Election Anxiety Management Tips, According to Three Different Experts

Election anxiety has somehow wormed its way into the minds of many Americans this year, and it has become increasingly common on Election Day.

From candidates casting doubt on mail-in voting to the risks of catching the coronavirus in crowded polling places, election anxiety is just bound to happen to many.

As Election Day and its results push forward, Americans are now exhausted from the constant political divisions and have developed anxiety for what could happen next.

Election anxiety isn't really about whom people will choose to vote for. As the Associated Press said, those aspects of a voter's choices have been mostly decided long ago.

The real issue is really about doubts: Will their vote count? Will the loser accept defeat? Will the winner solve the problems of the troubled nation?

These forms of stressors may appear only to have minimal effects, but if they linger longer than they have to, it could make a person physically ill.

Here's what experts told Remezcla about dealing with election anxiety:

Kirah Tabourn, Astrologist

Astrologist Kirah Tabourn assured that Election Day isn't going to be the end. If anything, not much will be known after it.

She noted that the 2020 election had been a matter of scrutiny for astrologers for a while.

The period was just jam-packed with interesting planetary alignments like the Mars and Mercury retrogrades. Apart from that, other alignments seemed to have added to the craziness of 2020.

Mercury is going to turn direct on Election Day. According to Refinery 29, there will be increased confusion and chaos at this time. The 2000 election did the same.

But Tabourn assured that the planetary alignments necessarily mean things "will go one way or another," so don't stress too much.

There isn't a need to scroll through your Twitter feed all day. If you know you know you have a sensitive nervous system, take care of yourself first.

Hannah Propp, LMSW, Psychotherapist

Many people tend to drive their minds towards catastrophe when they get anxious. As psychotherapist Hannah Propp said, people have to be gentle with themselves, especially at this time.

This time is usually a stressful time for many people. In fact, NBC New York reported that 68 percent of Americans find the elections a significant stress source. So you're really not alone in experiencing fatigue and, at times, depression.

Propp advised to let people overindulge. "Your body is incredible and has gotten you through so much in 2020 and so much in even just the past six months," she said. "Try to tap into gentleness if you're not ready for gratefulness."

Distractions are allowed, and it doesn't mean you don't care about the elections.

Kyodo Williams, a meditation teacher and author of the book "Radical Dharma," told New York Times: "Interrupt yourself so you can shift your state."

"Get your attention on something else. Focus on something that is beautiful. Get up. Move your body and really shift your position," Williams added.

Like Propp, Williams also believes that people have to step away from wherever they are mentally breaking the anxious momentum.

Jezz Chung, Transformation Facilitator and Self-Care Advocate

Anxiety can often tell people they're too complicated to be understood or too broken or also doomed to feel peaceful, said self-care advocate Jezz Chung.

But being comfortable with yourself by giving and receiving care helps someone feel better to combat these anxious feelings.

"Think about the people that make you feel the most at home and nourish you. Sit in silence with them!" Chung said.

It's also important to remind yourself that no matter what happens, people you care about will be there when the elections don't go your way.I f things don't go as you expected, it's important to accept what is happening now.

"Our anxiety comes from the desire to have things be different," said Williams. "There's going to be the day after the election... We need to be present to what is, regardless of the outcome you want."