Electing to Make Time for Mental Health
Fall is here, and the amazing palette of color brought on by cooler weather is starting. School is back in session and the multiple cycles of learning, living and education continue. With shorter days, it is so tempting to stay in bed longer. This can affect our mental health. Recently, a quick survey of people working around me, all five people had difficulty getting out of bed the same morning. Some cited the colder weather and others cited that was a Monday. I acknowledge these factors, but there are even more factors at play.
As another election approaches, I find my anxiety and stress levels also rising. Managing these stress levels in the last weeks of this election will be challenging. As political anxiety has been recognized as a significant source of chronic stress, it is distinctly different from psychological conditions such as general anxiety, as it has a unique impact on emotional wellness and our cohesion within society. There is growing evidence on the negative impact of politics on a wide range of health issues.1 In three separate studies, 1 in 20 people reported significant distress to the point of developing suicidal thoughts. There is reported loss of sleep, damaged social relationships and even higher social media use.
Part of the stress could be related to the act of voting. Renfro and Smith et al. studied cortisol levels in people voting at the polls compared to people who voted at home or performed a control task. Higher cortisol levels were reported in those voting at the polls.1
As a result of this stress, those who better regulate their emotions through distraction and reframing can maintain their wellness, but their political engagement is reduced. Social connection can help with this, but some social relationships are more beneficial than others. In polarized communities, the International Political Science Review found that bonding between similar people was linked to improved mental and physical health.1
So what can we do within the next few weeks for our mental and physical health? Limiting our news feed via social media or streaming may help. Tuning in when something needs to be done, like finding out how to vote or how to contribute to a campaign can also help. Consider voting early and planning when to vote to reduce stress. Instead of streaming, I choose to read about politics to reduce my stress. If I am in a good emotional place, I will stream programs, but I have limited these.
To help myself through this election cycle, I am focusing on the seven types of rest: physical, mental, emotional, social, sensory, spiritual and creative as stated by Saundra Dalton-Smith, MD, in her TED talk.2 I stick to my sleep schedule and practice mindfulness almost daily. I allow myself time to rest my brain from all decision-making daily while also allowing a social break. Periods of silence are blessings. Taking time away from people-pleasing is essential on a daily basis. Finally, creative rest while being on a walk outside or stopping to admire a beautiful sunrise or listening to music helps me rest through the chaos of my days. I have had to place some of these activities on my calendar so that these actually occur. When I do these consistently, I find that I have rested enough to prevent falling down emotionally and physically.
What will you do to help yourself if you have fallen or are falling?
References
- Abrams, Z. (2024, July). The impact of election stress: Is political anxiety harming your health?. Monitor on Psychology. https://www.apa.org/monitor/2024/10/managing-political-stress
- Dalton-Smith, S., MD. (2024, July 25). The 7 types of rest that every person needs. ideas.ted.com. https://ideas.ted.com/the-7-types-of-rest-that-every-person-needs/
About the Author Heading link
Dr. Dominique Fons is Clerkship Director and a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine.