Election Day Anxiety

I have been hearing from so many people that they are overwhelmed with anxiety due to the coming election. Symptoms of anxiety include trouble sleeping or concentrating, irritability, raised heartbeat, sweating, dizziness, stomach disturbance. Some people (like me) find it difficult to eat or be around other human beings. There can be a sense of impending doom regardless of where one is in the current moment.

I am no stranger to anxiety as I have shared a number of times, but my anxiety began to improve immensely when I tentatively shared this aspect of myself (after years of therapy). Today I am grateful to have a toolbox to draw from if anxiety knocks me for a loop.

This past election cycle feels as though it has lasted 1000 years and is pushing people who might not normally suffer from anxiety to the brink. Here are some of the things in my toolbox that help me manage in the hope that one of them either helps you or makes you think of something even better:

Play with your grandchildren if you have them–it’s amazing how the world floats away when playing with a giggling two year old.
Nature – Nothing calms my spirit like being in the natural world. This could mean a hike, spending time in your garden with a cup of tea, or taking a drive to a park. For me, solitude is a critical part of letting nature heal, but you do you.
Visit a museum or gallery that offers an exhibit you are interested in. Read every card placed next to the works of art.
Build or break something: Trying to put together a bookcase or taking a hammer to something you can’t repair can be therapeutic. Putting together something requires you to force your mind to pay attention and breaking something can feel delicious.
Art endeavors: Paint, draw, make a collage. Don’t worry about skill–just use your hands. If you really feel you can’t, try placing an empty canvas on the wall and throwing globs of paint at it.
Meditation: I know, I know, you are going to say, “I can’t make my mind calm.” But that’s not the point!! Close your eyes and sit supported and still for just five minutes. Pay attention to how you breath in and out. Let your thoughts come without judgment. (Honestly for me, breathing deeply and ‘listening’ to what my mind has to say is a must do every morning. Hearing myself is somehow calming.)
Exercise: Do whatever floats your boat, but for me the exercise needs to be strenuous and occupy my mind. This usually means something like strength training, cycling or swimming hard.
Listen to music: Oh, music! This is my go-to on bad days (good days too :). What tunes uplift you, remind you of a pleasant time, or just have a beat you can’t help but dance to? Go there.
Open up to someone you know you can trust will hold you and your emotions safely regardless of whether they experience anxiety or not. Talking about the demon anxiety takes away some of her power.
Watch a lighthearted show or movie: Right now, I’m all in on Emily in Paris. Fashion, lovely scenery, and while the story is a bit silly, it’s just what I need.
Listen to Colbert, Stewart, Kimmel–whoever makes you laugh.
Take a bath (and may I suggest you add lots of candles?)
Schedule a massage
And the basics; healthy diet, plenty of rest and remain hydrated, so your body can do what it needs to do.