Is election day stress getting to you? Recent Research Shows You’re Not Alone

With the general election, including the minimal presidential contest, just days away, voters are feeling stressed.

Doctor Douglas ZatzikThe University of Washington Medical psychiatrist practicing at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle said if you’re feeling anxious about Tuesday’s election results — whatever they may be — you’re not alone.

“Anxiety is actually a very common and natural reaction,” Zatzik said in a UW press release.

“There is a sense of uncertainty, anticipation and tension about the upcoming elections,” he continued. “Everyone experiences this; 70% actually, so take care of yourself, treat yourself and surround yourself with good people.”

IN video In a UW Medicine report, Zatzik said looking at how social media affects you can help.

“People who constantly check social media and are unaware of news that might make them stressed or anxious are an important subgroup of people to check in with,” he said.

He suggested people connect with friends who share similar hopes for the outcome of the election and who can offer support regardless of the outcome.

Recent report According to the American Psychological Association, “More than 7 in 10 adults cited the future of our nation (77%) as a significant source of stress in their lives, making it the most common source of significant stress in this year’s survey. The economy was the second most common, with 73% of adults citing it as a significant source of stress. The 2024 US presidential election was followed by 69% of the vote.”

The APA report also found that much of the stress associated with the 2024 elections is due to anxiety about the outcome.

“More than 7 in 10 adults (72%) were concerned that the election results could lead to violence, and more than half of adults (56%) said they thought the presidential election could be the end of democracy in the United States,” it said in the report. said.

About 41% of adults in the APA report said the state of the nation had made them consider moving to another country, and 39% indicated that the political climate in their state had made them consider moving to another state.

On a positive note, the APA report found that just over half of adults said they felt more obligated to volunteer or support causes they value because of the state of the nation, up from 45% before the 2020 general election.