Election Got You Stressed? You’re Not Alone — Here’s 5 Ways To Deal With It

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America is waiting on the results of a close and contentious election. An American Psychological Association poll showed that more than two-thirds of adults are finding the 2020 election to be a significant source of stress.

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Maintaining social contact is an important part of keeping stress and anxiety at bay.

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Vesnaandjic/Getty Images

Maintaining social contact is an important part of keeping stress and anxiety at bay.

Vesnaandjic/Getty Images

The pandemic already has caused less social interaction and research shows this can also makes us feel more anxious.

«People are naturally social creatures and the reduction in human interaction can increase feelings of anxiety, isolation and stress, said Daniel R. Wilson, president of Western University of Health Sciences.

Talking with family and friends — even just on a video or phone call — can help those who are stressed out. So can spending time with pets. Just try limiting the conversation to topics that aren’t creating tension.

«Those truly personal connections are healing and therapeutic, Brewer said.

Meditate and practice mindfulness

The thousands-of-years-old practice can help you deal with modern problems. Research shows that meditation can help reduce anxiety, stress and depression.

There are numerous free resources online to practice meditation. Brown University provides free mindfulness classes on its website. Brewer is also a fan of Headspace, which provides app-based guided meditation and offers a free trial.

«If we’re overwhelmed by the results of the election or by the pandemic, it can be hard to put our mind somewhere else, Brewer said. «And that’s where meditation training can come in.