I occasionally listen to a podcast called Savvy Psychiatrist with Dr. Monica Johnson. She covers a variety of mental health topics and the episodes are only about 20 minutes long.
She recently covered a topic that resonates with me called Political anxiety. Other terms that could be used are political or political fatigue.
This entails fear and uncertainty of the future direction of the country and world. Political anxiety brings increased worry along with feelings of helplessness.
Physical symptoms include:
- Tension headaches
- Stomach aches
- Difficulty sleeping
Some behavioral symptoms are:
- Social isolation
- Avoiding Friends and family members
I want to stay connected with current events happening locally, nationally, and internationally. But news constantly bombards us. It is at our fingertips 24/7. I want to stay informed of policies either directly or indirectly affecting me and fellow human beings.
My political stress started around 2016, two years before my injury. My anxiety increased this past few years due to the Michigan no fault auto law changes. Suddenly, my auto insurance stopped paying for services previously covered. I was close a week from being evicted and closed for services from Hope Network.
So yes, I have experienced political anxiety.
Here are some techniques I use to help manage my political stress:
Limit exposure
There is a war in the Ukraine and a shit show with the Gaza trip. Fear mongering politicians bombard us end of the world scenarios. News media outlets sensationalize breaking news 24/7.
Obsessive consumption of news overly stimulates me. I have subscriptions for the New York Times, the Athletic, the Detroit News and Free Press. I read the Detroit papers and the athletic to follow sports, which I find pleasurable unless my teams are losing!
If I’m struggling or feeling overwhelmed, I will cancel some subscriptions or just limit my usage of them. Rather than getting bombarded with TV news outlets, I may just watch the local news.
I stay informed but choose reliable sources and avoid sensationalized or biased reporting.
Distraction
YouTube has a plethora of content to watch. I stream a handful of channels to watch documentaries, binge some TV shows or watch movies.
Set boundaries
There are certain political topics that trigger my anger and anxiety. I simply set boundaries of topics I’m willing to discuss.
Mindfulness
Staying in the moment. I might not be able to control all circumstances but I can try and manage my responses.
Advocacy
For the auto no-fault laws, I asked my supports for a letter writing campaign to the governor and state legislatures.
I also participated in a forum and spoke of how the no-fault auto change negatively affected my life.
Lean on me
I’ve been truly blessed with my support system. I have an awesome case manager, Vicki Pahl, who has been by my side since my accident. I have friends and family check in with me. I can call a lot of people who will drop anything if I need help.
Dr. Johnson offers of variety of recommendations:
- Make time for hobbies that bring you joy
- Engage and positive actions, such as volunteering for certain causes
- Connect with supportive communities
I am interested to know how others deal with this topic. Please leave comments.
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