You can feel the anxiety building up to a boiling point like Election day is approaching and closer? Are you getting more stressed with every news alert? Are you both ready for the election to be over and terrified of what it might bring? If you answered yes to any of these questions, congratulations—you’re in the throes of election anxiety, just like the rest of us.

And when we say “the rest of us,” we mean it. A new poll from Healthy Minds Project and the Harris Poll found that 77 percent of Americans reported experiencing anxiety about the 2024 election, and 58 percent said the 2024 election had negatively affected them. mental health during the past year. And if those of us who have been through it all before are suffering, there is evidence that younger voters are feeling the strain even more. A Recent Forbes survey found that 66 percent of Gen Zers said the election had a negative impact on their mental health, the highest of any generation surveyed.

That means if you have a first-time or second-time voter in your household, they’re probably stressing just as much (or more) than you are. Election anxiety can quickly become overwhelming, so we talked to the experts about how you can help your first-time voter navigate the ups, downs and general media chaos of the coming week in America. POLICY.

What is election anxiety?

You can think of election anxiety like any other anxiety and stress election-related or occurring around the election, Dr. Jessica Yu, clinical psychologist and senior director of patient experience at His and herssays SheKnows. This anxiety and stress is often “characterized by feelings of nervousness, tension and uneasiness,” explains Dr. Yu, “as people anticipate what will happen when they vote, who will win the election.”

We tend to get so anxious during election season because of uncertainty, something that’s hard to deal with in general—and something that’s inherent when it comes to elections, Dr. Yu points out. Besides, we only have so much control over the outcome. “En masse, we have the ability to move the election a certain way, but as individuals, we cannot control the outcome of the election,” she explains. “And that’s really hard for people to deal with.”

The last election, of course, was more stressful than most. “The last decade has been marked by a lot of political controversy and instability,” says Dr. Yu. “I think in some ways people feel there’s a lot more at stake in this election than there has been before.” Add in a relentless news environment that exposes us to election news 24/7, it’s no wonder our mental health suffers.

Why are more young people experiencing election anxiety?

It’s no secret that Gen Z has been through the wringer when it comes to experiencing massive world events during their formative and growing years; the COVID pandemic, climate change, Trump’s 2016 election, attacks on reproductive rightsconstant international conflict and the spotlight on racial violence all come to mind. With these things at the fore, Gen Z might be more likely to be politically and socially involvedsays Dr. Yu, as well as being more aware of the impact the presidential election can have.

Overexposure to the media can also play a role, says therapist Beth Brown, director of health and wellness at ComPsych. “With 24/7 access, it can be difficult to decipher fact-based information versus clickbait tactics that gain likes,” she tells SheKnows. You never get a break, which can make the anxiety seem that much more overwhelming.

And making all of this worse is the fact that young voters simply don’t have a lot of experience dealing with election anxiety. “Older generations have gone through more choices than younger generations,” reasons Dr. Yu. “They saw the results of this election. They managed the anxiety and stress of those results.” And getting that experience helps you develop coping mechanisms for that anxiety; you know what it feels like and you know what works for you personally to manage it.

The good news? this experience can also help first-time choosers in your family.

How to help first-time voters deal with election anxiety

Helping your voting-age children (or even your children who i can’t still voting but still stressed) coping with election anxiety starts simply by listening, our experts agree. “Listen with empathy,” Brown suggests. “Having an outlet to express anxiety can be extremely helpful in managing emotions. The simple act of allowing the child to name the emotion can help remove some of the perceived power.” Let them express their feelings of frustration, fear, anger – whatever will happen. And that includes when your views don’t align, notes Dr. Yu. “I encourage parents to try to be as supportive as possible, not to step in so much with their opinions, but more to be there to listen to their children,” she says.

Then comes the experience piece. As someone who has already voted in the election, you can provide some insight talking to your kids about the experience and how you coped with stress, whether that involves things like meditation, therapy, journaling, or just taking breaks from the news feed every now and then.

Speaking of which, it’s definitely a good idea encourages mindfulness when it comes to media consumption. “While it’s important and even necessary to stay informed and engaged, watching hours of election-related TikTok or playing Doom all night isn’t helpful,” Brown says, noting that TikTok, Instagram, and X aren’t necessarily good sources to go to. either for factual news. Teaching your kids how to identify reliable, factual media is key – as is letting them form their own opinion after they do.

Then suggest them take breaks in the news from time to time – and yes, this includes social media. “If parents see their kids sitting down and really consuming media and becoming almost obsessive about it, I think they can suggest, ‘maybe you want to put your phone down,'” says Dr. Yu. Encourage them to go for a walk, hang out with a friend, watch a movie, or read a book—anything that will distract them from the news and provide a mental break.

Encourage your children to take action in a way, beyond voting, it’s also a great strategy to ease their election anxiety, says Dr. Yu. Whether it’s volunteering, donating, or even canvassing for a campaign, it’s a way to remind them that they have power in a time when it’s all too easy to feel powerless. “It’s helpful to just have something tangible and productive that will help us feel active,” explains Dr. Yu. “It’s the closest thing we have to being able to control the situation for ourselves.”

And finally, you might consider helping your young voter reframe their election anxiety all in all. Yes, elections are increasingly stressful and anxiety-inducing, and it’s no fun to feel like you’ve literally voted for your life. At the same time, voting is a kind of rite of passage, Dr. Yu points out, a symbol of coming of age and having a say in how the country works. “You will be involved in this high-stakes election. You will be one of the millions of Americans sitting by their couches waiting to hear the outcome,” she says. These historical moments are part of the American experience. “As stressful as it is,” says Dr. Yu, “there is a certain amount of beauty in that.”

Before you go, check out our favorite mental health apps: