Election days and nights can be incredibly stressful and anxiety producing. You are not alone in that.
The usual support guides of limiting social media, avoiding the news, going on a walk, deep breathing, can be pretty heavy on avoidance and distraction strategies. And at their worst, can feel shaming to read when you can’t get yourself to do the things you are being told will help you.
Some of these suggestions can delay the feelings or ignore them or attempt to change the feeling into something else.
When you are overwhelmed, under-resourced, and living in a world that makes a spectacle and pageantry of voting results, you may not be in a place to make all the best choices.
That’s okay. Emotionally heavy days are sometimes not the days for starting brand-new behaviors.
Take care of yourself, and do not place a standard of behavior for yourself tonight that will only lead to self-hatred, contempt, or disappointment.
The feelings of today demand to be felt, feel them. Journal them, make art about them, cry, talk to a friend or partner, or lie on the floor.
Six reminders and encouragements for election results days/nights
1. Commit to your choice around coverage
I’m going to leave a 24-hour channel on, I’m only going to check at the top of the hour, I’m taking a two hour social media break after dinner, etc. Don’t “should” on yourself for your choice; this is an exercise in self-trust. You can survive 24 hours of the decision you make today.
2. Celebrate any wins across the country
Hope is an important feeling, cultivate it when and where you can (dance break, call a friend, make art, post on social media, kiss your partner)
3. Grieve any losses across the country
Grief needs a place to go, give it somewhere (cry, scream, write a letter to the world you hoped would come to be, call a friend, cuddle your partner)
4. Eat something
Whether you’re making a comfort recipe, trying to cook a new dish, outsourcing to a local restaurant, or can only consume in liquid form (smoothie for example), don’t leave this out of your evening
5. Listen to what your body needs more or less of in any given moment
Up-regulate or down-regulate as needed. Make the hot cup of tea. Wear a sweatshirt and have a cozy blanket and turn the fan on. Mute the tv. Dance with the music blasting. Hold hands. Sit on opposite ends of the couch at the watch party.
6. Save the planning for tomorrow
No matter if there is more to celebrate than grieve or vice versa, in the height of your emotions, feel them. Give yourself this designated container of tonight to not “know” how to respond or what to get involved in or plan for.
If you’re concerned you might hurt yourself or others, please use crisis resources such as texting ELECTION / ELECCIONES to 741741.
Dr. S