{"id":34800,"date":"2017-05-18T14:42:45","date_gmt":"2017-05-18T21:42:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/?page_id=34800"},"modified":"2017-05-18T14:42:45","modified_gmt":"2017-05-18T21:42:45","slug":"political-anxiety","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/political-anxiety\/","title":{"rendered":"Political Anxiety"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Looking<\/strong>Political anxiety is a term used to describe the recent increase in anxiety<\/a> many people, regardless of party or political affiliation, are\u00a0experiencing in the wake of the 2016 presidential election and in the current political climate in the United States. Also referred to as postelection stress, political anxiety is not an official mental health diagnosis<\/a> but a term that can be used in times of a stressful or divided political climate to reflect the reactions resulting from this turmoil.<\/p>\n

Understanding Political Anxiety<\/h2>\n

People are more likely to experience\u00a0feelings of anxiety when current events are worrisome, stressful, or otherwise uncertain, especially on a large scale. In the months preceding and following the presidential election of 2016, for example, many mental health providers noted an increase in anxiety in people seeking treatment<\/a>, both those who had a history of anxiety and those who did not. People reported feeling highly stressed<\/a> about the election and also experiencing increased\u00a0fear, anger<\/a>, uncertainty, and mistrust.<\/p>\n

Worry about current events also often leads people to check news and social media sites more frequently\u00a0out of a desire to stay informed. This increased vigilance may, however, have the unintended consequence of increasing worry<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0can\u00a0also lead to insomnia and other issues.<\/p>\n

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Find a Therapist<\/a><\/h2>\n\t
\n\n\t\t\t\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\tAdvanced Search<\/a>\n\t<\/form>\n<\/div>Many believe the experience of political anxiety to be related to the political party an individual identifies with. In a recent poll of more than 3,000 Americans, about 70% of respondents who identified as Democrats reported feeling stressed about the political climate, while only 26% of the Republicans polled felt that way. Some Republicans have reported feeling stressed about being open about their support for Donald Trump\u00a0out of fear\u00a0of negative judgement from others or a negative impact on their relationships with others.<\/p>\n

Political anxiety may also rise after a disastrous event.\u00a0Some mental health professionals report the months following the 9\/11 terrorist attacks were also marked by increases in anxiety and stress.<\/p>\n

Understanding the Increase in Political Anxiety<\/h2>\n

For some people, political anxiety is related to fears about what will happen under a particular administration. Some may view the administration as unpredictable and dangerous, while others may be affected by the opposition to their own beliefs and ideals. Many worry they will be negatively impacted by new policies or face repercussions when existing policies and laws are overturned.<\/p>\n

Minorities in particular report being afraid of the effects of the current administration on not only their\u00a0ability to work and live freely, but also their personal health and safety. And in fact, hate crimes (crimes motivated by prejudice<\/a>) rose in 2016 by more than 20% in nine metropolitan areas in the United States and appeared to further increase in some cities after the November 8 election.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0highly divisive nature of a political climate may also be a significant factor in the experience of political anxiety. Even when\u00a0political issues are not as tense or divisive as after the 2016 American presidential election, people still have a tendency to perceive those who identify with an opposing political party as enemies.\u00a0In some cases, this may cause strained relationships among friends, partners, colleagues, and family members.<\/p>\n

How Can Political Anxiety Affect Well-Being?<\/h2>\n

Like all types of anxiety, political anxiety can cause a number of physical and mental health symptoms:<\/p>\n