If you’re feeling stressed about the upcoming election, you are not alone. A recent bipartisan survey by the American Psychological Association found that 52% of Americans report having high stress levels due to this year’s presidential election.
There’s a reason for this. For years, studies have shown that when we catch up on the news (via TV, radio, internet, social media) before going to bed, our bodies’ “fight or flight” responses are triggered and we are more likely to be afraid of the future. That’s because news stories portray the world as a terrible place. Newscasts are full of bad news because bad news gets higher ratings and sells more advertising.
So in presidential election years, when we are bombarded day and night with bad news, we experience stress overload.
Good news doesn’t stress us; it calms us. That doesn’t “sell,” so it’s rarely in the news. We don’t hear how crime has dropped by 50% over the last 20 years (source: FBI). Or how teens are waiting longer to have sex, and fewer teens are getting pregnant. Or how 2015 was “the best and safest year” in human history, and 2016 is on track to be even better (source: The Atlantic).
At the same time, our response to good news gives us a clue about the antidote we need. It’s a prescription proven to calm stress, despair, and even suicidal thoughts:
Instead of ending the day with bad news, make a commitment to end each day with good news.
To do this, each night before you go to bed, write down 3 things you are grateful for. These blessings could include things like a phone call from a friend, a flame red maple tree you saw as you drove to work, a favorite song that was playing in the grocery store, a compliment, the warmth of a cuddly sweater, a hug . . .
Many people write down their 3 daily blessings in a “Gratitude Journal.” Then, each day, they share what they write with someone else – a family member or friend – in person or by phone/Skype as a nightly check-in. Every Sunday night, they re-read all of their entries for the past week so they can begin the new week with hope and calm anticipation of the good that is coming their way.
In this way, it is possible to pre-empt pre-election stress!
Anne Dilenschneider, PhD, LPC
Licensed Professional Counselor at Journey Counseling Services