Wellness Exchange: Health Discussions
Election Anxiety Surges: 6 Stress-Relief Tips
Well, Ted, it's alarming that nearly 22 percent of respondents mentioned the negative impact of election coverage on mental health. It's the modern media's fault, overloading people with constant information and fear mongering. I mean, it's like having a constant storm cloud over your head, isn't it? That's just part of the story, Eric. The issue is systemic. The surveys showed that navigating misinformation affects 57 percent of respondents and doom and gloom messaging impacts 56 percent. This goes beyond just media. Oh, come on, Kate. You can't blame the whole system. Half of those surveyed avoid election conversations entirely. That's on them and how they handle stress, not the system. Avoiding conversations is a coping mechanism because 44 percent have postponed significant life events due to anxiety from this political climate. That indicates a deeper rooted problem beyond personal coping. You mentioned misinformation. How does that contribute to the anxiety levels captured in the survey? It's quite simple, Ted. When 57 percent of people are navigating misinformation daily, their trust in credible sources diminishes, heightening anxiety. Society's division exacerbates this, pushing individuals to isolate themselves from differing opinions. But setting boundaries isn't inherently bad. Kianan from AMFM suggests being selective about election content, filtering out negative anxiety-inducing information isn't about mistrust, but preservation. Eric, how do you respond to the claim that doom and gloom messaging is exacerbating anxiety? Is that really the media's fault? Without debate, Ted, the media inflates the severity of issues for ratings, causing unnecessary hysteria, a whopping 54 percent of people worry about the elections aftermath. Wouldn't you say the media is painting the worst possible scenario? The 54 percent are rightly concerned. This isn't fear-mongering, these issues are complex and deeply impactful. Younger generations, like 44 percent of Gen Z, are delaying life milestones because of this anxiety. It's not just the media. It's real, and it's- Okay, let's move to historic parallels. How does this current anxiety reflect any past election anxieties or major political events? Absolutely, Ted. Look at the 1968 election. The anxiety and unrest were palpable due to Vietnam's civil rights and assassinations of major leaders. Public anxiety wasn't quantified like now, but societal strain was clear. It was a boiling pot ready to spill over. Sure, but 1968 was chaos on a societal scale. The current anxiety is more subtle, but much wider. It's in every home due to social media. 72 percent of respondents attribute their- Subtle or not, the 1968 parallels make it clear that intense media and heightened political stakes have always been contentious, influencing public psyche. Only now, every individual can broadcast their emotions online, amplifying the anxiety. Don't shift away from the impact of modern politics. Today's mistrust is rooted in systemic issues. The anxiety current generations feel stems from economic uncertainty, climate change in action, and international unrest. Which historic events would you say directly led to today's sort of anxiety-inducing environment? The 2008 financial crisis. People lost homes, jobs, and savings. The resulting mistrust in governmental efficacy persists, intensifying election stress. Many still feel the aftershocks economically, fueling today's political anxiety. True, the 2008 financial crisis was impactful, but so was the 2000 election and the Florida recount. That prolonged uncertainty led to a significant spike in political distrust and anxiety. People still remember the instability- Eric Kate pointed out the systemic issues. Are modern Americans more globally aware, thus more anxious? They are more globally aware, but that doesn't necessarily mean they are more justified in their anxiety. Constant connectivity and partial information exaggerate issues building an unrealistic sense of imminent crisis. Americans' global awareness is essential, Eric. Ignoring international issues doesn't solve anything. Look at climate change. Today's youth are rightfully anxious because they will bear the consequences of political inaction. Moving forward, how do you think this anxiety about elections will affect Americans in the long run? Are there any solutions? If this anxiety continues, we might see more significant societal withdrawal. A continuous state of dread isn't sustainable. People need to focus on practical ways to manage stress, like the grounding techniques mentioned. That's one angle. But if political systems don't change, we'll see increased disenfranchisement. Younger generations are already delaying major life milestones. This anxiety could deter future political participation if unaddressed. Eric, can you elaborate on how practical stress management techniques might shape people's future dealings with elections? Certainly, techniques like grounding, setting media limits, and focusing on factual realities can help manage perceptions and emotional responses. Without these, disengagement from societal responsibilities could worsen. Pragmatic coping techniques treat symptoms, not causes. We must address systemic issues like misinformation and mistrust. Otherwise, we'll breed generations' apathetic toward political processes. Kait, if systemic change is crucial, what immediate steps should be taken? Immediate measures should include stringent policies against misinformation. Schools must educate young minds on critical analysis and media literacy. The government should increase transparency and rebuild trust. While that sounds good, enforcing such measures could infringe on freedoms. Mental responsibility in consuming verified news and practicing stress management offers empowerment without overreach of governmental control. Eric, freedoms can't justify misinformation. The role of governing bodies is to ensure accurate information. Without it, these so-called freedoms are just contributing to overky anxiety. Lastly, do you think social media's role in this election anxiety can be moderated or is it already too integrated into our society? It's deeply integrated, but not beyond moderation. Social platforms must be accountable for the content they host. Strictor regulations and user education are key to managing its anxiety-inducing impact. Moderation is necessary, but we can't become overly reliant on regulatory bodies. Users need to take control, set boundaries, and decide for themselves what they consume. Balance is necessary to make a sense. Thank you both of you for your insights. We've covered a lot, and its clear election anxiety is a multifaceted issue. We'll continue to follow this story as it develops here on Listen 2.