Coping with Election Anxiety
November 03, 2020
Written by: Angelica Rivera, LPC-Associate
As America enters a new season with the 2020 Presidential Election, so do it’s inhabitants as we await the decision with anxiety. The decision can mean celebration for some, despair for those who voted for an opposing candidate, or a numbness for the ones who did not promote either party. As we await the decision, I found myself in a pocket of anxiety that created a haze for the rest of my day. I started to wonder what my life would be like in a few days. “Would I feel mentally satisfied and safe with the collective decision of America?” was my primary anxiety. I had spent a lot of time wondering about this question that I realized my stomach was in knots. There’s a lot of questions to ask to investigate our wellbeing as the results are announced, which is normal - it’s normal to ask if a decision will affect someone negatively. However, thinking on these questions all day will render anyone paralyzed and nonfunctional. Election anxiety can manifest as trouble sleeping, a sense of dread for the future, isolation, excessive worrying, chronic tunnel vision where political events are the focus of your life, and panic.
I realized I was so anxious because what I hoped my life and the lives of those I loved, and an idea of America I liked is at stake. I was contemplating the loss of my dreams and future.
Dr. Ajita Robinson (2020) in her book, “The Gift of Grief” recognizes this as Symbolic Loss. Symbolic loss is when people no longer have essential things that are intangible. It could look like the loss of relationships, support (financial, intellectual, emotional, social), hopes and dreams, security, identity, health and safety.
If you find yourself on the verge of grief and loss after the election results, here are some practical ways to navigate your journey:
Honor the loss that you are feeling. The first step is to recognize you are on a journey. Give yourself time to be sad. What you lost was valuable.
2. Create safe environments for yourself. You cannot do any thinking if you are afraid you do not have necessary resources.
3. Find likeminded people to grieve with. It can be hard when society does not acknowledge your grief, but this is a communal process. So find a few you can do so with.
4. Ask yourself if the result is traumatic. Are the election results part of a journey that has added to past grief and painful situations in your life? A good rule of thumb when dealing with trauma and grief is to deal with the trauma first, then begin the grieving process.
5. Make some conclusions about where you are right now emotionally. Asking yourself, “What did I lose?” is a good place to start. You might feel a sense of betrayal, a loss of expectations you had for others, or for your future. Remember that the point of grief is to move through it. Be aware of where you feel stuck and give yourself extra love.
6. Make meaning of your pain. What role will these results play in your life? How can you ensure the satisfaction of your future despite the results?
7. Make a plan for the next few days to be kind to yourself and adjust.
Remember that the election is the result of a collective decision. While you can contribute to the result, you cannot control the total outcome. Focus on what you CAN control. You can control how good of a friend to be to others, how good of a parent you are, partner/spouse; you can control the success of your education and career, etc...This loss can yield great gains in your life if you allow it. These steps won’t change the election results, but they will change how you feel about your future. Thereby feeling less anxious and stressed.
About the author: Angelica Rivera is a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate in Houston, TX, providing therapeutic services to children, teens, adults, couples, and families at KBT Counseling and Consulting, PLLC. Angelica earned her Master's in Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapy from Houston Graduate School of Theology, and she is currently in pursuit of a Doctorate of Professional Counseling specializing in Trauma, Grief and Loss.