Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, a family and emergency medicine physician and Fox News Medical contributor, shared her tips for dealing with election stress.
A leading doctor has shared his tips for de-stressing after one of the most tumultuous presidential elections in modern American history.
Donald Trump was elected president for the second time, over Vice President Kamala Harris, after several states recorded record voter turnout.
It was also one of the most stressful elections in recent history.
A survey of the American Psychological Association (APA) found that nearly eight in 10 Americans viewed the nation’s future as a major source of stress in their lives.
And 69 percent said they were specifically anxious about the election, with more than half reporting that they thought the election could end democracy in the United States.
Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, a family and emergency medicine physician and Fox News Medical contributor, said the phenomenon, called election stress syndrome, is not just being overly sensitive but “a real medical condition that needs to be addressed.”
He added: “The fact is that political issues affect us all, both mentally and physically, but it is important that we maintain our health at all times.”
If left untreated, intense stress can also cause an influx of “fight or flight” hormones that trigger physical symptoms such as high blood pressure, diarrhea, and even stroke.
Donald Trump made a surprising political comeback and was elected president for the second time. He appears on stage to address his fans on November 6.
Dr Nesheiwat said: “Election stress can be caused by a variety of psychological and social factors. Stress surrounding elections, especially in the current environment, can create or exacerbate health problems such as anxiety or depression.
‘Factors such as uncertainty, fear of the unknown, fear of change and lack of control over outcomes play an important role.
“Combine that with 24/7 news coverage and constant updates on social media, and people are bombarded with information that can be drastically overwhelming.”
Dr. Nesheiwat noted that political differences can create social tensions and pressures to take a stand on certain issues, especially immediately after elections.
She suggests staying connected to supportive people, like friends and family.
She said: “Isolation can make stress worse, so reach out to someone you trust.”
However, be sure to find time with that support system to talk about anything other than politics, and set boundaries to avoid overthinking negative emotions.
Dr. Nesheiwat recommends taking time to focus on hobbies like reading or baking, or even playing a new sport “like pickleball or hiking.”
She said: “Exercise and activity release endorphins, the happy hormones that help reduce stress.”
TO study 2017For example, he found that endorphins increased the most with at least an hour of vigorous exercise such as high-intensity interval training (HIIT).
However, even light exercise like walking has been associated with decreased anxiety and depression after a stressful event, according to one study. study published last year.
If you’re still overcome with anxiety after the election, Dr. Nesheiwat recommends seeking professional help.
She said: ‘Contact your doctor or therapist to help you cope with emotional and mental stress. Therapy and sometimes medications can help you cope with these challenges.