Managing Your Mental Health During Presidential Election Season

Available with English captions.

Turn on your TV today, and you’re likely to be bombarded by political ads. Check your social media feeds, and chances are you’ll run across someone’s rant about this party or that politician. Show up at just about any social event, and you’re all but certain to get an earful of unsolicited advice on how you should vote.

The 2024 election is barreling toward us, and there’s no denying a lot is at stake. But despite the inherent stress and uncertainty of the season, there are concrete and proven ways to maintain your mental well-being in the weeks ahead.

So just what do the experts suggest when it comes to managing difficult situations or an uncertain future? How can you stay focused amid the constant flurry of political distractions? And where can you turn if things start to feel overwhelming?

Audience Questions

Mark Longsjo, LICSW, explores the mental health pitfalls often presented by elections, offers practical tips for addressing the anxiety and depression they can trigger, and answers questions about managing our news consumption and navigating difficult political conversations with loved ones and colleagues.

  • Why do many people find the election season so stressful?
  • Have we become more divided? And is the stress of the election season becoming more pronounced?
  • Is where and how we consume our news information affecting our viewpoint?
  • Do we instinctively choose news outlets that will reinforce our viewpoints?
  • How does stress impact our lives physiologically and psychologically?
  • Can everyday stress develop into anxiety disorders?
  • How can we become more self-aware and recognize when we are struggling with stress and anxiety?
  • What are some of the key triggers that may be raising our stress level around politics and around the election cycle?
  • Is it common to feel uncomfortable about political uncertainty, and what should we know about navigating uncertainty?
  • Can other mental health challenges such as anxiety disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), and addiction exacerbate the stress surrounding elections?
  • How can someone manage feeling like their life is on hold until the election cycle is over and feeling that they do not have any control over their anxiety surrounding elections?
  • How do we balance the kind of information we take in and are exposed to?
  • What are some general suggestions for caring for ourselves during stressful times?
  • How do we know if it is time to ask for professional help for anxiety?
  • Can acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) be helpful in dealing with election stress?
  • How do you maintain relationships when you and the other person have different views of the election and the topics, and you experience microaggressions?
  • How can clinicians manage patients who insist on bringing their political views into the therapy session?
  • How can clinicians work with patients on the psychosis spectrum who may experience some paranoia around elections?
  • How can you support someone who is struggling with election stress?
  • What strategies can adults use to best support children and young people with anxiety?
  • How can you help someone who is fixated on a political topic?
  • Where can you find additional support when you and your social support system disagree about political issues?
  • What are some suggestions for coping after the election if the candidate you support does not win?
  • How can clinicians use ACT with patients managing election stress and feeling left out or out of synch with the country because of their political views?
  • What can teachers do to help kids and young adults navigate some negativity and stress surrounding elections?
  • Are there neutral words or phrases that one can use to respectfully disagree with others?
  • How can one keep their emotions from overruling an intellectual understanding of how to handle a politically-charged conversation?
  • What are some ways to help diffuse the tension when interacting with someone with different political opinions?
  • When is it appropriate for a clinician to suggest medical leave from school or work for their patients?
  • How can one find professional help to manage the stress and anxiety surrounding the election?

The information discussed is intended to be educational and should not be used as a substitute for guidance provided by your health care provider. Please consult with your treatment team before making any changes to your care plan.

Resources

You may also find this information useful:

About Mark Longsjo

Mark Longsjo, LICSW, is the senior director of McLean SouthEast, a satellite location of McLean Hospital in Middleborough, MA. His area of professional interest is in adult mental health, and he has longstanding clinical presence in McLean’s social work department, human rights committee, inpatient programs, partial hospital programs, and emergency department contracts.

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