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Political anxiety is a common topic for my clients in their counseling sessions beginning with last year's primaries.  It is a specific type of anxiety not the diagnosable Generalized Anxiety Disorder.  Uncertainty about how the outcome of the elections would affect their lives and political conflicts with family members and friends can feel threatening.  Some of my clients feel trapped and many feel scared and afraid of physical violence if they interact with people from other parties.  For some there is a deep dread as they worry about how life might change and what they could lose.

Steps you can take to manage your political anxiety:

Take a break from social media and the news for 24 hours.  For some these outlets create agitation, anger and hopelessness.

Focus on self-care.  Chronic stress hurts us emotionally and physically.  Making sure you eat healthy food, exercise and get enough sleep can help mediate some of the effects.  Other self-care ideas include reducing your work load, using apps that offer guided meditation, going to the gym, reading a favorite author's book, taking a hot bath or calling a good friend who knows how to listen. 

Concentrate on what you have control over such as how you spend your time, whom you choose to interact with, hobbies such as baking, how much money you will save and living your values.

Develop coping skills.  If there are policies being implemented that will negatively affect your daily life or finances how will you deal with it?  Identify the threat, plan and respond.

Find or create community support.  This could include discussion groups, volunteering, organizing for future candidates or donating to shelters. Forward movement can help a person's mood shift.

Remind yourself that you can vote, fight for what you believe in and make your own decisions.