place in the next four years, remember that you're not alone. You don't have to sit with these thoughts and feelings until the next election. It's important to get help sooner rather than later so your signs and symptoms don't become worse. Working with a mental health professional can help equip you with the right tools and techniques to better manage how you're feeling. Reach out today to learn more about how spiritual therapy can be beneficial for you and the anxiety you're experiencing.