As the results of one of the most important elections in history, no matter where you stand, you may have anxiety about the future and what your future may look like. If you are someone experiencing anxiety, don’t worry, insightful advice from the LACES Untied team. will help overcome these challenges.
Ms. Bocarsly, our school’s social worker, who helps individuals or groups cope with their problems on a day to day basis wanted to share some advice when trying to cope during this stressful time.
“Acknowledge your emotions: It’s important to take time to recognize and sit with your feelings about what’s happening,” said Bocarsly. By sitting with your feelings it allows you to recognize what is happening and allows yourself to calm down.
“Anxiety, especially what we call anticipatory anxiety, takes hold when we imagine how events will play out,” said Mark Cohen, a psychologist at UCLA. If you want to stop anticipating the future, find something that makes you feel in control, whether it’s volunteering, or doing something that comforts you.
“While the election results are beyond our control, it can be helpful to shift focus to what we can control,” said Bocarsly. If your anxiety is so bad that nothing else is working, the best thing to do is either completely tune out the news, which can be causing you stress, or at least limit your use of it and see if that helps. All of these things are great strategies you or your peers can use to limit their election anxiety. On a happier note, LACES Untied has 5 great ways to ease your post-election anxiety!
1. Hike the Mount Hollywood Trail
While there are many trails around Griffith Observatory, a publicly available three mile loop trail is hard to beat, and perfect for easing your mind. Along the way you will find great scenery and some of the best views in the city. While it is a hiking trail, there are many activities you can do on the hike as well such as, running, horseback riding, and exploring! Being outside is very helpful and important when it comes to anxiety so this is a perfect activity to have some fun and take your mind off of things.
2. Do something you Love
There is absolutely nothing wrong with just taking a break from everything and doing something you want to do. This doesn’t have to be anything special, just something that makes you feel better mentally. This can be anything, ranging from reading your favorite book, to going out to get ice cream with your friends.
3. Take a Yoga Class
Yoga is proven to be really good for stress management and clearing your mind. When you have time to yourself to think, and come to terms with your issues you can see a big change in how you are feeling. According to Psychology Today, it can really affect your mood by triggering a neurotransmitter called GABA that is associated with better moods and helps decrease anxiety or stress.
4. Talk to someone about How you Feel
Whether it be your friend or someone new, talking to someone could be just the thing you need. Connecting with new and different people will always take your mind off things and make you feel less alone. While it is pretty common to feel uncomfortable or weird about bringing up your problems to others, venting and having someone to relate to is always helpful.
5. Watch your Favorite Movie
Since all of the news about this recent election may have caused you some stress or anxiety about your future, sitting down and watching something you are familiar, and comfortable with, is always a great solution. Watching your favorite movie or even show can also help with the release of endorphins, creating a sense of elation or happiness as mentioned in nm.org. In general watching something or even doing something you are familiar with can always help you if you are struggling with anxiety.
