Therapist Taylor Poppmeier of La Jolla Wellness shares six ways you can protect your mental health during an election cycle.
Between the 24-hour news cycle and social media, it can be hard to remain calm during election season. We are inundated with information, most of which is designed to create a sense of urgency. All of this triggers our sympathetic nervous system to switch on, resulting in a constant state of hyperarousal. Although our nervous system was designed to keep us safe, its purpose is to protect us from survival threats, not TikTok videos. Today, it can make us feel like ours lives are in danger when we are just scrolling through our feeds.
We connected with Taylor Poppmeier, a therapist specializing in managing anxiety, who shares six helpful tips to help you get through the rest of 2024 without elevating your blood pressure and spiking your cortisol every time you reach for your phone.
1. Know your values and priorities.
It is easy to get influenced and overwhelmed by media content. One way to minimize this stress is to first determine what is truly important to you. You can use media as a tool for gathering information, but it should not be a tool for forming your values.
2. Focus on curiosity.
Remember that headlines are meant to pull you in – they are intentionally hyperbolic. So before you spiral into existential dread, take a deep breath and try to consider why: Why did this headline catch your attention? Why is this message important? Why should this influence your decisions? Thinking of the situation with curiosity rather than judgment can help get you out of your emotions and into a more logical headspace.
3. Take a break when you need to.
Be aware of your nervous system and know your cues. How do you know when you are dysregulated? Our minds require time to reset, just like a child needs quiet time when they are overstimulated. You do not want to be in a constant state of nervousness. Checkin with yourself and note if you feel tension in your shoulders, tightness in your chest, or slight nausea. This is your body’s way of expressing a need.
4. Use context.
When you recognize that a headline or news segment is causing you to feel anxious, remember to contextualize. Reframe the narrative. It is easy to get caught up in the doom and gloom; try to seek out positive news. Learn about the creative reforms different candidates are pushing to make the world better.
5. Zoom out.
Anxiety tends to happen when we get caught in the future or when our lens is too narrow. Take a step back. Look at the bigger picture. Is that headline going to be impactful for you tomorrow? In five months? In five years? With an election, at times, it can feel like everything IS really important. That is worth acknowledging. That thought is also worth challenging.
6. Get help from the WeVote app.
Voting gives you the power to shape the policies and laws that govern your communities. But with this can come feelings of overwhelm and anxiety. This is where WeVote can help. With the WeVote app, you can find out when your next election is, preview your ballot, and learn how your friends are voting. By selecting what topics are important to you, the app will recommend politicians and organizations to follow as well as make ballot recommendations.
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