Are you getting stressed out and anxious about the election? Depressed? Maybe just disgusted? It might be time to remember some important things about dealing with emotions.
Your emotions show that you care, that you are involved in our democratic process. Good for you! Also, remember that your emotions are natural states that can be a positive motivator for you. They need not be your enemy. Use emotions to motivate you to take actions that empower you. Go into “critical-thinking mode” by asking yourself some fundamental questions: Are you making a mountain out of a molehill? (“The future of humanity hinges on this election.”) Are you over-generalizing and being manipulated? (“Our entire electoral system is corrupt.”) Are you looking for logical inconsistencies between words and actions. (”FEMA is blocking disaster aid.”) from those whose pronouncements cause you worry? Do you ask yourself if you’re thinking irrationally or unrealistically (“The election will be rigged.”)? Granted, what has been said during this election can make it tough determining what may be an irrational fear (“Rapists, murderers, and drug dealers are coming by the thousands.”), but the fact remains, you must approach your emotions with some critical thinking. Think your fears through and seek out valid and reliable information.
If you have friends and acquaintances who support the candidate you do not, it helps to remember that they are entitled to their opinion, and you must respect that right. You do not, however, have to listen to them, and you have the right to tell them you do not want to talk about the election. If they persist, disengage from them. You may want to block, hide, or unfriend people from your social media accounts. But remember, those who talk loudest and longest about the wisdom and correctness of their opinion, are those who feel inadequate and insecure about the wisdom and correctness of their opinion. Psychologists call it “reaction formation.”
It might be helpful to shift your focus from the national level to your local elections. Many important issues exist at the local level, and candidates for city councils, clerkships, mayoralties, etc. are often somewhat more civil than seen on the national stage. Focusing on local contests can also help your confidence in the election process. As former Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill said, “All politics is local.” You and your neighbors, “We, the People,” are the ultimate foundation of our government.
As always, let your emotions guide you into service to others in need. Recent hurricanes provide us all with additional opportunities to help those in trouble. As a general rule of coping, however, anything you can do to venture outside yourself and perform real actions that benefit others will have positive effects on your mood and your self-esteem, plus give you a sense of purpose and meaning in what can be a very frustrating world. Research shows that giving may even alleviate depression. A focus on self is not a good strategy against depression; giving, on the other hand focuses on the needs of others, and volunteers are less likely to be depressed.
Finally, it never hurts to let a little humor into life. Adlai Stevenson was Democratic candidate for president two times, losing each time to Eisenhower (1952 and 1956). But he made a good offer when he said,”I offer my opponents a bargain: if they will stop telling lies about us, I will stop telling the truth about them.”
Psychology and Stress 