SAN ANTONIO — This year's election is expected to be another brutal one with friends, family and co-workers divided, much like the country. That means election stress is also on the way up as voting day gets closer.
More than three in four Americans say politics has become more stressful in 2024, some even reporting that is causes them to struggle with depression.
"The year before the election is more in the periphery. People are thinking about it, but not really deep into it. Now as you get closer and closer to the election. Yeah. People feel it," said Dr. Kiran Dintyala (aka Dr. Calm), an internal medicine physician.
Dintyala is an author, speaker and stress-management expert. He holds a Masters in Public Health, during which time he learned his stress management skills. He is also a diplomate of American Board of Integrative and Holistic Medicine.
The Thriving Center of Psychology says politics affects the mental health of nearly one in two Americans. One in two also believe social media is not a safe space to discuss politics. And one out of every 10 people say they are losing sleep over the upcoming election.
"Find the calmness in your mind. Because when you are restless, anxious, distracted, going from here to here, you can't make out. But when you are really calm in your mind and laser focused. You're spot on," Dintyala added.
The doctor says to focus on issues in your own house and your family because that is where most of your problems will be solved. Not in the White House.
"Neither Trump nor Harris nor Biden. No politician is going to come and solve your problems in your home," Dintyala said.
Some ways to limit election stress, understand that uncertainty is fueling your symptoms, find other healthy ways to cope, stay socially connected to friends and family, do activities that are meaningful to you, and limit how much political news you consume.
"Don't keep checking your phone constantly throughout the day and consume all that information," Dintyala said.
Dintyala says try relaxation exercises if you do have a hard time controlling your stress.
"Two relaxation exercises that are very powerful. All it takes is five minutes. When you wake up in the morning, when you practice this relaxation exercise, is titled 'Your Day. Calm and Positive.' And you carry that into your life," said Dintyala."All the things that you do. And what what also happens is during the day, we get bombarded by all this negative information and this affects us. So at the end of the day, remind yourself to empty your mind of all the negativity. And this five minute exercise can be very, very helpful."