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CHanging can be stressful in any circumstance, but a change in who controls the government can be especially difficult – especially in a place as politically divided as the US.

Groups including the Crisis Text Line, where people can text with problems and connect with trained volunteers, are bolstering their services as the election nears. That’s based on what they saw on election night in 2016, when 30 percent of messages had to do with election anxiety, and in 2020, when 40 percent of texts did.

“We are preparing for what we anticipate will be an increase,” says Dr. Shairi Turner, chief health officer of Crisis Text Line. “Everyone is aware of what an unprecedented time this is, having seen very big changes in policy at the national and state level, and that creates stress.”

At 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, officials have been bracing since September for an increase in calls based on increases around Election Day during the previous two elections. “We know calls will increase the day before and on election day, and people are calling because of anxiety, depression and fear about the future,” says Tia Dole, chief 988 suicide and crisis officer. Dole says counselors there are ready to respond to the increased call volume. “Our hope is that by planning so far in advance, we won’t see longer wait times.”

Why elections cause so much stress

A recent one study conducted by the American Psychological Association (APA) confirms the increasing anxiety people feel as Election Day approaches. About 69 percent of those surveyed said the presidential election was a significant source of stress in their lives. “People are very concerned about the future of the nation,” says Arthur Evans, CEO of APA. “And that’s consistent across political affiliation — whether it’s Republican, Democrat or independent.”

While election-related stress levels are about the same as in 2020, according to the APA, there are some unique features of political anxiety this year. Some 72% of people expressed concern about the election results, fearing the outcome could lead to violence, with more than half believing the results could mean “the end of democracy in the US”. These concerns run deep enough that about 40 percent said they are considering moving to another country or state because of the current political climate.

Read more: How to survive election season without losing your mind

“Americans see elections as much more important than they have in the past, and they place more weight on the outcome of the election, so the consequences of what happens if their side wins or loses are much greater,” says Evans. “People are internalizing the message that every choice is now an existential threat to our way of life and to the country as we know it.”

Call it a national case of doomscrolling. “There’s a sense that if the other side wins, my lifestyle and freedoms and everything that people think is important to them will change pretty drastically,” Evans says, given the threats to reproductive rights and those of LGBTQIA+ groups, people of color and immigrants.

Based on data from previous election cycles, Turner says those worries typically take the form of conflicts with friends and family who have different political views, anxiety, disappointment with political leaders and despair about the future. “We see people who are overwhelmed by the news and the state of the world,” she says.

How crisis centers respond to electoral stress

Crisis Text Line has created a dedicated keyword — “election” or “elecciones” in Spanish — that users can text to signal that they’re particularly worried or stressed about the election. This alerts councilors working in the ranks that the text’s concerns revolve around elections. Counselors are provided with tip sheets to help direct callers to helpful resources, whether it’s a local mental health professional or unbiased information that can ease their fears about specific uncertainties about the election. “Everyone is aware of what an unprecedented moment this is,” says Turner. “Our training is an ongoing, iterative process, so as we see emerging trends, we can update and revise our tip sheets.”

Read more: 9 ways to respond to political misinformation

Counselors are trained in active listening, which helps those in crisis know they are heard and taken seriously, and counselors try to work with people to find successful coping strategies and past experiences that messages can use to mitigate some of their choices. associated anxiety. By Election Day, Crisis Text Line will add more supervisors: trained mental health professionals who supervise counselors.

That kind of support is essential for those who may feel like they have nowhere to turn if their political views differ from those of friends and loved ones, Evans says. In the APA poll, one-third of people said politics has led to strained relationships with those closest to them, with one-third saying they actually spend less time with family because of conflicting political ideologies.

It’s also important to make sure counselors responding to requests are supported, Dole says, because they likely face the same election stresses. “Sometimes they want to feel sorry for themselves and say ‘I’m terrified too,’ but they have to stay neutral and help help the callers,” says Dole. “So we’re giving them a language to support them and we’ve been working on self-care and talking to them about limiting their exposure on social media. Some people find solace in action, and others find solace in focusing on themselves, and both paths are valid.” Because 988’s primary function is to reduce anxiety and stress and connect people with helpful local resources, much of what counselors can do is listen and acknowledge feelings, uncertainty or worry.

For example, counselors can help people find comfort in routines, which can reduce their anxiety, and ensure they have a social network or community of like-minded people. Writing a stress management plan can help people follow through. “Stress can snowball,” says Dole. “988 means being preemptive.”

How to manage election anxiety

There are ways to deal with election stress, Evans says, and the stress doesn’t have to lead to negative consequences. Despite reporting anxiety about the election, some 77 percent of people said they intended to vote, and half said they felt more motivated to volunteer or support causes they believe in — an increase from 45 % of people who stated that they felt this way in the previous period. choice. “From psychological research, one of the ways we know to reduce anxiety or stress around a situation is to feel more in control and commit and do the work to change the situation,” says Evans. “So it’s a good sign that people still feel motivated enough to engage in political activity.”

Read more: Why zero stress shouldn’t be your goal

Encouragingly, more than 80% of people said they felt it was important to listen to and understand people with different perspectives, even if they disagreed with them. “The way to have those conversations is not to try to get the other person to adopt your worldview,” says Evans, “but to explain why I support my person and hear why the other person supports their person. This is a way for people who disagree to still have a civil conversation and maybe not create anxiety.”

The poll also showed that despite feeling stressed, people are still optimistic about the change the election could bring. About two-thirds said they thought the election would result in a more inclusive society — and that was even truer for Latino and LGBTQIA+ people who remain stressed about their personal safety.

“People’s motivation to be involved and still believe in the voting process and still want to hear the other side are good signs that things are not as bad as one might think based on the stress of the election. trends,” says Evans.

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