Do you have trouble sleeping? Do you wake up in a panic about that New York Times headline or the latest poll? Does talking about politics make you anxious, uneasy or sweaty? Are you losing your hair, your cuticles, or your friends?
If you nodded along to these questions, you may have Election Stress Disorder (or Voter Stress Disorder). And you’re not alone. According to an American Psychological Association study, one in four employees are negatively affected by political talk at work this election season. Working in a newsroom, I assume these numbers are even higher. According to the Washington Post, 50 percent of voters said that Clinton made them anxious, and 70 percent said Trump did.
All of this stress is, well, stressful. And it’s bad for you. Stress activates a fight-or-flight response in our bodies, and our bodies respond with a surge of hormones, like cortisol and adrenaline. Our heart rates, blood pressure and blood sugar go up. It affects our digestive and immune systems. It alters our moods, our sleep, and our decision making. Stress is not meant to be a prolonged state, but no one told that to our political system.
For over a year, I have been suffering from this sweaty election disorder. As an anxious person to begin with, managing stressful situations can be a struggle. Working in a newsroom during this election cycle has not made things easier. But, over the past year, I’ve found some techniques to cope with the stress. And if you found yourself hunched over like a pretzel knot, screaming at your TV during the first debate, hopefully some of the techniques will help. ('Cause we got two more to go!)
People have different reactions to dealing with stress. Some people like to avoid the topic that stresses them out, while others want to know as much as possible. Each person has different stressors and different coping methods. I find myself in the "know as much as possible" camp. I get FOMO when I miss out on a news event, or a TV extravaganza like "Grease Live." For an event like the debate, I hunker down with a glass (or two) (OK, three) of wine, and Twitter at the ready. I find that watching the debate with millions of other people commenting in real time makes me less likely to scream at my television set and pick my cuticles.
I acknowledge that I follow people on Twitter with similar belief sets, who reinforce my political beliefs. But that makes getting through the stress of a debate more tolerable for me. Also, following comedians on Twitter helps me laugh through all the nonsense.
If Twitter stresses you out, or watching the debates live stresses you out, know yourself, and pick another evening activity.
I find that when I’m stressed, moving around or doing a simple task calms me down. At work, I have a Tangle Relax Therapy toy, that keeps my hands moving and my stress levels low. At home, I like to distract myself a little further. I’ve been painting Jenga blocks to make my own (adult) version of the game, I have an adult coloring book, I bake, I clean the apartment. I try not to obsessively check Twitter or the news, unless something is breaking news. It’s important to unplug and unwind, especially before bed. I now understand why so many people take up knitting.
If you don’t want to totally disconnect from election news but want a distraction, I highly recommend watching or re-watching "Parks and Rec." The show cleverly and hysterically scales down our current political climate to small town local politics, and it’s magic. "30 Rock," "Arrested Development" and "New Girl" are also great distractions.
If you feel like you need a laugh, but also want to keep up with the news of the day, you’ve got a lot of late night TV options. Samantha Bee, Seth Meyers, James Corden and Stephen Colbert are all producing funny, smart and poignant commentaries on the election cycle.
Or you can watch videos of puppies, like Buzzfeed provided on Facebook Live during the debate. Or read a book. I heard that’s what people used to do back in the day.
According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, exercise is “very effective at reducing fatigue, improving alertness and concentration, and at enhancing overall cognitive function.” Also, endorphins are awesome.
Deep breathing exercises also help your body produce endorphins. My favorite: Take one deep breath in through your nose, and slowly release the breath in three slow exhales through your mouth. Repeat until your heart rate goes down. (Maybe don't do this one on the T.)
Punching things also feels good! Find a boxing gym near you, and I guarantee, if you don’t feel less stressed, you’ll at least feel slightly like a badass.
I also recommend a peaceful yoga class, or a barre class, or a spin class. Whatever gets you distracted, feeling good, and sweaty for reasons other than stress.
Talking about politics is a personal choice. Some people freely bring it up at dinner, others reserve their political commentary for Twitter, or for screaming at their radio. (tune into WGBH 89.7 for something to scream at!) If you’re in a situation where everyone is talking politics and you don’t want to, disengage from the conversation and awkwardly pretend to look something up on your phone.
If you have a friend, or a family member who works you up about the election, stop talking to them about the election. Often times when my mother and I talk about politics, we feed off of each other’s nervous energy, until we feel worse about the situation. It’s best to not engage and talk about something else. Like the weather.
If none of these help, you can always pull a Thoreau and disappear into the woods to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life. I heard Walden Pond is nice this time of year, and there’s spotty cell service.
Disclaimer: I am not an expert in stress or anxiety. But I aman anxious millennial.
