Balancing Political Engagement and Mental Health: An Important Reminder

In this fast-paced, digital world it’s becoming impossible to avoid politics. It’s everywhere, from when you turn on the television to scrolling through your favorite apps. Whether you’re using Instagram or X, you’re sure to run into political posts in your feed.

For those who take it a step further and are actively participating in the political process and discussing or taking an interest in political issues, decisions, and debates—this is known as being politically engaged.

Being politically aware and engaged in current events is a good thing, but there are times when it can go too far. New studies are reporting that people, especially younger people, who are politically engaged are more likely to experience political anxiety—a fact those with a Masters of School Counseling should be familiar with.

Political anxiety can be detrimental to a person’s mental health and overall well-being. While being clued into what’s happening in politics and how it affects you is important, it’s also critical to remember to balance political engagement with your health. Learning how to disconnect when needed is crucial.

What Is Being Politically Engaged?

Political engagement is best defined as the active participation of an individual or group in the political process or related activities. These activities are any that influence decision-making, policies, or governance.

Political engagement also includes publically expressing opinions, advocating for changes, or directly contributing to political groups, like with donations. Political engagement can refer to any level, whether local, national, or global. It can also take many forms.

Social media and the internet have radically changed the political landscape, and as a result—how people can be politically engaged. Below, we’ve outlined a few forms of political engagement.

• Social media posts, like tweeting to raise awareness, can count as political engagement. It is also one of the most common forms of political engagement.
  
• Voting in elections is one of the oldest and most fundamental forms of political engagement.
  
• Civic participation counts as a form of political engagement. Civic participation covers town hall meetings, group discussions, and local decision-making processes.
  
• Individuals or groups that participate in advocacy or activism count as political engagement. These could be protests, marches, or petitions.
  
• Getting directly involved in politics by joining a political party, or directly contributing to a party or interest group, also counts as political engagement.

Above are just a few examples of political engagement. Engagement can come in many forms, with some types being more direct than others.

Why Being Politically Engaged Can Be Stressful

Being politically engaged can be stressful for a variety of reasons. Pre-existing mental health disorders, like depression or anxiety, and life circumstances can also contribute to stress. The list below covers a few reasons why it can be stressful.

• Social media and the internet as a whole have created a 24/7, rapid news cycle. Constant exposure to the news, especially negative stories which many media outlets focus on, can contribute to stress.
  
• When engaging in political activity, can make one feel a sense of powerlessness. Especially when politics is such a slow-moving field, and it can be hard to feel like you’re making a difference as an individual.
  
• It can be extremely stressful having to deal with constant misinformation and negativity that is spread online, especially on sensitive topics.
  
• For people highly engaged in politics through activism and advocacy, burnout can cause stress and be emotionally draining.

Defining Political Anxiety

Politics has always been stressful, but that stress has amped up in the past few years according to recent studies. A recent study on stress in America by the American Psychological Association reported that 76% of Americans found the future of their nation a source of significant stress, and 66% are stressed by the current political climate.

Political anxiety is a form of stress that emerges particularly from political events, policies, and leaders. It can manifest itself in a variety of ways. These can include feeling overwhelmed, and heightened feelings of fear, anger, and despair.

In essence, political anxiety is a response to feeling threatened or powerless to the current political climate, or uncertainty of the future. 

What Research Shows

Research shows that political stress and anxiety is an issue that is growing at an alarming rate, especially among young people. In particular, we want to discuss the findings of the study ‘Politics is making us sick: The negative impact of political engagement on public health during the Trump administration.’

The objective of this study was to quantify the physical, psychological, and social health effects politics have had on American adults during the four years of Trump’s administration.

The results of this study found that a vast majority of Americans reported politics had a significant toll on a range of health markers. These included stress, anxiety, loss of sleep, and even suicidal thoughts in severe cases. Some of the individuals even reported an obsessive inability to stop thinking about politics.

Research from other bodies, like the American Psychological Association, reports similar findings. They found that following daily political news has been negatively impacting people’s mental health and well-being.

Another study from the American Psychological Association also found that disengaging completely can also have negative impacts, too. So, finding the right balance between political engagement and mindfulness is the key.

How To Perfect The Balance

The ability to manage political stress and find the right balance between engaging in political activities while still being mindful of your own mental health can be hard. Thankfully, it’s a skill that can be learned.

Psychological science shows that politics can harm our mental and physical health, but there are also positive aspects of politics, too. Striking the right balance using strategies and coping methods is crucial for the best of both worlds. Below, we’ve outlined a few tactics for finding the perfect balance.

• Limiting exposure to political news and engagement can help reduce stress and anxiety. Don’t disengage completely, but be mindful and set restrictions for yourself.
  
• Unfollow or mute any potentially triggering social media accounts, personalities, and news. Curate your news feed to reduce the chance of distressing content.
  
• When it comes to negative or distressing news, try balancing it with positive news or action. Any time you view a negative story, try to find a related positive story to balance it out.
  
• When participating in activism and advocacy, start small. Join local groups, before moving on to national or global issues.
  
• Practice emotional regulation and self-care techniques. Make time for hobbies outside of politics, exercise regularly, and practice mindfulness techniques.
  
• If you find that your political stress or anxiety is getting severe, seeking professional help through a counselor or therapist can help. They can provide personalized advice on how to manage the negative impacts of political engagement.