http://time.com/4299527/election-mental-health/
The future of this country is important to us all, or at least that is the assumption I am bringing into my reaction to the above article. I think there are some terrific pointers in this article, some more realistic than others. In particular the notion of limiting your exposure to the sort of media that showcases the election coverage in a sensational manner. It is important to move past the soundbites and understand the issues being brought up by the candidates in a nuanced way.
Beyond some of the points brought up in this article, it is my belief that introducing more nuance and attempting to see each issue from a well-rounded place can reap more benefits than taking one extreme stance and pointing to the counter argument as completely wrong or otherwise ill-informed. In other words, moving away from the language of us vs. them and towards the notion of we, what do we need to do to help the current situation? This exercise takes practice and it takes being informed. Doing your best to understand both sides of the argument, even if you feel strongly about one side, can reduce the stress you feel when hearing about these topics because you may come to appreciate some of the ideas on the "other side." I say sometimes because I also want to acknowledge that some individuals in our country may feel more threatened and therefore more anxious due to their race, religion, sexual orientation, or some other factor (e.g. a person who identifies as Muslim being fearful of how one candidate will impact their life due to the potential threat to liberty); which is different than being fearful you will not like some of the policies proposed by a candidate. It is my firm belief that we need a diversity of perspectives in order to make the best choice for our country.
In addition to attempting to being informed about the issues, I think it is important to be engaged on the local and state levels. While the next president is an imperative position and one in which will make an indelible mark on our country, because of the set up of our country, it is not the only position that matters. We need to become and/or remain engaged in elections for congress, governors, mayors, representatives, etc. If anything, the local governments likely have more impact on our day-to-day lives. Trusting the process can be difficult, but it is the only way a democratic system works.
To sum up, in addition to the pointers from the article above, I would like to encourage you to:
1-Learn as much as you can about all the candidates.
2-Challenge yourself to consider the other side of an argument and to really listen.
3-Remain engaged in local and state elections.
4-Trust in the system that has worked up until this point.
5-Engage in deep breathing exercises and distract yourself with other activities that bring your life joy when you find yourself anxious.
If you find you are unable to manage your anxiety (this includes anxiety outside the realm of politics) or would like to meet with someone regarding any other problems you are having, consider calling us at 785-537-6051 or filling out the contact form on this website for more information.
Beyond some of the points brought up in this article, it is my belief that introducing more nuance and attempting to see each issue from a well-rounded place can reap more benefits than taking one extreme stance and pointing to the counter argument as completely wrong or otherwise ill-informed. In other words, moving away from the language of us vs. them and towards the notion of we, what do we need to do to help the current situation? This exercise takes practice and it takes being informed. Doing your best to understand both sides of the argument, even if you feel strongly about one side, can reduce the stress you feel when hearing about these topics because you may come to appreciate some of the ideas on the "other side." I say sometimes because I also want to acknowledge that some individuals in our country may feel more threatened and therefore more anxious due to their race, religion, sexual orientation, or some other factor (e.g. a person who identifies as Muslim being fearful of how one candidate will impact their life due to the potential threat to liberty); which is different than being fearful you will not like some of the policies proposed by a candidate. It is my firm belief that we need a diversity of perspectives in order to make the best choice for our country.
In addition to attempting to being informed about the issues, I think it is important to be engaged on the local and state levels. While the next president is an imperative position and one in which will make an indelible mark on our country, because of the set up of our country, it is not the only position that matters. We need to become and/or remain engaged in elections for congress, governors, mayors, representatives, etc. If anything, the local governments likely have more impact on our day-to-day lives. Trusting the process can be difficult, but it is the only way a democratic system works.
To sum up, in addition to the pointers from the article above, I would like to encourage you to:
1-Learn as much as you can about all the candidates.
2-Challenge yourself to consider the other side of an argument and to really listen.
3-Remain engaged in local and state elections.
4-Trust in the system that has worked up until this point.
5-Engage in deep breathing exercises and distract yourself with other activities that bring your life joy when you find yourself anxious.
If you find you are unable to manage your anxiety (this includes anxiety outside the realm of politics) or would like to meet with someone regarding any other problems you are having, consider calling us at 785-537-6051 or filling out the contact form on this website for more information.
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