How Election Season Affects Your Mood

Explore how election season can influence your mood and find effective strategies for managing stress and staying balanced throughout this time. Election season is a time of heightened emotion and anticipation, and this period brings about various stressors that can affect your mental health. Understanding how election season can affect your mood and learning about your triggers can help you maintain your well-being throughout the election season and beyond.

Navigating the emotional toll of election season 

• Regardless of your political affiliation, we can all agree that election season comes with plenty of anticipation and uncertainty. These feelings, combined with the constant influx of news, debates and opinions, can lead to excessive worrying. 

• While everyone experiences occasional, manageable concerns about future events, it can become an issue if it’s causing daily stress and anxiety. “When worrying becomes excessive, persistent and uncontrollable, it can interfere with your daily life and well-being,” said Nicole Moore, LCSW, Clinical Director of Social Work Services –  Inspira Behavioral Health Services. “This type of chronic worry, often seen during election season, can lead to anxiety, difficulty concentrating and physical symptoms such as headache and fatigue.” 

• Election season brings a range of triggers that can affect your mental health. Constant news coverage, social media debates and political advertisements can heighten stress, and the ongoing barrage of information and opinions can lead to increased anxiety and mental fatigue.

• Election season can also bring about contentious political discussions, which may strain relationships with friends, family and colleagues. Differing viewpoints can lead to heated arguments, exacerbate feelings of isolation and frustration and undermine your social support systems.

  Managing your mental health throughout the election season

  Take proactive steps to care for your mental health, especially during election season. Here are some strategies for managing stress and maintaining emotional balance:

• Limit your media consumption: “Set boundaries on how much election-related content you consume,” said Nicole Moore, LCSW. “Designate specific times to check the news and avoid mindless scrolling on social media.”

• Prioritize self-care: Make time for activities that relax and rejuvenate you, such as exercise, meditation, crafting or journaling.

• Stay connected: Talk to friends and loved ones who understand or share your concerns and respect your boundaries to avoid conflict.

• Focus on what you can control: While you can't change election outcomes, you can control your reactions and actions. Consider volunteering, participating in community activities or pursuing advocacy work that aligns with your values.

• Go outside: Spending time in nature can help reduce stress and improve your overall mood.

• Seek professional help: If you find that election-related stress is overwhelming, consider speaking with a mental health professional for strategies and support tailored to your needs.

By recognizing how election season affects your mood and taking steps to manage stress, you can navigate this period and protect your peace. Learn more about how Inspira can help support your behavioral and mental health goals.