Stress about the elections? You can find help here

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change can be stressful under any circumstances, but a change in who controls the government can be particularly fraught – especially in a country as politically divided as the US.

Groups including the Crisis Text Line, where people can text problems and connect with trained volunteers, are beefing up their services as the election approaches. That’s based on what they saw on election night in 2016, when 30% of texts had to do with election anxiety, and in 2020, when 40% of texts did.

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

At the national 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, officials have been preparing for a wave of calls since September, based on the spikes around Election Day during the previous two elections. “We know calls will peak the day before and the day of the election, and people are reaching out because of anxiety, depression and fear of the future,” said Tia Dole, chief 988 suicide and crisis lifeline officer. Dole says advisors there are ready to respond to the increase in call volume. “Our hope is that by planning this far ahead, we will not see longer wait times.”

Why the elections cause so much stress

A recent one questionnaire conducted by the American Psychological Association (APA) confirms the growing anxiety people are feeling as Election Day approaches. About 69% of respondents said the presidential election was a major source of stress in their lives. “People are very concerned about the future of the nation,” said Arthur Evans, CEO of the APA. “And that applies to all political affiliations – whether Republican, Democratic or Independent.”

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

“Americans view the election as much more consequential than in the past and put more weight on the outcome of the election, so the consequences of what happens if their party wins or loses are much greater,” says Evans. “People are internalizing the message that every election now is an existential threat to our way of life and the country as we know it.”

Call it a national case of doomscrolling. “There’s a sense that if the other side wins, my lifestyle, freedoms and whatever people care about will change quite drastically,” Evans says, given the threats to reproductive rights and those of LGBTQIA+ groups. color and immigrants.

Drawing on data from past election cycles, Turner says these concerns typically take the form of conflict with friends and family who hold different political views, fear, disappointment in political leaders and despair about the future. “We see people who are overwhelmed by the news and the state of the world,” she says.

How crisis centers respond to election stress

Crisis Text Line has created a special keyword – “elections” or “elecciones” in Spanish – that allows users to text to indicate that they are specifically concerned or stressed about the election. This alerts the advisors manning the lines that the copywriter’s concerns relate to the elections. Counselors are given tip sheets to help guide callers to helpful resources, whether that’s a local mental health professional or unbiased information that can ease their fears about specific election uncertainties. “Everyone is aware of what an unprecedented time this is,” Turner said. “Our training is an ongoing, iterative process, so as we see trends emerging, we can update and revise our tip sheets.”

The counselors are trained in active listening, so people in crisis know they are heard and taken seriously. The counselors try to work with people to find previously successful coping strategies and past experiences that texters can draw on to alleviate some of their election problems. related anxiety. Leading up to Election Day, Crisis Text Line will add more supervisors: trained mental health professionals who will supervise counselors.

This kind of support is crucial for those who feel like they have nowhere to turn when their political views differ from those of their friends and loved ones, Evans says. In the APA survey, a third of people said politics has led to strained relationships with those closest to them, while a third say they actually spend less time with their families because of conflicting political ideologies.

It’s also important to ensure that the advisors responding to the requests are supported, Dole says, because they are likely experiencing the same election-related tensions. “Sometimes they want to feel sorry and say, ‘I’m terrified too,’ but they have to stay neutral and help callers,” Dole says. “So we’re giving them language to help support them and we’ve been working on self-care and talking to them about limiting social media exposure. Some people find comfort in action, and others find comfort in focusing on themselves, and both paths are valid.” Because 988’s primary function is to de-escalate fear and stress and connect people to helpful local resources, much of what counselors can do is listen to and acknowledge feelings, uncertainty, or concerns.

For example, counselors can help people find comfort in routines, which can reduce their anxiety, and ensure they have a social network or community of people who share similar views. Writing out a plan for dealing with stress can help people stick with it. “Stress can have a snowball effect,” says Dole. “At 988 everything revolves around preventative work.”

How to deal with election anxiety

There are ways to deal with election stress, Evans says, and the tension doesn’t have to lead to negative consequences. Despite being worried about the election, 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 compared to 45% of people who indicated that they felt this way in the previous period. election. “Psychological research shows that one of the ways we can reduce anxiety or stress around a situation is to feel more in control and become involved, and work to change the situation,” says Evans. “So it’s a good sign that people still feel motivated enough to participate in political activities.”

Encouragingly, more than 80% of people said they felt it was important to listen to and understand people with different perspectives, even if they disagreed. “The way to have those conversations is not by trying to convince the other person to adopt your worldview,” says Evans, “but by explaining why I support my person, and hearing why the other person supports his or her person supports. That’s a way that people who disagree can still have a civil conversation and maybe not stir up fear.”

The survey also found that despite feeling stressed, people are still optimistic about the change the election can bring. About two-thirds said they believed the election would result in a more inclusive society — and that was true even for people belonging to Latino and LGBTQIA+ groups, who remain stressed about their personal safety.

“People’s motivation to be involved, and to still believe in the voting process, and still want to hear the other side, are all good signs that things are not as bad as you might think based on other election-related stresses . trends,” says Evans.

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