With the upcoming inauguration and the recent presidential election, you may be experiencing some pretty serious political anxiety surfacing. Political anxiety is anxiety or fear about a new incoming administration or how your life may change as a result of the changes that come with a new government.
Political Anxiety and Grief
If you are someone who is unhappy, frightened, and/or rageful about the election and the incoming Republican administration, you probably have been or are moving through the stages of grief, developed and popularized by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross. It is important to remember that grief is not linear and you may experience all of the stages more than once over the course of time.
Denial
Denial refers to the period after an event in which one refuses or cannot believe what has happened. In the denial phase, individuals seek safety in not believing the reality of the situation. Durning this period one may refuse to engage in conversation about the election or upcoming inauguration as a means to psychologically reject what’s really happening.
Anger
The second stage of grief is anger. This feeling of anger may be directed toward individuals who voted against your desired candidate, the incoming administration, or the state of the country. You might even feel anger directed at yourself. You may blame yourself for the results or not being politically engaged enough or angry that you held out hope for a different result.
Bargaining
Bargaining is accompanied by questions like “what if” and “if only.” You may ask yourself what if you or others could have done something differently to change the outcome of the election. Bargaining gives one a sense of false control over the situation in time when things feel very uncertain.
Depression
You may feel a general sense of doom accompanied by low mood or fear that may be atypical compared to what you might be used to. Sleep, appetite, energy, and concentration may be negatively impacted during this time as well. You might find yourself gaining or losing weight and in more severe cases your sense of worth and ability to experience joy my decrease. You might even feel nothing at all, or a sense of numbness when thinking about politics.
Acceptance
This final stage happens when one understands and accepts the reality of the election. At this stage you no longer push against the loss, you may even find hope in continuing forward. It is important to remember that acceptance does not mean you consent to or enjoy the situation, but you understand that it is the reality.
Political Anxiety and Interacting with Others
Many Americans are currently experiencing political stress, however, it can be difficult to interact with folks who are celebrating the election results. You might feel exhausted by all of the election discussion online, thus it may be a great time for a news and social media break.
Interacting with family, close friends, or work colleagues who feel differently about the election results can be especially hard. It is necessary to understand how much you are willing to engage in discussion about the election. Setting boundaries is a great way to protect your mental health and emotional well-being. You might feel the need to let someone know you are unwilling to discuss certain topics surrounding politics or the election. You may also choose to disengage with folks who do not respect your boundaries.
If you do decide to engage in political debates with people who are important to you, focusing on shared values, your care for one another, desire to maintain the relationship, and agreeing to disagree can be a safe route to avoid losing those you love. However, you may find it difficult or impossible to maintain relationships with folks who have voted for a Republican administration in an election in which so much is at risk, which is okay. You may decide to distance yourself or completely sever ties with these folks.
How to Care for Yourself When Experiencing Political Anxiety
It can be tough to know how to manage political anxiety pre-inauguration and into the next four years. However, your mental and emotional safety should be the top priority. It is important to allow yourself to experience and move through the stages of grief at whatever pace feels right for you.
It is also necessary to understand that self-care can take many forms including staying informed on how new and shifting policies can affect you and the ones you love. It can also look like taking time to disengage with political news or only consuming news from your trusted news sources.
If you find yourself needing additional support, it may be helpful to seek out a support group or begin individual therapy. Finally, leaning into the relationships and communities that bring you safety, connection, and support will continue to be a helpful and necessary act in self-care pre-inauguration and into the next four years.
So many Americans are experiencing political anxiety pre-inauguration. It is important to allow yourself to grieve what has been lost in this election and engage with folks around political topics with boundaries that safeguard your mental and emotional health.
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