{"id":89426,"date":"2024-07-29T15:46:36","date_gmt":"2024-07-29T15:46:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.stress.org\/?post_type=news&p=89426"},"modified":"2024-07-29T15:54:02","modified_gmt":"2024-07-29T15:54:02","slug":"joe-biden-dropped-out-of-the-election-if-youre-stressed-youre-not-alone","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.stress.org\/news\/joe-biden-dropped-out-of-the-election-if-youre-stressed-youre-not-alone\/","title":{"rendered":"Joe Biden dropped out of the election. If you’re stressed, you’re not alone."},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/em><\/h2>\n

After weeks of speculation,\u00a0President Joe Biden<\/a>\u00a0ended his bid for reelection<\/a>\u00a0on Sunday, clearing the way for a\u00a0new Democratic candidate<\/a>\u00a0to take over just four months ahead of the November the election. It’s a move\u00a0many voters<\/a>\u00a0have called for both publicly and privately \u2212 on social media and around their dinner tables \u2212 since\u00a0Biden’s disastrous debate<\/a>\u00a0performance in late June. Yet, the news that Biden was dropping out had many of those same critics expressing\u00a0anxiety and nerves<\/a>, rather than relief.<\/p>\n

“I’m so nervous now,” one commenter wrote Sunday beneath an\u00a0@UnderTheDeskNews<\/a>\u00a0summary of day’s events. “Very scary times. I have no words. I’m shaking,” another added. “Wow. Risky but might pay off,” another wrote.<\/p>\n

Experts say the ups and downs of the political world can cause serious\u00a0stress<\/a>\u00a0for people who feel like all they can do is watch helplessly. Plus, on the heels of former President Donald Trump’s assassination attempt and with a pivotal election nearing,\u00a0these feelings of stress<\/a>\u00a0are likely to only intensify.<\/p>\n

“We’re in a state of flux, and brains really don’t like ambiguity,” psychotherapist\u00a0Stephanie Sarkis<\/a>\u00a0says. “They like knowing what to expect, and so this one more thing that’s changed. For a lot of people, it triggers a lot of turmoil.”<\/p>\n

Stress triggers the release of cortisol<\/a>, the so-called stress hormone, William Heckman, executive director of the American Institute of Stress<\/strong><\/a>, previously told USA TODAY. This affects mood, motivation, and fear. It’s common in times of major upheaval.<\/p>\n

Here are tips to keep in mind if you feel political uncertainty taking a toll on your mental health.<\/p>\n

‘Master your morning’<\/h2>\n

Nefertiti Nowell, a licensed clinical professional counselor in the Chicago metropolitan area, subscribes to this motto: \u201cIf you can master your morning, you can master your day,” she explained. She recommends brief stretching exercises and\u00a0writing down something you\u2019re grateful for<\/a>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0preferably a new source of gratitude every day. Yoga, deep breathing and meditation can be added to the morning ritual, but it\u2019s not necessary.<\/p>\n

Take breaks from your news alerts<\/h2>\n

Sarkis says taking breaks from watching the news is essential for mental health. If you need to step away, she recommends going for a walk or doing something active.<\/p>\n

Focus on what’s not changing<\/h2>\n

A major source of stress from politics is unpredictability. To counteract this, Sarkis recommends focusing on things in your life you know are consistent and reliable.<\/p>\n

“Focus on the things that aren’t changing,” she says. “Maybe you can even just count on the fact that when you wake up in the morning you can go outside and take a walk. Focus on the things that are staying the same, and focus on people that are making the change that you want to see.”<\/p>\n

Channel your stress<\/h2>\n

“Many individuals get a sense of purpose and strength by channeling their anxiety into action,”\u00a0Mona Eshaiker<\/a>\u00a0, a licensed therapist, previously told USA TODAY. “This can look like attending a town hall, volunteering at the polls, canvassing, protesting, information sharing, attending workshops and seminars. Being part of a group can also provide a sense of support and community.”<\/p>\n

Journal<\/h2>\n

Chloe Carmichael, a licensed clinical psychologist in New York, suggested\u00a0writing a one-page journal entry recording your thoughts<\/a>\u00a0and feelings about politics, which “can relieve our brain of the burden of feeling like you have to keep all of those points active.”<\/p>\n

Go on a media cleanse<\/h2>\n

“This can be as little as one\u00a0day without looking at the news or social media. Or a week depending on what you think you may need,” Eshaiker said. “The point here is to help regulate your nervous system after election season to get your mind and body back to homeostasis.”<\/p>\n

Anxiety symptoms:<\/strong>What to understand about the condition and how to calm anxiety.<\/a><\/p>\n

Seek therapy if the stress becomes overwhelming<\/h2>\n

Of course, mental health challenges are often best treated with professional help, especially if this stress persists, Eshaiker added.<\/p>\n

By Charles Trepany <\/a><\/em>USA TODAY<\/p>\n

Contributing: David Oliver, Josh Peter and Marco della Cava<\/em><\/p>\n

For more information about stress and stress-related issues go to Stress.org<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

After weeks of speculation,\u00a0President Joe Biden\u00a0ended his bid for reelection\u00a0on Sunday, clearing the way for a\u00a0new Democratic candidate\u00a0to take over just four months ahead of the November the election. It’s […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"give_campaign_id":0,"pmpro_default_level":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false},"categories":[12,560],"tags":[136,137,141,143,165],"class_list":["post-89426","news","type-news","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-adult-stress","category-events","tag-ais","tag-american-institute-of-stress","tag-health","tag-mental-health","tag-stress-relief","pmpro-has-access"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nJoe Biden dropped out of the election. 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