The Negative Impact Of Politics On Mental Health
If you feel like talk of politics is everywhere and you can’t get away from hearing about it, you are not alone – and it’s not just because we are in a presidential election year. History-making Supreme Court decisions, high-stakes legislation, global warfare and local protests, climate crises – at least one of these dominates the news cycle and social media every single day. Everything is connected to politics. And the influence of politics on mental health shouldn't be overlooked.
Whether on television, radio, social media, at the water cooler at work, at family gatherings, or just when pulling up an internet browser, you are practically bound to see or hear something regarding political strife and conflict multiple times a day. The negative impact of politics on mental health is evident, with many Americans suffering from it. The level of polarization in U.S. politics is also higher than ever. It’s creating interpersonal tension and conflict among people with opposing beliefs on issues and candidates.
Understanding the Impact of Politics on Mental Health
Consider the following statistics on the mental health impact of the current political climate:
40% of Americans in a survey identified politics as a significant source of stress in their lives.An alarming 5% said that they have considered suicide due to political developments. Young adults tend to be the most impacted.
More than 40% of Americans feel that the current match-up between the two major Presidential candidates is “depressing”.
One in five Americans have lost sleep over politics.
About a third report that political upheaval triggers compulsive behaviors for them.
More than 20% have had arguments over politics that have damaged their friendships.
Strategies to Protect Your Mental Health
Unfortunately, the drama and contentiousness of the political landscape, along with its prevalence in the media and in conversation is unlikely to cool off anytime soon. So, protecting our mental health from the ill effects of politics will require a variety of cognitive and behavioral strategies. Some key areas to focus on include:
Get Empowered: A sense of powerlessness can be a big contributor to depression and anxiety. The vastness of the problems, combined with the polarization, can also promote that sense. The solution is to look for what we can control in the areas that we can do something about and to remember that small acts ultimately add up to a big impact.
Find out what is happening in your local community and get involved through volunteering, organizing, or local politics. Contribute your skills to a candidate’s campaign, hand out flyers, or even run for local office. Make a difference in whatever small corner of the world you can.
Prioritize Self-Care: Focus on a healthy diet, sleep hygiene, exercise, time outdoors, and hobbies that are engaging or relaxing. Therapists sometimes hear clients state that they feel guilty about “indulging” in self-care when there is so much suffering in this world and that suffering is what is stressing them out. However, the reality is that you cannot pour from an empty cup. To make a difference for others, you first need to care for yourself.
Reframe Your Thinking: Disagreements about political issues – especially when the issues strike at the heart of deeply held values and the polarization runs so deep – can be especially stressful. Focusing on the difference can make us feel angry or even hopeless.
Reframe anger into curiosity by asking, 'What might be leading this person to feel this way? What might their perspective be? Is there anything we have in common?' Learning more about the issues, including their history, and approaching others' opinions with curiosity rather than anger can be empowering. Learning more about history can also help you reframe your thinking to be less catastrophic by putting today’s challenges into a broader perspective.
Set Boundaries: It is ok, and even healthy, to set limits on when and with whom you discuss political issues. Especially if there is disagreement among families or in certain work or social circles, you can say that you do not want to discuss political topics at family gatherings, at the dinner table, at staff meetings, etc.
Be Mindful of Your Media Consumption: Avoid mindless scrolling on social media, stay away from news outlets that you know to be incendiary, steer clear of reading comments online, and keep your news consumption to times of day that will not interfere with sleep.
Lean on Your Support Network: Relationships and social connections are essential to resilience in times of stress, so nurture those connections. It can be helpful to connect with others who share your views but avoid spending a lot of time complaining to one another about politics. Excessive focus on the negative just serves to reinforce the negative feelings.
If you find stress related to politics especially difficult to cope with, consider speaking with a mental health professional; therapists are increasingly hearing these struggles from clients. In fact, 87% have reported discussing this issue in sessions.
At The Hellenic Therapy Center, 567 Park Avenue, Scotch Plains, NJ we have a team of licensed professionals with day, evening, and weekend hours available for individual, couples, or family therapy. Please visit us at www.hellenictherapy.com, FaceBook, or Instagram. Call us at 908-322-0112 for further information.
Sources:
Farber Barry A. (2018). “‘Clowns to the left of me, Jokers to the right’: Politics and Psychotherapy, 2018”. Journal of Clinical Psychology. 74: 714–721. pmid:29543330
Moniuszko, S. (2024). “Depressed about politics? This happiness expert has some advice to help you get through 2024.” Cbsnews.com.
Smith, K.B. (2022). Politics is making us sick: The negative impact of political engagement on public health during the Trump administration. PLoS ONE 17(1): e0262022. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0262022
Smith, K.B., Hibbing, M.V., & Hibbing, J.R. (2019). Friends, relatives, sanity, and health: The costs of politics. PLoS ONE 14(9): e0221870.
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