If you’re concerned over—or convinced of—the horrors that will occur if the “other side” wins…
Welcome to the American National Election of 2024.
And I’m here to tell you that you’re not alone. The sentiment is felt by both “sides.”
Very few are feeling safe, secure, and optimistic.
So, let’s talk about it…
A constant “fight”
The above scenario is timely. But chronic worry can occur for any number of reasons, at any given time. And no, it’s never good for you.
This is known in the medical community as chronic mild stress.
And it impacts your body and mind. Meaning you’re getting hit with a double whammy when you’re in a constant state of worry.
Of course, in a way, we now live in a world of worry. It appears to be progressively capturing more people. And any little thing seems to contribute to the urgency of the worry. (Election year, or not.)
But did you know that worry is a primitive reaction? It’s part of our “fight or flight” response—where the brain sends out very specific signals to kick your body into survival mode.
In fact, as our brain shifts into this higher-alert mode, we get an immediate increase of adrenaline and cortisol in our body—as well as norepinephrine in the brain. This sharply increases our physical and neurological reactivity.
Of course, this response is supposed to be fleeting. But far too often, feelings of worry and stress remain persistent.
Have you ever wondered what that does to your brain?
It leads to neurological “burn out,” where your fight-or-flight mechanism becomes ineffective.
Become more attentive and engaged again
How can you fight back against neurological burn out?
Personally, I turned push notifications off on my phone—so that I don’t get alerted to something at (what felt like) every waking hour. During election year, I stop watching, reading, or thinking about anything political one month prior to election day.
When I have some time to indulge, I watch something happy or heartwarming on TV. I listen to upbeat podcasts. And I build a metaphorical wall in my brain from anything other than my patients, family, friends, and loyal readers.
See, a constantly “turned on” brain becomes less attentive and less engaged. It’s often why you, too, might be feeling in a funk.
Plus, being on “high alert” can elevate your blood sugar and blood pressure—and stifle your immune response. This can contribute to a higher risk for disease.
Not to mention, chronic worry and stress often contribute to feelings of anxiety, depression, and memory loss. It could even lead to emotional distortions that influence substance abuse or other addictions.
If you’re struggling with ongoing feelings of worry, try some sensible strategies like the ideas I outlined above. You might also consider therapy or counseling with a psychiatrist or psychologist. (I’ve utilized counseling on and off for almost my entire life—and I can tell you with certainty that it helps.)
For more insight, check out the current issue of my monthly newsletter, Logical Health Alternatives (“Feeling stuck in a ‘stress gridlock’?”). In this comprehensive article, I continue the conversation about how chronic stress impacts your body. I also outline a few sensible strategies for how to break free. Click here to read more!
Source:
“Navigating Election Anxiety: How Worry Affects the Brain.” MDedge, 08/09/24. (mdedge.com/neurologyreviews/article/270324/mental-health/navigating-election-anxiety-how-worry-affects-brain)