Are You Filled with Elections? Here’s Where You Can Get Help

Conce can be stressful under any circumstances, but changing who controls the government can be especially difficult – especially in a place as politically divided as the US.

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

Dr. Shairi Turner, Crisis Text Line’s chief health officer says: “We are preparing for what we expect to be an influx. “Everyone knows how long this period is, we are not seeing major policy changes at the state and federal level, and that is causing stress.”

At the national 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, officials have been preparing since September for an increase in calls, based on the increase around Election Day during the past two elections. “We know that calls will increase the day before and on election day, and people are reaching out because of anxiety, stress and fear about the future,” says Tia Dole, chief executive officer of 988 Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Dole said counselors are ready to respond to the increased number of calls. “Our hope is that by planning ahead, we won’t see long wait times.”

Why elections cause stress

A recent survey conducted by the American Psychological Association (APA) confirms the increasing anxiety that people feel as Election Day approaches. About 69% of those surveyed said that the presidential election is the biggest source of stress in their lives. Arthur Evans, CEO of APA says: “People are very concerned about the future of society. “And that’s consistent with political parties — whether they’re Republican, Democrat or Independent.”

While election-related stress levels are about the same as in 2020, according to the APA, there are some unique aspects of this year’s political anxiety. About 72% of people expressed concern about the results of the election, fearing that the result could lead to violence, and more than half believe that the results could mean “the end of democracy in the US”. about 40% say they are considering moving to another country or country because of the current political situation.

Read more: How to Survive Election Time Without Losing Your Mind

“Americans see elections as more important than in the past and place more weight on the outcome of the election, so the consequences of what happens if their side wins or loses are very large,” the said Evans. “People are sending messages that every election is now a threat to our lives and the country as we know it.”

Call it a national case of doomscrolling. “There’s a sense that if one side wins, my lifestyle, freedom, and whatever else people believe is important to them will change dramatically,” Evans says, considering threats to reproductive rights and to LGBTQIA groups, people of color, and immigrants.

Based on data from past elections, Turner says these concerns often take the form of conflicts with friends and family who have different political views, anxiety, disappointment in political leaders and despair about the future. He says: “We see people are amazed by the news and the state of the world.

How crisis centers respond to electoral pressure

Crisis Text Line has created a keyword—”elections,” or “elections” in Spanish—that users can text (to 741741) to express that they are particularly worried or stressed about the election. That alerts law enforcement officials that the tweeter’s content is about elections. Counselors are given tip sheets to guide callers to resources, whether it’s a mental health professional or unbiased information that can ease their fears about some uncertainty about the election. “Everyone knows how unpredictable this is,” Turner says. “Our training is an ongoing, iterative process, so as we see trends emerge, we can refine and improve our tips pages.”

Read more: 9 Ways to Respond to Political Misinformation

Counselors are trained to listen carefully, which helps those who are suffering to know that they are being heard and taken seriously, and counselors try to work with people to find effective ways of coping with the situation and current experiences. past that the texters can use to reduce some of their choice- related concerns. Before Election Day, Crisis Text Line will be adding additional supervisors: trained mental health professionals who supervise counselors.

This kind of support is important for those who may feel like they have nowhere to turn if their political views differ from those of their friends and loved ones, says Evans. In an APA survey, a third of people said that politics has caused strained relationships with those close to them, and a third said they actually spend less time with family because of conflicting ideologies. of politics.

It is also important to ensure that consultants who respond to requests are supported, ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ Dole says: “Sometimes they want to be sad and say, ‘I’m scared too,’ but they have to stay neutral and help those who are waiting.” “So we’re giving them a voice to help support them and we’re working on self-care, and talk to them about reducing their exposure to social media. Some people find comfort in action, and others comfort by focusing on them, and both ways are right.” Because 988’s primary mission is to relieve anxiety and stress and connect people with helpful local resources, the most that counselors can do is listen and accept feelings or insecurities 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 like-minded people. Writing a stress management plan can help people implement it. “Stress can melt the snow,” says Dole. “988 is about prevention.”

How to manage election anxiety

There are ways to deal with election-related stress, says Evans, and stress doesn’t have to lead to negative outcomes. Despite reporting anxiety about the election, nearly 77% of people say they plan to vote, and half say they feel motivated to volunteer or support causes they believe in—an increase up from 45% of people who reported feeling that way in the past. elections. “From psychological research, one of the ways we know to reduce anxiety or stress around a situation is to feel in control and engaged, and work to change the situation,” says Evans. So it is a good sign that people still feel motivated enough to get involved in political activities.

Read more: Why Zero Stress Shouldn’t Be Your Goal

What is encouraging is that more than 80% of people said that they feel it is important to listen and understand people who have different opinions, even if they do not agree with them. “The way to have those conversations is not to try to convince the other person to accept your worldview, but to explain why I support my person, and to feel that why does someone support his person. That’s another way for dissenters to stay in touch with the community, perhaps without raising concerns. ”

The survey also revealed that although they feel stressed, people are still optimistic about the change that the elections can bring. Nearly two-thirds said they felt the election would result in an inclusive society — and the same was true of Latino and LGBTQIA+ people who are often burdened with their safety.

“People’s motivation to participate, and they still believe in the electoral process, they still want to hear the other side, are all good signs that things are not as bad as one might think based on election-related stress. methods,” says Evans.