November 3rd
November 3rd, 2020.
A day many of us are anxiously anticipating.
This isn’t a political article so don’t pass it by in an effort to avoid more anxiety. This is a human article - an article about the human condition and how to survive.
Many people feel that much of their lives are on the line next week. When we consider that kind of fear, we have to also consider how our heart, brain, and body are responding to that fear.
Many of us are experiencing racing thoughts, racing hearts, difficulty sleeping, difficulty with concentration, feelings of pending doom, gastrointestinal issues, difficulty regulating emotions, conflict in relationships and so on and so forth.
First- THAT IS A LOT. Lets normalize that the anxiety about November 3rd, while in a pandemic and managing day to day life stressors - is a LOT!
These are symptoms not only of anxiety but of our body’s psychological stress response going off. Our bodies are constantly responding to real and perceived danger. And boy is it exhausting.
So what can you do to prepare for next Tuesday?? Here are 10 tips to get you through!
Take social media and news breaks. The election is going to happen whether you watch every second of it. Its okay to walk away. Enlist a trusted loved one to give you the cliff notes if you need. My own therapist used to call this “taking to my bed” and what she meant was to find a safe place that is separate from the rest of the world and take a dang break!! Recharge is not only important but necessary.
Volunteer your time. Find a way to support your position over the next week. When we are feeling anxious, it is important to recognize where we do have power and control. This could be as simple as getting your ballot in the mail or donating to a favorite charity or even finding a way to help at your local polling place. Find your space and get something productive done!
Breathe. We forget to do it sometimes and it is SO important when we are feeling anxious. Deep breathing will slow your heart rate down, tricking your body into feeling calm. A good route for this in breathing in for the count of 4 through your nose and out for the count of 6 through your mouth. Repeat as many times as necessary.
Exercise. This could be an hour of weight lifting, a 15 min walk around the block, or 10 jumping jacks. It doesn’t matter. Exercise is going to allow your body to release the epinephrine (or adrenaline) that is creating the feeling of anxiety.
Fill your cup. Not your wine glass. Do something that rejuvenates you. For some this will be reading a book, for others it may be dinner with a friend. But schedule it. Schedule something for the day of the elections and the day after.
Watch the elections with loved ones who share your values. it is important to remember that whatever happens and whatever you hope for - you are not alone!
Practice gratitude. It is so easy to focus on the bad in the world - what we don’t have, don’t know, can’t control. But instead - take a few minutes to focus on what we DO have. This may be as simple as feeling the warm fuzzies about your morning coffee or taking a look at history and recognizing how far we have come as a human race.
Fight, flight, freeze. Embrace that stress response. If you need to cry, cry. If you need to scream into a pillow and listen to your favorite metal music, do that. If all you can do is say “I don’t know, I don’t have an opinion on that and I can’t take on learning about that right now” - that is OKAY.
Set healthy boundaries. Do it before election night. Let your loved ones know what you need from them - whether that is time alone or time to connect. Ask for support.
Plan for the future. Okay - this might be planning to mobilize if your candidate loses, it might be planning a celebration if your candidate wins, or it might be planning a vacation no matter what happens on the third. But focus on something after election night that you can have power with. The world will continue on after 11/3 and you will be there for it.
I hope these tips help a little, my heart is with everyone struggling in the next week.
Stay connected,
Angie