Is Election Anxiety Keeping You Awake at Night?

This is a non-partisan article intentionally designed not to sell you anything. 
Not a product or a service or a political point of view. These words are to offer you a refuge 
from the present stress and some tips on how to find some peace.  I hope it helps.  Harmony

ARTICLE READ BY HARMONY THIESSEN

Election Anxiety – How to Find Personal Calm in Political Chaos

Trust me, you’re not alone if you feel overwhelmed by the current political climate. Election anxiety is valid, your concerns are understandable, and your emotional exhaustion is a natural response to the rhetoric and politically motivated anger in the air.

I invite you to take a moment, take a deep breath, let it out slowly, and give yourself time to read this article or listen to the audio version. You can find a place of peace inside yourself without giving up your firmly held values.

You’re Part of a Long Human Story

First, it might help to know that you’re not the first to feel this way. Throughout history, countless Americans have grappled with similar fears and anxieties during pivotal elections. During the Great Depression, families huddled around radios, their hearts heavy with uncertainty about their future. In 1968, a nation divided by civil rights struggles and the Vietnam War experienced collective anxiety that mirrors what many feel today. Even the seemingly distant election of 1860, which proceeded with the Civil War, saw families and friends struggling with emotions that might feel familiar to you right now – fear, uncertainty, and worry about the future of their nation.

There is no question about the stakes of the 2024 US presidential election. All sides see this election as a pivotal point in our history. I don’t negate its importance. Yet the life of this nation of individuals has continued for 248 years as of this writing. It will continue, in one form or another, after you and I are gone.  So I write to the people. To your life, your loves, your joy, and precious moments. I write for your health, your heart, blood pressure, and addictions. I write to your mental well-being, view on life, and ability to experience the wonder of being alive.  You and I are more than politics.

Recognizing What’s Happening Within You

If you’ve noticed changes in yourself lately, you’re not imagining things. Many people are experiencing what Dr. Steven Stosny calls “election stress disorder.” Do any of the symptoms sound familiar?

• Your mind races when you should be sleeping
• You find yourself checking news updates compulsively. Regular tasks feel harder to focus on
• Your stomach tightens when politics comes up
• You feel distant from loved ones who view things differently
• Simple disagreements feel more intense than they should

These are natural responses to stress, not signs of weakness. Your body and mind are reacting to what they perceive as a threat. Understanding this is the first step toward finding balance.

The Hidden Cost of the Load You Carry

Take a moment to reflect: When was the last time you fully enjoyed a family dinner without politics creeping into your thoughts? When did you last have a lighthearted conversation with that friend whose views differ from yours? What simple pleasures have you been missing while your mind has been occupied with political concerns?

Dr. Brené Brown, who has spent years studying human connection, puts it beautifully: “When we stop caring about what people think about our political opinions and start caring about being in relationship with them, everything changes.” This isn’t about abandoning your values but reclaiming your right to joy, connection, and peace of mind.

How to Find Your Way Back to Peace

Here are practical steps you can take:

1. Set Loving Boundaries: It’s okay to limit your news exposure. Dr. Daniel Goleman suggests checking updates at specific times rather than constantly throughout the day. Allow your mind to focus on the things that concern and reward your daily life.

2. Create Safety Zones: Designate specific spaces or times as politics-free. Maybe it’s the dinner table, Sunday afternoons, or your bedroom. These become your sanctuary spaces.

3. Reconnect with Joy: What activities used to please you before politics consumed so much mental space?  Maybe your job?  The commute to work listening to your favorite music? Reading, gardening, cooking, walking? These aren’t frivolous – they’re essential to your well-being.

4. Preserve Precious Relationships: Dr. Robert Waldinger’s 75-year Harvard study on happiness reveals that good relationships are the key to a fulfilling life. Can you find ways to connect with loved ones beyond political discussions?

The limitations we believe become the reality we experience. We can change that!