The 2024 presidential election may be over, but, for many, the anxiety that accompanied the contentious race remains.
Wall-to-wall campaign coverage has transformed into marathon postmortem analysis. And from political junkies to voting novices, the high-volume vitriol—from cable news, social media and even our own kitchen tables—continues to have an effect on our mental health. According to the American Psychological Association, nearly 70 percent of Americans said the 2024 presidential election was a “significant” source of stress in their lives.
But while the election was certainly important, George Washington University Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology Katherine Marshall Woods reminds Americans on both sides of the aisle that their own mental and physical wellbeing is just as crucial.
“Taking care of yourself, despite all that is happening around you, is the most important aspect of this experience,” said Marshall Woods, a licensed clinical psychologist with the Professional Psychology Program at the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences.
In an interview, Marshall Woods shared tips for coping with the election fallout.
Q: All presidential elections are stressful, but this one felt particularly bad. Were the stress levels heightened?
A: I do believe that they are heightened now. It is different than elections of the past. We are inundated with the understanding that this election in particular has consequences—positive and/or negative—to our own personal lives. And because it’s been made so personal, the level of anxiety has also increased.
Q: If we’re feeling overwhelmed by election-related stress, should we just tune out? Can we even tune out?
A: That’s a good question: Can we tune out? Probably the answer is no—and, at the same time, yes.
If you’re feeling stressed, it’s really important that you take a moment to self-evaluate what you need during this time…in order to feel healthy. Do you need support? Do you need to be around others who are actively concerned and anxious too? Maybe having others to commiserate with makes you feel more comforted and less alone.
Do you need to allot a specific amount of time to think about the [election results] and engage with media outlets? And then do you need to give yourself a break from that experience and engage in activities outside of the election?
Q: What about political junkies who feel like they just can’t stop watching? Does that make their anxiety worse?
A: Actually, because the anxiety is so high right now, some people feel like if they don’t have their hand on the pulse at all times, it will create even more anxiety.
The question is: Can you keep your hand on the pulse—but in a different way?
Our anxieties are generally released through action. Are there concrete ways to become involved? For example, can you knock on people’s doors? Can you make cold calls or send postcards? Then you’ll know you managed your anxiety in a way that helped motivate your communities.
Q: Is checking your social media right now a good idea or a bad one?
A: That depends on how you’re using it. Social media has its pros and cons. If you’re just absorbing information and it’s increasing your anxiety, then, yes, it is not going to be the most helpful avenue for you.
However, if you’re metabolizing that information to generate new thoughts and new ideas, if you’re able to fact check what you see on social media and then activate yourself and your communities, then social media can be a very helpful vehicle for you.
Q: You mentioned being around loved ones. But aren’t they sometimes the problem too?
A: They can be. So be very thoughtful regarding who you are around right now. If you are already anxious and stressed, you may not want to be around other people who feel negative or helpless or equally—if not even more—anxious than you.
Instead, you may need to put yourself in an environment where a community can assuage your anxieties. You don’t want other people to alarm you. You want them to calm you down.
Q: It can be hard to focus on healthy habits right now—like exercise or even sleep.
A: Well, I’m going to challenge that. If you’re losing sleep, if you’re not eating, then the anxiety has become symptomatic, not just problematic. If that is the case, then you probably need greater support—not just from your friends or family, but from a mental health professional.
Q: Many on the losing side of the election feel like the world is over right now. How can they feel less hopeless?
A: Well, we know the world [isn’t] over, don’t we? We’ve done this many times before—and the world doesn’t end despite whomever gets elected.
Granted, you might not be happy. In that case, give yourself time to mourn. What does that look like for you? Do you need to mourn with the people who you were active with previously? Or do you want to go on vacation and just settle and regroup?
And then think about what you want to do for these next four years in order to make you feel in control of your lived experience. A politician obviously has power over the country. But you still have power and control over your own life.
Q: Let me flip that question around. If you were on the winning side of this election, what can you do to extend kindness to others?
A: It is obviously great to win. And it is great to celebrate. You ought to celebrate! But it’s recommended to celebrate with insight and thoughtfulness for our neighbors who may not feel the same way.
Your neighbor may desire your support. If you can, offer them support with kindness. But if you can’t because you feel so strongly about their position, share with them what you can and cannot do right now for them. You may need to let them know that they will have to find a listening ear from someone other than you.
GW offers resources for those seeking help for themselves or others, including the Employee Assistance Program, the Student Counseling Center and other counseling and psychological services.