A Psychiatrist in Gaithersburg, MD Offers Advice for Treating Political Fatigue
Election night is a little under a week away. For months, our presidential candidates have been passionately campaigning for your vote. Media outlets and political organizations have also increased the production of content surrounding the election. But constantly being exposed to news and information about the election can be mentally exhausting. Some people even develop political fatigue from the sensationalism, nastiness, and feelings of helplessness that often accompany elections.
If you are feeling worn out, stressed, or irritable from the election, you are not alone. Take it from a psychiatrist. Gaithersburg, MD clinic — the Pysch Associates of Maryland — examines different methods for treating political fatigue in our latest blog post.
Stress and anxiety over the 2020 presidential election have been plaguing U.S. citizens for a while now. In 2019, the American Psychological Association found that 56% of adults were already stressed about the election, 54% wanted to remain politically informed but were often stressed by the news, and 39% were already working to decrease their news consumption.
If the overwhelming news cycle and ubiquitous presence of political social media content are overwhelming you, you may start to experience mental fatigue. Common symptoms of mental fatigue include:
Many of these negative feelings can be attributed to the election. You might feel anxious about the results. Or you could even feel cynical about the future of the country no matter which candidate is elected. Some people may feel completely hopeless altogether.
But you don’t have to suffer from these negative feelings alone. There are a number of methods and treatment options you can try to help improve your mental health.
It can be easy to fall into a black hole of scrolling through political content on social media for hours-on-end. But this can ultimately cause you to become more stressed than you already are. While it’s important to stay informed of current events, you should avoid allowing yourself to become oversaturated with political news coverage. Consuming a constant stream of negative news and political conflict can elevate your stress levels and trigger symptoms of anxiety.
So try to limit the amount of time you spend on social media. You can even use apps like LeechBlock and SelfControl to block yourself from certain websites.
Meditation offers numerous benefits to those who practice it, including an increase in self-awareness and mindfulness. People who practice meditation also learn new skills to manage their stress and reduce negative emotions. Sessions don’t take long. In fact, you only need to take a few minutes out of each morning to meditate.
One fun and healthy method for getting your mind off of the election is to get some exercise in! Exercising can help improve your mental health by reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression while also improving your self-esteem. Whether you’re an avid biker or yogi, you’ll be giving yourself a much-needed respite from current political events.
Make sure you’re following a healthy and nutritious diet. With the increasing tension surrounding the political election, it can be easy to forget simple acts of taking care of yourself like consuming a proper meal.
It’s easy to look at the election from an all-or-nothing perspective. “If X is elected, we’re doomed” is a common sentiment of people from different political parties and beliefs. Instead of falling into black and white thinking, you should try to pause and carefully reflect on the possible results of the election.
If you’re struggling with anxiety and depression, know that help is out there. You have a wide variety of treatment options available for treating your mental health, including professional psychiatrists and counselors. Consider scheduling a consultation with one if you find yourself experiencing fatigue, depression, or other negative symptoms that are interfering with your life.
If you are experiencing symptoms of depression and anxiety and they have begun to disrupt your personal life, it may be beneficial to seek out a mental health counselor. Counselors can help you understand and work through different issues that have negatively affected your life. They can also help you develop different coping strategies for them.
The upcoming months before a presidential election can be frenetic and stressful. This year’s election is no exception. If you’re dealing with depression or anxiety from the current events, you may benefit from counseling by a psychiatrist in Gaithersburg, MD. For more information, contact the team at the Psych Associates of Maryland today!
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Psych Associates of Maryland provides comprehensive psychiatric services by a group of competent, independent practitioners. We diagnose and treat children, adolescents, adults, and the geriatric population.
