WACO, Texas (KWTX) – After months of campaigning, debates and rallies, we are now hours away from the 2024 general election and everyone is feeling the pressure as we get closer to the outcome of what could be a historic election.

This is often referred to as election stress and fatigue…and between the assassination attempts, last-minute candidate switching, and deep divisions between both parties, it’s been a stressful election season.

“I think people are stressed about their health and rights that may or may not be taken away, or … just the social climate really or how people treat each other based on the results,” voter for first time Kellye Graham shared.

But while election stress is normal, according to psychologist Dr. Kristy Donaldson, recent data shows that far more people are feeling stressed about our nation’s future.

“Even in 2016 around 52% people were stressed about the election and now we are approaching the 70% mark,” she said.

Donaldson explained that this is often the result of campaigns playing on people’s emotions to get their support, leading to more voter fatigue.

“We’re tired of seeing all the campaigns, all the donations,” Graham said, “I think we’re tired of seeing the fighting and the fighting and you know just the chaos and the general discourse between them.”

But it also creates a lot of fear in people about what will happen if their candidate doesn’t win.

According to Donaldson, “when we’re afraid, we want to gain control, and when we can’t gain control it makes everything feel worse.”

Which is why election stress can actually be bad for your mental health.

“Continuing to remain in fear and high levels of anxiety after the vote will destroy the body over time,” said Dr. Donaldson.

So how can you help manage your stress and anxiety on election night? Dr. Donaldson says to stay calm and remember what you can and cannot control.

“Having said that you know I have a vote just like everyone else, I’m not in control of the end result, I just have to understand that whatever happens at the end of it all will happen in four years. we will have another vote”, she explained.

Other tips to help manage election stress are staying off social media, getting some exercise to relieve stress, and avoiding talking politics until you feel calm.

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