News about the 2020 election has been blasted everywhere these past few weeks. If you were feeling anxious around this past election, you are certainly not alone! This election caused a significant amount of stress for individuals across the country. You probably found yourself checking your phone for election updates or you may have been tossing and turning all night with racing thoughts. Now that the election has come to an end, it is time to heal as a nation. It is also time to get your mental health back in check.
You may have parents, relatives, and friends who have strong views around a certain candidate. As the holidays approach, this can be extremely overwhelming for some. How will you sit at Thanksgiving dinner with your uncle who has particular political views? How will you keep your cool when your brother disagrees with you on the candidate you voted for? You may not be able to see all of your relatives this holiday due to the current health crisis; but love the ones your with! There has been enough hostility going on in the world, let's try and keep the peace in our family.
Kendra and Tom invited both of their small extended families over for Christmas. Kendra's family has an extremely different political view than Tom's. Kendra is feeling apprehensive about the conversation of politics being brought up in a discussion during Christmas dinner. Kendra cannot wait for Christmas to be over. She no longer finds the joy in hosting Christmas anymore since political conversations ruin it. Each year, both families have heated discussions around their political views. Dinner always ends in a screaming match and she fears that this Christmas will be worse than ever.due to this volatile political climate.
Here are some ways to keep your political cool:
1. Avoid speaking politics: It's easy to keep circling back to conversations about politics with family and friends over dinner. Consider if it is worth having a conversation over politics if you already know it could get hostile. You may feel the need to try to change someone's mind. Chances are you cannot change someone's mind over politics simply because people believe what they want to believe. Make it clear to those around you that there needs to be politic free-time. It is okay to tell your friends and family that you are all "electioned" out right now and you want to change the subject.
2. Be respectful: Understand that everyone has their own views and opinions around politics. Not everyone is going to understand or agree with your point of view and vice versa. You cannot control how someone responds to you but you can control how you respond to others. If someone expresses their point of view on politics, try to listen to what they are saying instead of shaming them or shutting them down. Ask yourself, what are your assumptions about the other person's understanding? What do you understand about their views? You don't have to agree but be respecful when you disagree.
3. Surround yourself with your support system. It can be mentally draining to surround yourself with people who have opposing political views from yours. If you have a group of people who validate and accept who you are, surround yourself with them. These positive connections are important for your own mental health.
4. Journal your views: If you find yourself voicing your political opinions openly at every holiday dinner, try to practice journaling your views. Journaling is a creative outlet to express how you are feeling. Journaling can be therapeutic. You can write a letter or write about what bothers you the most about politics.
5. Walk away: If you are finding the political conversation to be uncomfortable and stressful, walk away. Excuse yourself from the dinner table or go take a walk. We all need a time-out or a break at times. Walking away does not mean you are weak. Ask yourself what part of the political conversation was hard for you? What aspects of the subject are challenging?
It's okay that you have felt anxious around the election, but it is important to stay on top of your mental health. If you're already engaged in therapy, stay engaged. If you are still experiencing stress with the aftermath of the election please reach out!
Contact
Risa Simpson-Davis, LCSW
modernfamilycounseling.org
(732)742-0329