What to do if you’re feeling post election anxiety
This has been a difficult few days for many of us. It may be the start of a difficult season for many in our community. It is ok to not be ok right now. Right now you might be struggling to cope with uncertainty and strained relationships. You might feel overwhelmed by the storm of information, emotions, and opinions coming at you from all sides. It’s hard to know what to do with the entirety of this as you try to center yourself and figure out how to move forward. If fear and anxiety feel paralyzing right now, I hope some of these ideas will help.
Anna Savelsberg, MA, LMFT Owner of Grove Center for Therapy Photo Credit: Allison Jagoda
1) Name, acknowledge and accept your feelings. Slowing down and taking the time to identify the spectrum of emotions you are feeling is the first step to processing them. You might gain more clarity about your feelings in solitude or in trusted, safe community with others. Here are some ways you can process your feelings:
Share your feelings with a trusted friend.
Make an appointment with your therapist.
Check in with your community.
Take extra time and space for rest and reflection.
Tell your loved ones what kind of support you need (and support them as well).
2) Embody the values you wish to see represented in our country. There is nothing more powerful than for you to be the change you want to see. Take some time to reflect on what intentionally living your values looks like. You might...
Choose to treat others with kindness and respect
Show up for women, immigrants, people of color, LGBTQIA folx and other marginalized people.
Approach others with curiosity and respect.
Advocate for change.
Protect the environment around you.
3) Focus on what you can control. It is really easy to spin out and get sucked down the rabbit hole of “what ifs” and potential things that can go wrong. While this can feel productive in the moment, it increases anxiety and will feel unsatisfying in the long run. Here are some things that you might be able to do instead:
Volunteer with organizations that matter to you.
Donate and support causes you care about.
Get involved in local politics and activism.
Take care of yourself.
Connect and be present with your loved ones.
Know your own power and worth.
4) Set up a layers of protection and connection. Decide what you want to let in (information, opinions, etc) and prioritize positive and fulfilling connections with people you love and care about. It’s ok to set boundaries with yourself and others on what you take in. You can:
Stay off social media.
Protect your inbound communication (unfollowing, pausing or muting things you don’t find helpful is a great way to let your nervous system rest and recover right now.)
Prioritize positive human connections.
Don’t engage in conversations that are inflammatory or unproductive.
Opt out of the frenzy of who to blame.
5) Don’t get lost in the “what ifs”. We can’t know exactly what will happen or when it will happen. Speculating and planning for future unknown scenarios can feel soothing or productive in the moment, but it will increase your anxiety and won’t change the outcome. Instead, you can:
Focus on staying grounded in the present.
Find joy in connection and service.
Act on what is in your control right now.
Feel your feelings and accept the anxiety about future uncertainty.
Opt out of theorizing and doom scrolling to find answers.
If you need support, please reach out to schedule a free consultation or schedule an appointment here. If I am personally not able to help you, I will connect you with the resources you need. We’re in this together.
