ORANGE PARK – What an election year! Just when we thought we saw it all in 2020, the 2024 presidential election campaign has served some real surprises, including an assassination attempt and the current president stepping away from the race at the 11th hour.
Locally, days before the August primary election in St. John’s County, controversy marred the Florida House District 13 race with accusations and a lawsuit against incumbent Rep. Angie Nixon, who prevailed in the Democratic primary. Former Rep. Corrine Brown claimed Nixon had a role in distributing false voter guides. Nixon denied involvement.
In addition, an interparty GOP fight, much of which centers around growth plans near historic St. Augustine, became so heated that a sitting county commissioner faced criminal prosecution for raising the upcoming election at a meeting earlier this year.
Is it any wonder that a July poll by the American Psychiatric Association showed that 73% of respondents felt anxious about the election, regardless of their political affiliation?
Additional election stressors include legal cases, a presumed battle for preserving democracy, extreme weather events, international conflicts, the fight for bodily and reproductive autonomy, the economy and immigration.
Another unsettling element of election anxiety is the feeling that you cannot control the election's outcome, even when you vote for the candidate you support. This can be incredibly stressful for Gen Z, the nation’s youngest voters, who will live with the election's consequences for many years.
Emotions in the lead-up to the election can range from fear to anger, stress to sadness and fear for the future.
These emotions can be good when channeled into ways we can make a difference. This can include seeking information about candidates, volunteering with organizations consistent with our beliefs and values, and voting. While voting does not give you control of the outcome, it is an affirming action that can help you feel heard.
However, if feelings of stress and anxiety, such as sadness, worry, hopelessness or physical tension, are overwhelming or persist for a long time, it is essential to find ways to manage them.
First, it’s essential to understand what may be causing your stress and anxiety. It’s most likely uncertainty. Instead of envisioning the worst-case scenario, focus on things you do have control over.
Part of taking control is to limit how much news you view. Even social media is loaded with messages about the election. Please feel free to take a break if you are getting agitated by news and social media.
Another way to take control is to do meaningful things, whether they are election-related or not. It could be volunteering to deliver meals or picking up the trash in the neighborhood. Research shows that meaningful activities improve overall well-being. Also, working at the polls, encouraging others to vote or volunteering for an organization can help you regain control by connecting you to something positive and hopeful.
Taking control also includes doing things that bring you joy in the present, taking the focus off worrying about the future. Exercise helps relieve stress, and mindfulness techniques bring awareness to the present. Between now and the election, other things will happen in your life.
Encouraging social connections during an election where sides are taken and heated discussions may seem counterintuitive. Staying connected to friends and family is vital for support and helps you recognize that you aren’t alone and that others are struggling with similar feelings. Just be sure to create boundaries, such as avoiding arguing about the election with people who do not share your beliefs. Boundaries help us stay mentally, physically and emotionally safe.
Headspace, a free website that provides evidence-based meditation and mindfulness tools, has developed “Politics without Panic” at headspace.com/election. The site includes a quiz to assess election stress and a series of meditations and exercises to deal with political uncertainty or help set boundaries.
Stress and anxiety are normal human emotions and part of the fight or flight response that keeps us safe. However, when they become overwhelming and interfere with daily life, you may want to seek help from a mental and behavioral health professional.
While the months leading up to the election may seem far from unifying, we must remember that we are all together.
Dr. Delia Glisette-Toledo is a psychiatrist who offers services such as psychiatry, transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and medication management. She has Orange Park and Jacksonville offices of Elite DNA Behavioral Health, one of the largest mental health providers in the state. Elite DNA Behavioral Health provides in-person and virtual behavioral health services to children, adolescents and adults.
