Dealing with Election Stress: Calm Amid Chaos

The stress of the election is likely felt by most of the country—and much of the world—at this moment. The stakes feel high as people hold their breath, waiting to find out if their candidate wins. After all, the other side is painted as the “enemy,” and the fear of loss looms large.

We certainly are in challenging times, hurtling toward crises, while much of America is ear-deep in FB Reels or TikTok videos. But there’s a brighter side here, too.

A Deeper Look at Division

How did we end up here, in a world where we see things so differently? Why have we stopped communicating, retreating into echo chambers instead of talking things out?

The answer is surprisingly simple: we’re human. Complex, sometimes dysfunctional social dynamics have always been a part of human history. And maybe that’s how it should be. We’re constantly growing and healing.

I have friends on both sides of the political divide, and honestly, they’re not as different as they think. In fact, they seem remarkably similar in their values:

• Do they all care about being good people? Yes.

• Do they care about others? Yes.

• Do they wish for world peace? Yes.

• Do they want freedom? Absolutely.

• Do they think the other side is in the way of an ideal American life? Oddly, yes.

  
  

What I notice is that people are often married to their information sources. They’re deeply entrenched in paradigms shaped by the media they consume. This entrenched perspective has successfully divided us, shutting down meaningful discourse. Echo chambers are loud and growing louder—and that’s part of the challenge we face.

Think Big: Broadening Our Perspective

Right now, a bigger and brighter perspective could help us.

When we zoom out and see the broader picture, we can leave some of our entrenchment behind. From that vantage, we might see humanity moving through a long-term healing process that would be impossible if we were already “perfectly healed.” There’s no light without the dark.

Yes, there are uncomfortable truths in our social fabric, like a messy room that needs a light turned on before it can be cleaned. We can sit in the dark, pretending the room is tidy, or flip the switch, confront the mess, and start tidying up. The past few years have been full of these moments—our awareness is rising.

Talk More: Reconnect and Relate

Maybe more people are realizing that shutting down conversation isn’t the way forward. Perhaps this is the awakening we need. Relationships fail without communication, and dialogue is essential to a thriving society.

So, try reaching out to a friend or neighbor with different views. Not to convince them they’re wrong, but out of curiosity about your differences. Chances are, you’ll find common ground. After all, most people want to be good, kind individuals who wish well for others.

Learn from History

Division isn’t new. History shows us countless times when societies were deeply polarized. Often, we don’t know about these because we didn’t learn them in school or were too young to understand.

But time and again, people found their way back to each other. And like many challenges, this too shall pass. When the pendulum swings too far, it eventually settles back to balance.

Trust in Growth

Human progress isn’t linear. It’s full of peaks and valleys, and we’re on an upward slope overall. Just think: we’re not living in the Middle Ages, where public punishments were the norm. Our culture has increasingly embraced human life and dignity.

Change is hard and sometimes requires hardship to push us out of limited thinking. But hardship can open doors to growth.

Take Responsibility

Think of the couples who come to therapy inflamed with resentment and mistrust. Through hard work, they can bridge gaps and find understanding. They no longer see each other as the enemy but understand past offenses in the context of each other’s pain.

In society, we don’t go to therapy with neighbors or coworkers, and often not even with family. So healing those relationships is up to us. It takes work, but it’s worth it because, in the end, we find peace that blame alone can’t bring.

And If All Else Fails…

And if all else fails, seek acupuncture for stress relief! 😉

Finding Our Way Forward

Ultimately, the path forward isn’t about choosing sides but about choosing to listen, grow, and heal—together. If we can remember that we’re more alike than different and reject the divisive messages that encourage us to view each other as the “other,” we can start bridging divides and building a future that works for us all.