Exercise, spending time outside can help deal with post-election anxiety

Steve Kuzj WNYT

Exercise, get fresh air to deal with post-election stress

The presidential election might be over, but many people are still feeling anxiety, regardless of whether or not their chosen candidate won. How the country be run, how family members will react to us at Thanksgiving, how will our lives change in the coming years? These are big questions behavioral health specialist Kristen Ajamian says we are all facing together. "For a lot of people, they've been holding onto this stress, actually for the last several months, almost the last year leading up to this. It's been a long road with a lot of conflict and tension," Ajamian says. Election anxiety is a recurring thing that Ajamian has seen over her decades of providing therapy to her clients. To get to a calmer state of mind, there are some questions you should first ask yourself.

The presidential election might be over, but many people are still feeling anxious — regardless of whether or not their chosen candidate won.

How the country be run; how family members will react to us at Thanksgiving; how will our lives change in the coming years? These are big questions behavioral health specialist Kristen Ajamian said we are all facing together.

“For a lot of people, they’ve been holding onto this stress, actually for the last several months, almost the last year leading up to this. It’s been a long road with a lot of conflict and tension,” Ajamian said.

Election anxiety is a recurring thing that Ajamian has seen over her decades of providing therapy to her clients. To get to a calmer state of mind, there are some questions you should first ask yourself. 

“How have you dealt with past difficulties and stressors?” Ajamian said. “What has gotten you through those stressors in the past? How did you survive the last election if it didn’t go your desired way?”

Journaling your concerns, getting exercise, eating healthy, and finding time to be outside in the sunlight are all important steps we can take to ease our stresses. Experts say controlled breathing exercises can even help immediately lower your blood-pressure and help you relax.

For more resources, you can check out www.PsychologyToday.com 

Behavioral health specialist Kristen Ajamian is with the online therapy company AptiHealth. She and many other therapists are always willing to help you get through tough times.