With three days left until the U.S. election day, the accelerated pace of news has heightened people’s anxiety. Experts say that this sense of anxiety is unique to this period, and most people don’t need to worry too much, let alone see a doctor.
A survey released on Thursday (October 31) by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research showed that 69% of American adults have said they feel “frustrated” with the current election campaign. An equal number of people also expressed feeling “anxious” due to the election.
Ashley Huggins, an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Arizona, specializes in studying post-traumatic stress disorder and fear responses. In an interview with the “Arizona University News,” she shared methods to reduce stress during the election period.
Why does a delay in election results cause anxiety?
Extensive uncertainty often leads to significant anxiety, which is not unique to elections. In this context, many people may feel that the risk of waiting for election results is quite high. This period of unknown results can indeed intensify one’s level of anxiety, with a sense of being largely unable to control it – not knowing when results will be obtained or what those results will be.
What strategies do you recommend to control this anxiety?
It is best to find ways to deal with anxiety, such as spending time doing things you enjoy, like reading, walking, or spending time with family or friends. Additionally, setting boundaries for yourself on how much attention you give to election news is also crucial.
Why does watching more election news make people more anxious?
There is a natural impulse in people to seek more and more information because we dislike uncertainty. However, obtaining more information does not necessarily change uncertainty. It may, in some ways, give a false sense of control, making you think you have gained more information, but in reality, it does not bring about anything tangible, only making you more anxious and uneasy.
If you keep scrolling through social media, you will find that the more information you see, the more excited you become. Being aware of what causes you to feel anxious, angry, or sad, and setting boundaries to avoid getting into that situation, can be helpful.
Will election anxiety affect those who are not very politically involved?
If people around you are strongly influenced by emotions – whether anxiety, anger, or sadness – I think it is a normal reaction to show empathy. In addition, these emotions, even if you did not anticipate them before or thought they wouldn’t affect you, are actually normal.
When should one consider seeking professional help?
If you find that these emotions are affecting your daily life, seeking help from mental health professionals is definitely worthwhile. However, I expect that for many people, these feelings are specific to this period and do not require seeing a doctor.