SAN ANTONIO — Tomorrow is election day, and for many it is a day of intense anxiety. And with poliitical turmoil surrounding the globe, the pressure you feel could pop when you veer into that voting booth, but there are ways to battle your brain while casting that ballot.
It is called election stress disorder. It is a term for the intense anxiety and dread caused by political cycles. And even though this isn’t a Presidential election, your mental and physical health could be more directly affected by these smaller contests. Professor Jon Taylor from UTSA’s political science department told us, “The problem is, is that the people who were elected, the midterm elections are very much more likely to impact you directly in the pocketbook, in in your health, in whatever is out there.”
Some of the symptoms of election stress disorder could include headaches, muscle tension, anxiety, anger, and insomnia. The Mayo Clinic says one out of every 7 people suffers from the clinical condition. But experts say face your fears head on, not just for yourself, but future generations too. Prof. Taylor added, “It’s kind of a pay it forward effect and it has effect in the future. What you’re doing now in terms of voting, particularly for offices and for policies, will resonate in the future.”
To manage your election stress limit media intake, prioritize self-care, use mindfulness or meditation to relax, focus on control in your life, and seek support if you think you need it. And with so much volatility politically worldwide, knowing what local politicians on the ballot recently said about things like the war in Iran, could help you make a decision, effectively lessening your anxiety. “You might want to go see what they said about about Iran in the last 48 hours. they kind of align pretty much with what you would expect,” said Professor Taylor.