DALLAS — If you have election anxiety, you are far from alone.
The American Psychiatric Association’s (APA) annual mental health poll recently found that 73% of American adults say they feel anxious about the upcoming election.
Dr. Brad Schwall, President & CEO of The Center for Integrative Counseling and Psychology, says they’re seeing and hearing from plenty of clients seeking help for that stress.
“They’re talking about relationships. They’re talking about differences of opinion. All of it is based on what people really care about and what they believe, so when people see what’s happening, they’re naturally going to be concerned. And, you know, in therapy, everything in our lives is interrelated,” Schwall told us on our latest episode of Y’all-itics.
Before long, summer will be over, and we’ll start the fall and holiday get-togethers with family and friends.
And that’s where everyone has to be careful and not allow anxiety to impact how we treat others.
Dr. Schwall recommends setting some guidelines before an event, and doing your best to respond, not react.
“That often is what gets us in most trouble is when we hear something and we’re quick to retort back, or we’re listening and all we’re thinking about is our own opinion and not really what they’re saying. So, that gets us into trouble in so many ways,” said Schwall.
Dr. Schwall has plenty of other tips on how to manage election anxiety, including changing the structure of your day, and finding good, healthy connections. Listen to the entire episode to learn more. Cheers!