Buckle your seat belts and ready yourself for one of the most explosive, controversial, monumental presidential elections the United States has ever seen. Now that the political conventions have ended and the Republican and Democratic parties have officially declared their nominees, we should expect our normal day-to-day life to change. Whether y
ou welcome it or not, this presidential election will capture a great amount of our attention. There will be more television advertisements, social media commentary and water cooler talk than we had while the parties were electing candidates. Can you imagine, more? I get emotionally drained just thinking about it. Everyone has an opinion; everyone wants his/her opinion to be heard; everyone thinks his/her opinion is right. The political process of the United States is one of the pillars that help to make this nation strong. But when the democratic electoral process is tagged with the constitutional right to free speech, those of us who battle depression have to be careful to stay away from the negativity such a pairing might produce. I can already feel myself being overwhelmed by it all. So in order to protect my mental health, I have prepared a strategy to help make it through this presidential election season. I would like to share this 5 step plan with you.
- Find innovative ways to stay informed.
Be sure to know that the internet and 24 hour news media outlets will be covering this election from every angle. Look at me, I have even fallen into the trap (howbeit with good intent). The news for some is a stressor. How can one who wants to maintain information do so without triggering emotional distress? One method I use is smart phone technology. Specifically, I have the CNN Mobile App, and I set my phone to receive notifications. I can read the notifications in my locked screen. If I find it interesting, I can go to the app to view/read more. You might also want to try theSkimm. The Skimm is an email newsletter that literally skims important news events. Listen, I want to know when breaking news occurs, but I honestly do not want to trouble myself with some of the details. To this day, I wish I had not spent so much time looking at the Sandy Hook shooting coverage. Lesson learned. I have decided to wait until the debates to listen to the candidates. However, you know what you can tolerate. Trust me, this election season, you might do best by just getting a simple notification.
- Journal
I can hear myself quoting Celie’s father in the Color Purple, “bet not tell nobody but God”. Sometimes, there are thoughts that might be better left on paper. A journal is a great way to express your political thoughts in a safe place. Journaling is a way to have a conversation with yourself. Often times, we just want to be heard without having to endure a response. I have decided to dedicate some of my journal time specifically to this election. I am going to ask myself questions I want to have answered, specific expectations I have for the candidates, and my overall reaction to the campaigning. I encourage you to join me in doing the same. It could save you from having an unwanted debate over what you think to be a simple comment. If you have never kept a journal, here is a link to some of the benefits of journaling and tips for getting started.
- Stay away from political commentary on social media.
I have challenged myself not to post anything concerning the election to my social media (save a register to vote comment). And, I have also decided not to comment on anyone else’s political posts. I am just not going to do it anymore. I find myself saying the same thing over and over again to the same people and it has become annoying. I am done with it. I would rather my social media posts invite positivity. The best way to do that is not to open the door to negative comments. Join me in doing the same. I feel better already just thinking about not thinking about it. Find fun, cool, interesting, informative things to share (like this blog for instance 🙂 ).
- Choose a conversation team
Conversations about politics can be tricky. There are few tips that might help you navigate around what could end up being an explosive argument. I want to encourage you to not engage in a political conversation with random people. If you enjoy talking about politics, it might be a good idea for you to have several different people, in different places you can discuss politics with throughout the day. I like to call this a political conversation team. My conversation team includes:
- People I know well
I know the character, demeanor and over all temperament of the people I talk to. I know that our conversations no matter how heated, will never insight feelings of anger, hatred, disgust or rage.
- People who do not agree with me on every issue
I have a person from both political parties on my team. And, I also have people within my party who think differently about issues I find important. These people are necessary. They help me to remain informed and also help strengthen my character.
- People who are registered to vote and participate in the voting process.
As soon as I hear a person say, “That’s why I don’t vote”. I immediately change the subject. I used to try to encourage such people to vote, but that always ended up in a heated discussion I wish I never had. So, I have learned to not engage. Why listen to the political rhetoric of someone who has denied him/herself an authentic voice at the poll. “Bye Felicia!”
5. Be prepared with mobile distractions
If you are someone who has suffered from depression, you know first hand how important it is to spend your free time doing what brings you joy. Hobbies are a key ingredient to producing good mental health. Exercising, singing in the church choir, participating in a book club are examples of hobbies that are scheduled. Sticking to a routine is most definitely a way to manage your depression. But, what should you do if you are caught off guard, and you are somehow placed in the crossfire of election coverage that starts to challenge your mental health? For example, what happens if you are at work, or riding public transportation and you are in ear shot of a conversation you cannot help but over hear and cannot get away from? In such instances, it might be a good idea to have a mobile distraction at the ready. Maybe pull out your smart phone and play a game of Words with Friends, carry a book in your purse, or if you are crafty, you might even carry your knitting needle and yarn. Lately, my mobile outlet has been escaping to Stars Hollow with Gilmore Girls on Netflix. It is up to you. The point is that you might want to think about being prepared; so that you might be able to tackle that stressor immediately.
I hope that you find this strategy useful. Can you think of any additional tips? I invite you to share any additional tips or comments. This presidential election is going to be one for the record books, but let’s not allow it to derail our mental health. The election season ends on Tuesday, November 8th. (voter registration, requirements and deadlines) Until then, let’s maintain balance and press on together!