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The Idea of the Week
Americans are stressed about politics (6-minute article), no matter which party you identify with. If you worry about the elections or experience political anxiety, you are not alone. Many people in national surveys conducted by APA cite politics as a significant source of stress. Repeatedly experiencing this stress over days, weeks, even months can also make political stress a form of chronic stress, and chronic stress can take its toll on your well-being.
The Practice of the Week
Are political disagreements stressing you out? NPR shares 7 helpful tips for talking with others about politics, especially when it feels like you’re coming from different sides.
Below we’ve highlighted NPR’s 7 tips, but be sure to check out the article for the full exercises. The article is offered as a 6-minute listen or an 8-minute read.
- Notice stereotypes in your own thinking
- Next, ‘edit the story’
- Limit consumption of polarizing news
- Curate your social media feed and watch for misinformation
- Get engaged in community groups
- How to talk through differences: a 4-step guide
- Cultivate empathy and compassion
Podcast and Research on Political Stress
In this 35-minute podcast episode from the American Psychological Association, two researchers discuss their research on political stress. “Is it possible to stay politically engaged and follow the news while still maintaining your mental health?” Is having political stress and anxiety unique to our time, when we have so much information at our fingertips? Most importantly, how do we manage this stress?
Below we’ve provided timestamps of the podcast (no timestamps links). The podcast episode is provided in audio with a transcription or on video with closed captions.
0:00 Introductions
7:40 How does political news consumption affect people’s stress levels, health and well-being?
16:10 When it comes to election stress levels, do you find that there are say, partisan differences or differences between the sexes or other demographic factors?
17:53 Have politics always provoked so much stress and anxiety in our culture, or is this new with the level of polarization we’re seeing today?
22:35 Are there positive effects from being absorbed by politics?
26:14 Is it more or less stressful to feel like you have no good choice [about presidential candidates], at least at the top of the ticket?
30:20 Do you have advice that you want to leave our listeners with about how to manage their stress around the elections?
News of the Week
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The Thought of the Week
Wishing you a peaceful week!
