Do you suffer from election anxiety? What you can do about it (besides voting!)

On June 30, the French are called to the polls for the first round of the legislative elections. In a time of political uncertainty, and in the face of the exasperating progression of the far right, you may feel anxious, overwhelmed, tired or simply depressed.

How do I know if I have election anxiety?

You knew about eco-anxiety, this feeling of anguish and helplessness in the face of man-made ecological disaster, but do you know election anxiety? In an article dated June 14, 2024, the British magazine Grace decipher this current phenomenon.

Among the symptoms, which are not exhaustive, there are intrusive thoughts related to elections, which appear at times when one is not necessarily thinking about politics. “For example, when you are trying to fall asleep, or during other moments of relaxation or socializing” explains psychotherapist and anxiety specialist Eloise Skinner to the British magazine.

“You may feel stressed when you think about the election date and feel increasingly stressed as it gets closer. On the other hand, you may also feel a sense of avoidance of election-related content – ​​a desire to shut down any discussions or avoid any political marketing – which may also be a sign of stress or anxiety about the topic as a topic. Total. To this we can add a racing heart, a feeling of strong adrenaline or physical tension when talking about the elections.

How to manage this stress?

The expert provides several tips. On the one hand, you need to be able to identify what may trigger stress in you (like an election slogan, for example, or someone expressing an opinion contrary to yours). “Once you identify the trigger, you can explore the problem further by talking to a friend or family member, seeing a therapist, or using another reflective tool such as journaling,” recommends Eloise Skinner.

We must also be kind to ourselves, recognizing that this is a historic moment and that it is not abnormal to give it importance. Therefore, a relaxing routine can help ease tensions: take care of yourself, your body and your mind, make sure you get enough sleep, consume quality information on the topic of elections and perhaps avoid social media if their contents they are a source of anxiety for you. So, obviously, action is the best remedy for feeling helpless. So let's go to the polls!

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