The American Psychiatric Association recently released a study revealing that a staggering 73% of U.S. adults are highly distressed due to the impending election. Some have resorted to controlling their exposure to news, abstaining entirely or limiting their updates to mornings only. Others have sought solace in physical activities or mindfulness practices to manage the burden of election-related unease. Despite the sometimes unsettling predictions reflected in election polls, many find comfort in consuming media depicting lives even more chaotic than their own, offering a perspective of ‘it could be worse’.
An individual by the name of Elizabeth Evans went as far as to travel to Iceland in an attempt to relieve her intensifying election-related worries. Evans, a Santa Rosa resident, spent a large portion of this month living in an insulated village set in the isolated eastern fjords of Iceland. Transfering her focus towards her artistry, Evans remarked that it was liberating to be distanced from the ceaseless cycle of news and polling data.
With political tensions at an all-time high, it is not shockingly that a vast majority of adults in the U.S are anxious about the outcome of this election. However, this apprehension is undoubtedly exacerbated for those who let the election dominate their consciousness to an obsessive extent, fueling even more anxiety. These individuals often experience physical manifestations of their stress, including insomnia, mood swings, irritability, headaches, and stomach aches.
Anxiety, an evolutionary product of the human mind, typically arises from uncertainties and unpredictabilities. It fuels a growing divide in thought and intensifies our fear-based reactions. Therefore, it is particularly beneficial in such times for individuals to consciously control their intake of political news. The suggested strategy is to limit news consumption to the first half of the day, allowing ample time later to digest and process the information before switching off.
Resistance to Trump, since his inaugural presidential run in 2016, has been reshaped in a remarkable manner. What was initial shock has now transformed into a sense of prolonged weariness. Still, Trump’s followers remain steadfast, seemingly immune to the frenzied fear tactics employed by the Democrats.
The 2024 election is far more than just a contest between political parties. It is being framed as a dramatic clash of cultural values, a true test of the American ethos. Alarmingly, Democrats’ rhetoric has become even more extreme, with threats of a shift towards authoritarianism.
The understanding that a considerable fraction of citizens align with one side, to the extent of accepting radical changes, fuels a deep despair in the other half. Yet such division only underscores the inherent flaws in Democrat policies that are unable to appeal to all Americans, revealing their inability to lead a united nation.
Polarization is inevitably part of any political scenario. However, this should not compromise the humanity and individuality of those involved in the political discourse. While the Democrats tend to label and dehumanize Trump supporters, it is crucial to understand how people’s background and experiences shape their perspectives— a fact that Trump’s critics often conveniently ignore.