Election Stress

People are in very different places related to their views and feelings about the election. Some people hold strong opinions about one candidate or another and others don’t care at all and are just relieved that the commercials and pop up ads are going to end soon.  Life as a teenager is already stressful and the election is just one more component that can be adding to the stress in the lives of many students.

I am not sure if we will wake up tomorrow knowing the outcome of the election or if things will still be too close to call, but I do anticipate that there will be LOTS of people on TV and social media stirring up drama, emotions and stress.  Remember, political talk has dominated social media and the news for months leading up to today and so it is normal to expect that this will continue in the months following the election as well.  It is helpful to remember that ratings and clicks matter to those working in the news media and while they are trying to inform us about the news, they are also trying to boost their ratings at the same time.  As a result, it is important to be careful to prevent yourself from getting sucked down into a dark place by watching too much news or by engaging in unproductive, unhealthy interactions.  Worrying can give you something to do, but often it isn't helping you.  So once you acknowledge that your anxiety is there for a reason, it is important to shift your focus to things within your control.

How can you do this?  By staying present.  Feel what you are feeling – whatever that might be and allow those feelings to have the space in your body and mind.  Express those feelings in ways that are safe, healthy and productive.  Actively work to embrace and spread joy as a way to counter the negativity born from the negative political battles.  You control what you contribute to society, which can be as simple as saying hi to your neighbor or holding open the door for a stranger.  You also control what you do to help yourself.  Below are some notes from the Crisis Text Line on ways that you can help yourself during this stressful time.

 Acknowledge and accept your feelings. It is completely normal to feel stressed or disappointed. Recognize and accept these feelings and allow yourself to process everything. If you’re sad, be sad. 

Talk to others. Remember that you’re not the only person feeling this way. Try not to isolate yourself and open up to someone you trust. 

Write it down. If you don’t feel like talking, write it down. Pouring your feelings out on paper is a good way to unravel your thoughts. If you don’t have access to pen and paper, there are great journaling apps. Most phones also have a “notes” feature you could use. 

Unplug from the news and social media. Put some space between yourself and the election coverage to prevent an overload of emotions. It’s understandable to want to be in the know, but set a timer for how long you’ll indulge in the media. Invest your spare time into self-care instead.

Practice self-care. Self-care is extremely important in all aspects of life. This could mean curling up with your favorite book, watching your favorite shows, exercising, or taking a nice, long, bath. It can be anything as long as it is an activity that disconnects your thoughts from current events.

Regarding self-care, I will add to that suggestion to at least do the easy things – move your body, stretch and take some deep breaths.  It sounds simple, but it makes a difference.

Over time, as you work to understand and adjust to the stress and the election outcomes, I would like to remind you that this is more of an “AND” situation – not an “or” situation.  You can be disappointed about the outcome AND still have hope that better days will be ahead.  You can be relieved by the outcome AND still recognize that others are not feeling that same way.  You can be frustrated by the opposing beliefs that someone else around you holds AND still choose to be accepting of them as people.  We all have individual responsibilities and steps to take to make the world a better place – so please, in the weeks ahead, do nice things for yourself and the people in your life including those who share your perspective and those who do not. 

Before I end, I want to share that part of what I love about my job as a school counselor is that I get to know so many of you well.  I love your passion, your intellect, your interests, your excitement, and the fact that NONE of you are exactly like anyone else.  You each have your own unique outlook and perspective.  You each have value that you contribute in ways that only you can.  In my heart, in my office, and in our school, you are respected and appreciated for all of the diverse backgrounds, ideas and outlooks that you hold.   My greatest wish is that each of you will know that YOU ALL MATTER HERE!