PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Election Day is right around the corner, and with it can come a lot of anxiety and stress.
Dr. Louis Fong, psychiatric supervisor at Denova Collaborative Health, said it’s important for people to take care of their mental health on the final journey to the polls. He said cases of political-related anxiety are on the rise.
“I think there’s a lot of uncertainty politically,” he said. “There’s a lot of stress and a lot of worry about what direction we’re going, no matter what political party you’re in.”
That political stress can lead to bad decisions.
“Sometimes that anxiety manifests as fear, and sometimes it manifests as violence,” Dr. Fong says. “We want to be heard, we want to get our thoughts out there, and sometimes we just can’t do that, and we can’t express our thoughts clearly, calmly, and collectively. ”
If you find yourself becoming irritable, impatient, or anxious, it may be time to limit your involvement in politics, Fong says.
“Tell me about 10 minutes at the beginning and end of the day so you still know things and don’t get oversaturated and overwhelmed,” he said.
Also, take time to take care of yourself.
“Whether it’s meditation, exercise, or spending time with loved ones, we’re doing things we enjoy,” Dr. Fong said.
He added that it’s okay to set boundaries when talking about politics with others.
“It’s okay to excuse political discussions from time to time and say, ‘I don’t really want to talk about this right now,'” Fung said.
If you notice that a loved one is under a lot of stress, treat them with lots of empathy. Ultimately, Fong said there’s no shame in seeking professional help.
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